Many people that take Semaglutide are also at risk of cardiovascular disease.
This includes anything to do with the heart or blood vessels.
Because of this, many are asking whether or not Semaglutide has any cardiovascular benefits.
The short answer is yes.
The manufacturer’s official website actually states that Semaglutide can reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events.
They say that this is true for patients with type 2 diabetes or known heart disease.
In fact, Semaglutide is so good at reducing the risk of cardiovascular events in suitable patients that the FDA have approved it for that purpose in America.
This decision was made following the SUSTAIN 6 trials that were carried out with Semaglutide.
This trial looked at the cardiovascular outcomes for patients that were taking Semaglutide.
The SUSTAIN 6 trials showed that Semaglutide could significantly reduce the risk of a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) by around 25%.
In layman’s terms that is a reduction in heart attacks, strokes and death for a cardiovascular cause.
Semaglutide isn’t currently prescribed in the UK for cardiovascular risk.
It’s only available on the NHS for type 2 diabetes.
However, some private clinics have been known to prescribe Semaglutide off-label for weight management.
This is because several studies have also found Semaglutide effective for weight loss in certain patients.
If you have a BMI of over 30 (or over 27 with a weight-related or cardiovascular problem), Semaglutide might be suitable for you, providing your prescriber thinks that you meet the requirements needed to take it safely and could benefit from it.
Many people with obesity struggle to lose weight with lifestyle interventions alone.
Due to this, myBMI’s prescribers can recommend weight loss treatments to those who have a high BMI and could benefit from this type of help to reach their goals.
Even losing just a small amount of weight can significantly reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
It can also help to reduce your risk of other conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
All of which can also contribute to cardiovascular risk.
If you’re concerned about your own cardiovascular health, we’d encourage you to speak to your GP.
They can arrange for certain tests if they feel as though you may be at risk of a heart attack or stroke.
They may also be able to assess your current risk based on your medical history and lifestyle.
Some of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease include:
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Smoking
- High cholesterol
- Family history of cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Being over 50
- Unhealthy diet
- Excessive alcohol consumption
Many of these can be discussed during an appointment with your GP, but you may also be referred for a full blood count if you haven’t had one recently.
Although Semaglutide can help to reduce your risk of serious cardiovascular events, you should also take the risk factors you may already have into account and think about ways to reduce them naturally.
For example, if you’re a smoker you might want to think about giving up cigarettes.
Those with a sedentary lifestyle might want to take up walking or a new sport as a hobby.
There are various things that we can all do to reduce our overall cardiovascular risk without medication.
However, if you do start taking Semaglutide for any reason, you now know that it can also help to diminish the threat.
