Jump to: What is cardiovascular disease? | What is Mounjaro? | Why take Mounjaro if you have CVD? | Take home message
You can take Mounjaro (tirzepatide) if you have cardiovascular disease (CVD) and your BMI is over 27.
Research suggests that Mounjaro may help improve cardiovascular health and support weight loss.
Current evidence indicates that Mounjaro could reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events, like heart attacks and strokes, by around 20% in people living with obesity or type 2 diabetes.
The SURMOUNT-MMO trial is currently investigating the long-term cardiovascular benefits of Mounjaro in people living with obesity to provide a greater understanding of the impact of Mounjaro on CVD risk.
If you take Mounjaro with CVD, it’s recommended that you continue taking any prescribed heart medications, make gradual lifestyle changes, monitor your blood pressure regularly, and report any chest pain or unusual symptoms to your doctor or local healthcare team.
On Second Nature’s Mounjaro weight-loss programme, the clinical team monitors your progress and response to medication.
All Second Nature members have access to a nutritionist or dietitian five days a week for habit change and diet support.
Medication-assisted weight loss with a future focus
Start with Wegovy or Mounjaro, transition to habit-based health with our support
What is cardiovascular disease?
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels.
These include coronary heart disease, heart failure, heart attacks, stroke, high blood pressure, and peripheral artery disease.
Underlying cardiovascular disease is the condition known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the gradual buildup of plaque (made up of clotting factors, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances) in the walls of arteries.
This process causes the arteries to narrow and harden over time, reducing blood flow to various body parts. The condition develops slowly over many years, often beginning in childhood.
The plaque buildup causes several problems:
- It makes arteries less flexible and stiffer
- It narrows the passageway for blood flow
- It can rupture, leading to blood clots that can completely block the artery
Common risk factors for CVD and atherosclerosis include being overweight or having obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity, poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, stress and experiencing traumatic events, and a family history of CVD.
Many of these risk factors are modifiable through lifestyle changes and weight loss, which is why GLP-1 weight-loss medications like Mounjaro can be beneficial for people with CVD.
What is Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is a dual-action weight-loss injection. It supports weight loss by mimicking two hormones, GLP-1 and GIP, that communicate with the brain’s appetite control centre, the hypothalamus, to lower hunger and food-seeking behaviour.
By lowering hunger and our desire to eat, Mounjaro helps us eat fewer calories to achieve a calorie deficit.
A calorie deficit occurs when we consume fewer calories than our body needs to fuel its essential functions, such as digestion, blood flow, and brain function.
By creating a calorie deficit, our bodies will ‘burn’ the excess fat stored for energy, and we’ll lose weight.
Mounjaro also slows down the rate at which we digest food so that our stomach and gut send signals to the brain to signal the feeling of fullness.
So, Mounjaro supports weight loss by making us feel less hungry through two mechanisms:
- Communicating with the brain’s appetite control centre
- Slowing the rate that food is digested
Randomised controlled trials have shown that Mounjaro leads to an average weight loss of around 26% after one year.
Why take Mounjaro if you have cardiovascular disease?
Taking Mounjaro when you have CVD offers multiple potential benefits that go beyond weight loss.
Research shows that losing 5-10% of body weight can significantly improve cardiovascular health, and studies show that Mounjaro leads to an average weight loss of around 26% after one year.
Beyond weight loss, research suggests that Mounjaro may directly benefit cardiovascular health through several mechanisms. The medication reduces inflammation, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.
High blood sugar levels are a particular concern for cardiovascular disease. Research shows that chronically elevated blood sugar levels damage the walls of our arteries, making them more prone to plaque development.
Mounjaro lowers blood sugar levels through several mechanisms, including improved insulin action, reduced liver fat levels, and weight loss.
Additionally, Mounjaro communicates directly with the brain’s appetite control centre, the hypothalamus, to reduce food noise and cravings for sugar and ultra-processed foods.
This impact on our appetite and cravings means we’re more likely to eat whole foods that will reduce our CVD risk, such as fish, whole meat, fruits, whole grains, and vegetables.
Take home message
Weight-loss medications like Mounjaro are most effective when combined with a healthy lifestyle.
They can help kickstart weight loss while you develop better habits that support heart health and reduce the risk of CVD in the future.
Mounjaro may offer additional cardiovascular benefits beyond weight loss, making it a potentially valuable tool for people with CVD who need to lose weight.
It’s important to work closely with your healthcare team to monitor your cardiovascular health. Make gradual lifestyle changes and promptly report any concerning symptoms.
Second Nature’s medication programmes
Second Nature has two medication-supported programmes: a Wegovy weight-loss programme and a Mounjaro weight-loss programme.
Why should you choose Second Nature over other medication providers if you’ve decided to try Mounjaro or Wegovy (assuming you’re eligible)?
For peace of mind.
Second Nature has worked with the NHS for over 6 years, providing weight-loss programmes across the UK.
While our Wegovy and Mounjaro weight-loss programmes are private and not currently used by the NHS, we’ve built the programmes focusing on scientific evidence, patient safety, and data security.
We hope that our 6+ years of working with the NHS and building a track record of effective weight-loss results will give you peace of mind to give us a try.
