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Bariatric Surgery Patients Less Likely To Die Of Heart Attack Says New Study

ROYAL OAK (WWJ) - They only lost about 20 more pounds, but a new Swedish study in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that obese patients who have had bariatric surgery are much less likely to die of a heart attack than those who did not.

Beaumont Hospital cardiologist Dr. Steven Almany says it may be because surgery patients eat more heart-healthy foods.

"I think what you eat might make a difference, people with lap-banding - which is the band around your esophagus, can't eat as large a meal and certain foods seem to give them discomfort," said Almany.

Almany says it may make him recommend bariatric surgery more often to his patients.

"But I think what we can't forget here is this is not the first answer it's the last answer," said Almany.

Almany says diet and exercise are the first resort.

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