briefly explain why maintaining a healthy weight is important in cardiovascular system care.

Maintaining a healthy weight is important in cardiovascular system care because excess weight puts extra strain on the heart, increasing the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease. Losing even a modest amount of weight (5-10% of body weight) can significantly improve cardiovascular risk factors like blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels, reducing the chance of heart attack, stroke, and premature death. Healthy weight management reduces the workload on the heart, prevents enlargement of the heart muscle (which can lead to heart failure and arrhythmias), and helps control conditions linked to cardiovascular disease such as hypertension and diabetes.