The link between the location of fat and your heart
Heart disease is the leading cause of the death in the United States. But you can prevent or lower your risk by maintaining control of your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. One way to do that is through a balanced, healthy lifestyle – and avoiding adding too many inches to your waistline.
A study says your waist size may increase your risk for repeat heart attacks and strokes, saying that the fat around your abdomen is a major contributing factor to heart health.
“Having more visceral fat is what puts you at a higher risk for heart disease,” says Dr. Paul Silverman, intervention cardiology physician with Advocate Medical Group in Oak Lawn, IL. “Your body type and obesity play a role in heart attack risk. However, the link between waist size and heart attack risk does have its limitations.”
Dr. Silverman also says that the type of fat matters. Visceral fat, the fat that wraps around your abdominal organs, can cause buildups of plague around the heart arteries that can lead to heart disease. This suggest that the more abdominal obesity, the more visceral fat a person can carry – despite fat distributed elsewhere.
The study also says that abdominal obesity can lead to having more heart complications. Dr. Silverman agrees and says that you’re more at risk for a heart attack after you’ve already had one – unless you immediately change your lifestyle.
“You can greatly modify the risk after having a heart attack by lowering the traditional risk factors, which also influence the amount of fat in your abdomen,” he says. “Reducing your cholesterol, monitoring your blood pressure, engaging in an exercise program can very quickly lower your risk.”
If you are curious about your heart health, you can take a free online quiz.
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About the Author
health enews staff is a group of experienced writers from our Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care sites, which also includes freelance or intern writers.
I love received your health information. I will love if you can send me effective information on how to reduce my babies lower stomach. I am 50 I was working out very much, I stopped but I am going back to my routine, and I would like to concentrate in that area. Thank you.
Very informative article. I am 58 year old with CABG 11 years ago and stent’s subsequently. I am obese and my waistline is bulging and I am crossing 214 lbs already.
I have a question about going on a Keto diet to shed weight, can I with my high triglycerides and blood thinners??
please advise.
The most advanced cardiologists are leaning towards a whole food plant based lifestyle for optimal heart health. While I see our organization dabble with this concept, I hope we do more in 2021 to promote the benefits of a whole food plant based lifestyle along with effective supplementation and exercise. Considering heart disease is the leading cause of death in America year after year, it’s time we do something about it. It’s our moral and ethical duty as a healthcare organization to be a leader in the transformation from sick care to wellness. Let’s do it!
The fat pictured being pinched in the accompanying photo is subcutaneous fat, not visceral fat. This article should explain the differences between the two re cardiac health, at least if it is going to use this photo.