The waist can tell us how the heart is

MILAN - the "picture of health." Young, healthy, with no cardiovascular risk factors of any kind: they have high blood pressure or cholesterol in excess, do not suffer from diabetes, do not smoke. Yet, many have already early signs of atherosclerosis and thus are at increased risk of heart attacks and stroke: the fault of the fat "not seen" the one that accumulates around the internal organs and is very dangerous to the health of heart and vessels . This is demonstrated by a study presented at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2011 , if we are to understand that "fat inside" just measure your waist.

STUDY - In this conclusion the researchers of the Institute of Cardiology, University of Quebec arrived analyzing in depth a little less than two hundred young people aged 18 to 35 years, half men and half women, who had no risk factor or a classic family history of cardiovascular disease. The volunteers were measured to determine the body mass index and waist, but most have been subjected to extensive magnetic resonance imaging to verify the presence of atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries, the arteries that carry blood to the brain through resonance, in addition, the researchers quantified with precision the subcutaneous fat and visceral "covers" the organs of the thorax and abdomen. "We have seen that many young people without apparent risk factors had already early signs of atherosclerosis: were those with a greater amount of visceral fat - says Eric Larose, the cardiologist who led the research -. It is not obese, or with a body mass index worrying, our results demonstrate that one must look beyond these simple parameters and evaluate rather the "hidden fat", so that one has a greater quantity has inevitably more signs of atherosclerosis and therefore a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes. " Among other things, points to a cardiologist, these data confirm previous research conducted on the autopsies of young Americans who died in war or in traffic accidents, according to which as many as 80 percent of apparently healthy young adults have signs of atherosclerosis in the arteries.


Visceral fat - But if the subcutaneous fat is easily recognizable (just put the mirror and take the skin with two fingers to see the "rolls" of fat too), so dangerous the fat around the heart or liver how do you measure? "We found that waist circumference, measured with a simple tape measure, is indicative of an increased visceral fat deposition and thus premature atherosclerosis - -. says Larose The waist measurement is precise as well as magnetic resonance imaging in indicating those who have more fat "hidden", independently of body mass index. " Even those who are normal weight considering height and weight, therefore, must put on alert if a bit 'of "bacon": the limit values ​​are equal to 102 cm in men and 88 women, but certainly the Canadian data indicate that it is good remain well below these thresholds. "Who has a waist" off ", even if he is young and healthy, is most at risk and must undertake the work of prevention through improved lifestyle - the cardiologist recommends -. Have a lot of visceral fat by young people is how to bring on a time bomb ready to explode in later years. But there are many things we can do to prevent it from happening: to recognize early those at risk is essential to start as soon as possible preventive strategies that usually go to a healthy diet, good exercise, smoking cessation and limitation of 'Alcohol, tight control of cholesterol, pressure, blood glucose and body weight, "concludes Larose.