What is in the gut can break -your heart literally.
For years, doctors have used the body mass index (BMI) as a standard tool to measure obesity and evaluate the risk of a patient to develop heart failure.
But new research suggests that a simple proportion involved in its waist can be an even better predictor. The best part? You can calculate it at home, here is how.
Intestinal check
The investigations presented this week at the Scientific Congress of the European Society of Cardiology studied 1,792 adults from 45 to 73 years.
The participants were divided into three groups: those with normal blood sugar, prediabetes or diabetes. During a 13 -year tracking period, 132 developed heart failure.
Here is the kicker: researchers linked a greater waist from height to a “significantly increased” risk of heart failure.
In fact, those who had a waist-rapid proportion (WTHR) of 0.65 or higher were almost three times more likely to develop the potentially fatal condition.
“The BMI is the most common measure of obesity, but it is influenced by factors such as sex and ethnicity and does not take into account the distribution of body fat,” said study co -author, Dr. John Molvin at Lund de Lund de Sweden.
Unlike BMI, WTHR points to central adiposity or excess fat in the abdomen that surrounds the internal organs. This fat is a higher risk for health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and even an early death compared to general obesity.
“We found Wthr was a significant predictor of the incident [heart failure]”, Said Molvin, adding that it can be a more reliable measure than the BMI to identify those who are at risk and those who could benefit from obesity treatments.
Researchers are then planning to explore if WTHR can predict other health problems, such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
Killing millions, costing billions
Cardiac failure is a progressive condition that occurs when the heart muscle is damaged and can no longer pump enough blood and oxygen in other organs in the body.
It is extremely common in the United States, with constantly riding rates over the last decade, especially in younger populations.
About 6.7 million Americans over the age of 20 live with heart failure. It is expected that this number will jump to 8.7 million by 2030 and an impressive 11.4 million by 2050, according to the Fallas Society of the Run of America.
Key risk factors include age more than 65 years, family history and high blood pressure or coronary artery disease. Obesity also plays an important role, with studies that link it to 11% of cases of heart failure in men and 14% in women.
Although there is no care for heart failure, early detection is essential. Timely treatment can stop progression, improve quality of life and prevent complications.
Without it, heart failure can be fatal. He is a maximum murderer in the United States, responsible for 8.5% of cardiovascular deaths.
How to calculate the waist-ridge relationship
To calculate your Wthr, all you need is a tape (and maybe a calculator). It simply measures the circumference of the waist and divides it by your height.
Experts say that the waist should be less than half your height, with a healthy Wthr falling between 0.4 and 0.49.
“Having a waist measure less than half your height is ideal,” said Molvin.
For example, if you are 170 centimeters high, the waist should be less than 85 centimeters.
#test #home #risk #health #problem
Image Source : nypost.com