Previous studies have shown that abdominal obesity is an important risk factor for a first heart attack, which you can lower by reducing belly fat. So far, however, the connection betweenAbdominal obesityand the risk of a subsequent heart attack or stroke unknown. According to the latest research, secondary prevention reduces the risk factors associated with heart attacks and strokes, such as blood sugar, lipids and high blood pressure.
Reduce excess belly fat
“Patients typically undergo rigorous medical treatment after their first attack to prevent second events.” This is what the study author, Dr. Hanieh Mohammadi from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.
This is the most detailed study scientists have ever conducted on this topic. She focused on more than 22,000 patients after their first heart attack. Researchers examined the relationship between abdominal obesity and the risk of recurrent cardiovascular disease. They particularly refer to the events that result from clogged arteries. These were, for example, fatal and non-fatal heart attacks and strokes. Patients were recruited from the nationwide SWEDEHEART registry and followed for a median of 3.8 years.
The increase in abdominal obesity has occurred independently of other risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and body mass index. However, researchers have linked these to secondary prevention treatments, as well as fatal and non-fatal heart disease. Waist circumference was a more important marker of recurrent events than overall obesity.
Dr. Mohammadi said: “The reason abdominal obesity is very common in patients having a first heart attack is that it is closely linked to conditions that accelerate the clogging of arteries by atherosclerosis. These conditions include elevated blood pressure, high blood sugar, insulin resistance (diabetes), and elevated blood fat levels. “
New research results
“However, our results suggest that there are other negative mechanisms associated with abdominal obesity. These are independent of risk factors and cannot be detected,” she added. “In our study, patients with increasing abdominal obesity still had an increased risk of recurrent events despite receiving therapies that minimized the traditional risk factors associated with abdominal obesity, such as antihypertensives, diabetes medications, and lipid-lowering drugs.”
This was the first study of its kind in which researchers analyzed men and women together and separately. The relationship between waist circumference and recurrent events was atMen with beer belliesstronger and more linear. For women, the relationship was U-shaped. This means that the waist circumference in the middle area presented the lowest risk. However, it should be noted that the mid-waist circumference of women participating in the study was above the traditional limit for abdominal obesity (80 cm).
Maintaining a healthy waist circumference is important for preventing future heart attacks and strokes, no matter how many medications you may be taking or how healthy your blood tests are. Obesity in the abdomen can be overcome by a healthy andbalanced dietand regular physical activity. “
The authorsof the studyrecommend using waist circumference in clinical settings to identify heart attack patients at increased risk of recurrent events for the first time.
