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Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : September 17, 2014 12:37 PM IST
A man's likelihood of accumulating fat around his heart might be better determined if doctors were to consider his race and ethnicity as well as where on his body the excess fat is deposited, new research shows. Higher volumes of fat around the heart are associated with greater risk of heart disease.
'So if you are an African-American man and carry excess weight mainly around the mid-section, then you have a higher likelihood of more fat around the heart than if you gain weight fairly evenly throughout your body,' explained lead author Samar El Khoudary, an assistant professor from the University of Pittsburgh in the US.
'But the reverse is true for Koreans. Their heart disease risk is greater with overall weight gain. Knowing this can help doctors specify the right physical training for each racial, ethnic group to reduce their heart disease risk,' El Khoudary noted. For the study, researchers took a closer look at 1,199 men who were white or black from Allegheny County (south-western part of Pennsylvania), Japanese-American from Hawaii, Japanese and Korean.
The study looked at the amount of fat around the heart called ectopic cardio-vascular fat. For white men, an increase in body mass index (BMI), which is a measure of overall body fat, and abdominal fat are equally likely to indicate an increase in fat around the heart. Black men who carry disproportionally more weight around their mid-section are at similar risk of having more fat around their hearts. Increases in BMI have lower impact.
Japanese and Japanese American men are also at similar risk of having more fat around their hearts if they have more fat in their abdomens, with BMI having less of an impact. Korean men with higher BMIs have a higher likelihood of fat around the heart, whereas abdominal fat matters less.
'What we now need to determine is whether concentrating efforts to reduce overall body fat or fat in the abdomen will actually decrease fat around the heart more in people of certain racial or ethnic groups,' El Khoudary noted.
The findings appeared in the International Journal of Obesity.
Here are some tips to keep heart disease at bay
Kick the butt
The chemicals found in tobacco can damage your heart and blood vessels, leading to narrowing of the arteries, which in turn can lead to a heart attack. It also increases your heart rate and blood pressure. Even occasional or 'social smoking' is dangerous and increases the risk of heart disease. The good news is that no matter how long you have been smoking, you will feel better, and begin reaping rewards as soon as you kick the habit. (Also read: Why you should quit smoking)
Eat healthy for your heart
One of the starting points is to revamp your diet and make smart substitutions such as switching to heart-healthy cooking oils like canola oil that is high in mono and polyunsaturated fats which help in reducing the risk of coronary artery disease. Canola oil also contains omega-3 fatty acids, a type of polyunsaturated fat, which may decrease your risk of heart attack, protect against irregular heartbeats and lower blood pressure. Limit your intake of salt and sugar as excessive consumption can lead to high blood pressure or cholesterol. Add more fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet. (Read: Take the natural route to heart health home remedies that work!)
Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.
Just move it
Avoid leading a sedentary lifestyle; exercising daily is a must, even if it is for 30-45 min. Regular physical activity helps you control your weight and reduce your chances of developing conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, which may put a strain on your heart. Go for a walk; try some yoga, dance or aerobics to stay active, upbeat and positive. Your exercise sessions don't have to be strenuous, even taking the stairs instead of the elevator counts! Read more about World Heart Day 2013: Expert tips to prevent heart disease
With inputs from IANS
Photo source: Getty images
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