Can Your Waistline Save Your Heart or How to Predict a Heart Attack?

By Dr. Nelly Stoyanova

A friend of mine asked me: "Can Your Waistline Save Your Heart?" Here is my answer.

People usually associate heart disease with overall obesity, but little is known by the general public about the direct link between waistline size and heart disease.

It is a common misunderstanding that lean people with a cute "little tummy" are not at risk for a high blood pressure because they are not obese. This is wrong, because their waistline measurement would still be outside the normal range.

The bigger the "belly", the bigger the risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Before you proceed to waistline measurement in order to assess your health risk, you need to know how to do it and what a normal range would be.

Keep in mind that the words big waistline, central obesity, abdominal obesity, midsection obesity or big omentum mean the same thing. It means that there is fat around the midsection that should not be there. It means BELLY FAT. Waistline measurement is simple, inexpensive and a reliable way to assess your risk for heart disease at home.

How to measure waistline?

Position the tape measure around your waist at the level of you navel. You can also use the hip bone as a guide-the tape should go above the hip bone.

What is the normal waistline reading?

Below are the healthy normal waistline numbers by gender (according to the International Diabetes Federation guidelines):

Normal/healthy female waistline: Less than 32 inches (80 cm)

Normal/healthy male waistline: Less than 38 inches (94cm)

If you don't have a tape measure you can divide your height in inches by two. Your waistline needs to be that number or smaller in inches.

While both waistline measurement and BMI assess your overall obesity, ONLY the waistline measurement can assess the fat around the abdominal organs which is directly related to stress. The stress hormone cortisol comes into play here. Chronic stress leads to fat deposition in the abdominal area which results in belly fat.

Researchers now know that if most of the fat is in the belly area, the heart risk is greater than if the fat resides in the hips, thighs or rear (sometimes referred to as the apple versus pear shape body type).

In summary: Yes, your waistline can save your heart if you keep an eye on it, set your priorities and find the best way to balance the stress in your life. To find out where you stand take the free Stress Level Test and measure your waistline

Copyright Dr. Nelly Stoyanova

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Author's bio: Dr. Nelly Stoyanova is a physician, medical researcher and health behavior expert. She studies the effects of stress on heart disease, type 2 diabetes and sleep. Her website: Belly Fat, Stress and Baby Boomers (http://www.stress-fat-heart-solutions-for-boomers.com) evaluates sources of stress for people over 50 and provides great tips to balance your day-to-day stress and stay healthy. Turn your life around and benefit from her expertise. For individual guidance sessions or to schedule a public speaking event use the Contact page or email at drnstoyanova@gmail.com

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