Is A Waist Over 80 Centimeters Really Dangerous For The Heart And Blood Vessels?

Is a waist over 80 centimeters really dangerous for the heart and blood vessels?

Abdominal obesity is said to be when the waist circumference exceeds 80 centimeters in women and 94 centimeters in men. It is a known risk factor for heart attack. Now scientists have shown that it can also indicate a high likelihood of recurrent heart attacks and strokes. They believe that those who have already suffered one heart attack should watch their waist circumference.

Photo: CC BY 2.0 /

Abdominal obesity is said to be when the waist circumference exceeds 80 centimeters in women and 94 centimeters in men. It is a known risk factor for heart attack. Now scientists have shown that it can also indicate a high likelihood of recurrent heart attacks and strokes. They published the conclusions of their scientific work in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology. The authors believe that those who have already suffered one heart attack should monitor their waist circumference.

In a new study, the authors showed for the first time that the likelihood of recurrent heart attacks and strokes is higher in people with excess fat in the abdomen.

“Maintaining healthy thallium coverage is important for preventing recurrent strokes and heart attacks, no matter how many medications you take or how normal your tests are,” study co-author Dr. Hanieh Mohammadi of Karolinska University in Stoholm told CNN.

In the new study, researchers followed more than 22,000 patients who suffered one myocardial infarction. They focused on how waist circumference is associated with the development of recurrent heart attacks and strokes. Both diseases develop as a result of blood clots blocking the arteries.

The observation lasted for about four years. During this time, a second heart attack or stroke developed in 7.3% of men and 7.9% of women. Most of the patients had abdominal obesity - waist circumference over 94 centimeters for men and over 80 centimeters for women.

The authors found that abdominal obesity is an independent risk factor for re-heart attack and stroke, along with smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and high body mass index. Scientists emphasize that waist circumference turned out to be a more significant marker than obesity.