Today is the World Heart Day, a day when people all over the world especially those connected with the health segment remind us that in the daily grind, most of us neglect this important piece of equipment. The theme for this year is 'Healthy Weight, Healthy Shape.'
It is no secret that obesity has become the public enemy number one in recent times. The adverse effects of this pandemic on the structure and function of the heart are well documented. And this risk is brought home by the fact that heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide.
Increasingly, cardiovascular diseases are being noticed in younger individuals. Of late this trend has been highlighted by the fact that abdominal fat poses a great deal of danger to the heart in that the presence of abdominal fat is an indicator to future cardiac complications.
It is with this fact in mind that this year's World Heart Day has been dedicated to shaping up for a better heart. And measuring up your waist circumference and taking steps to control the fat in that area could be the first step towards maintaining a healthy heart for the rest of your life.
The American Heart Association says that for a man the permissible waist circumference is 40 inches, while it is 35 inches for a woman. Anything above this and you are on shaky ground, the organization cautions. Professor Sidney Smith, of the University of North Carolina and Chairman Scientific Advisory Board, World Heart Federation says that abdominal fat increases the insulin resistance and hence makes you more prone to diabetes as well, “To reduce the number of deaths from cardiovascular disease, it is vitally important that excess abdominal fat, shown by an increase in waist circumference, be included as a target of clinical intervention among obese individuals,” he says.
It is again a well known fact that 30 minutes of brisk walking is a powerful pro-cardiac activity and lessens the risk of developing serious consequences later on. The World Heart Federation has made it its job to make people aware of the risks that obesity imparts on the heart. Today the federation will be conducting "health checks, walks, runs, fitness sessions, public talks, stage shows, scientific forums, exhibitions, concerts and sports tournaments" to promote awareness about this year's theme.
To find out what is going on in your area please access http://www.worldheartday.com.
