As you age, the risk of getting diabetes or heart disease can be cause for real concern.
The aging heart undergoes changes even if it is not showing signs of disease. The muscles relax less between beats. The pumping chambers become stiffer and work less efficiently. The heart doesn’t pump as strongly as it once did.
The older heart can’t respond as well to exercise either. It can’t increase the rate of its contractions like it did in youth. That 50-yard dash becomes almost impossible, because the heart can’t get enough oxygen to the muscles.
And as far as diabetes goes, we can become more insulin- resistant as we age. Being sedentary and overweight increases the risk of becoming insulin-resistant even more. Diabetes is a huge problem right now among the elderly.
It’s a bit of a vicious circle, really. The heart ages, so you may cut back on exercise. But then you find yourself gaining extra pounds.
Is there anything you can do to lessen your risk of developing heart disease or diabetes?
Researchers now have proof that if you manage your waistline, you will significantly lower your risk.
French researchers found that men and women whose waistlines expanded by 3 inches or more over nine years were at increased risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.
According to the study, the extra weight caused a number of symptoms to appear in the study participants. These included high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.
Not surprisingly, participants who shed just an inch or more from their midsections had a lower risk of developing these symptoms.
And, for those already showing signs of heart disease and diabetes, a slimmed-down waistline helped improve their condition. These participants were four times more likely to reverse high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and insulin resistance than those who lost no weight.
“Both BMI and waist size are important in the risks of diabetes and heart disease,” said Dr. Beverley Balkau, lead author of the study.
However, Balkau told Reuters Health that people can be a normal weight based on BMI, yet have a large waist. These individuals are still at risk for developing diabetes and heart disease.
The good news, the researchers say, is that a large waistline is entirely in your control to change. Diet and exercise can be made a daily part of your routine. Weight loss can be achieved slowly. And exercises can be added as you strengthen your body and become more fit.
If you would like to shed some of those extra pounds, talk to your healthcare provider. Your doctor may be able to recommend some strategies. There may also be other support available to help you.
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Tags: Cholesterol, heart disease, what's the best exercise
