Men entering middle age with lots of muscle may lower their future risk of heart disease by more than 80 percent.
Muscle Volume Associated with Future Heart Risk
Could the amount of muscle you have predict how healthy your heart will be later in life? According to a recent study of muscle mass and cardiovascular disease, the answer may be yes, at least for men. Today we look at this provocative new finding that adds to a growing body of evidence pointing to the importance of maintaining muscle for healthy aging.
We begin with a pivot to skeletal muscle. It is central to the strength and power we need to grasp, lift, and walk. This muscle also plays a role in our metabolic health, taking up (and storing) blood sugar. Skeletal muscle is also essential for creating hormones that travel to other organs such as the brain and fat cells, triggering biochemical reactions.
Muscle decline begins in our late 30s
As I approach the age of 58, I can confirm that muscle mass inevitably declines with age. I began to notice my loss (despite being a black belt martial artist) in my early 40s and have seen it increase since then. Historic studies showed low muscle mass associated with cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke, particularly among older men. But did the cardiovascular disease come first, or did the muscle loss?
A new study tracked people’s muscles and heart health as they moved through middle age. Let’s look at data from the ATTICA study in Greece, a research investigation designed to find the roots of cardiovascular disease among Mediterranean people.
The study enrolled several thousand adults in and around Athens (Greece). The enrollees had extensive medical exams and completed lifestyle questionnaires. None had heart disease when at study entry.
Ten years after joining the study, each man and woman returned to the lab for another round of testing, focused on their cardiovascular health. For the current study, researchers targeted those at least 45 years old (and most over age 55) at the second check-in; the participants had been in their 40s when they joined the study.
Please go here to learn the results of the study:
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