A study from the University of Edinburgh finds that greater muscle density in the chest and back is associated with a lower risk of having a heart attack or dying in the decade after medical scanning. Researchers analysed routine heart scan data from 1,722 people, most of whom were in their fifties and had experienced chest pain. Using artificial intelligence to assess the scans, they report that people with higher muscle density in areas such as the back (including portions of pectoral muscles and intercostal muscles between the ribs) were less likely to experience a heart attack or die over the follow-up period. The association remains after accounting for other potential risk factors, including age, sex, and the extent of calcium build-up in the arteries. The findings suggest that muscle composition—not muscle size—may be relevant to cardiovascular health. While the study does not prove cause-and-effect, it adds to broader evidence that exercise supports heart health. The authors note that further research is needed to clarify how strength and other types of exercise might influence muscle density and subsequent heart outcomes.
Study links chest and back muscle density with lower heart attack risk
A study from the University of Edinburgh finds that greater muscle density in the chest and back is associated with a lower risk of having a heart attack or dying in the decade after medical scanning....
- Researchers from the University of Edinburgh analyse heart scan data from 1,722 people who had chest pain.
- Artificial intelligence is used to assess chest and back muscle density on scans.
- Higher muscle density is linked with lower risk of heart attack or death over about the next 10 years.
- The findings hold after adjusting for factors including age, sex, and arterial calcium build-up.
- The study suggests muscle composition matters more than muscle size, and further research is needed.
New research from the University of Edinburgh reveals a surprising link between chest and back muscle strength and heart health. Denser muscles, not just size, significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and death over a decade. This study highlights that prioritizing strength training alongside aerobic exercise can lead to better metabolic health, reduced inflammation, and improved overall well-being, offering a powerful new perspective on cardiovascular protection.
4 hours agoJade Stephens on Unsplash" />Strong chest and back muscles have been linked to a lower risk of a heart attack in a new study. Eating a balanced (largely Mediterranean) diet, steering clear of stress, and quitting smoking are just some of the ways to help reduce your heart attack risk.Exercise also has a huge bearing. Studies have consistently found physical activity has a protective effect against heart disease, which can lead to heart attacks. Adding to this body of evidence, researchers recently looked at the routine heart scans of 1,722 people, mostly in their fifties, who’d experienced chest pain.Using artificial intelligence to analyse the scans, they found people with greater muscle density in their chest and back were less likely to have a heart attack or die in the decade after having the scan. One of the study’s senior authors, Professor Michelle Williams, from the Centre for Cardiovascular Science at the University of Edinburgh, said the findings have inspired her to go to the gym twice a week (where possible) and walk for an hour a day.“It is fascinating that people’s skeletal muscle could be linked to their risk of having a heart attack. The muscles which show up in the scans we used ... are principally the back muscles, part of the pectoral muscles (or ‘pecs’) and the intercostal muscles between the ribs,” she said. “So I am now personally interested in exercises like cycling, planks and pilates, which I enjoy and may have an effect on these muscles. However we need far more research to better understand how exercise may affect muscle density, and how this may relate to heart health.”The reduction in heart attack risk was witnessed even after taking into account other factors which may increase a person’s risk of heart attack and death, such as age, sex and the amount of calcium build-up up in their arteries. Researchers said it’s likely that people who exercise enough to have strong muscles in their upper body have a healthy lifestyle which protects their heart in other ways.What type of exercise should I prioritise for heart health?The researchers said all kinds of exercise, not just strength-training, can improve muscle density.The size of people’s muscles was not linked to their risk of a heart attack or early death, which suggests it is the composition of the muscle which matters. Cardiac rehab physiotherapist Helen Alexander previously told the British Heart Foundation (BHF) that three types of exercise can help strengthen heart health.These are:1. Aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, cycling and swimming,2. Resistance and strength training, such as lifting weights, using resistance bands, doing squats and press-ups,3. Exercise that improves balance and flexibility, such as tai chi and yoga.Professor Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the BHF, which helped fund the study, said the findings provide “yet more evidence supporting the power of exercise”.“Every time we move, we are making a positive difference to our muscles, our blood vessels and our overall health, and regular exercise can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by up to a third,” he said. Related...The 'Micro-Habits' That Could Save Your HeartThe Tiny Tinned Fish You Should Be Eating For Brain, Bone And Heart HealthThe 'Powerhouse' Veg That Could Boost Heart, Bone And Eye Health
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