Check the Neck for Heart Risk

[steaner]

When a doctor determines your risk for heart disease, he or she might look at your weight, cholesterol level and blood pressure. But soon, they may also look at your neck.
(ABC photo illustration)

Independent of other factors, the width of your neck may play a role in determining your heart disease risk, according to researchers with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, who presented their data Wednesday at a meeting of the American Heart Association in Orlando, Fla.
"It's very interesting that neck circumference was associated with [higher measures of] heart disease risk," said Dr. Vijay Nambi, a cardiologist at the Baylor College of Medicine, who was not involved with the research.
He noted that if the results of the preliminary research hold up after further study, it could provide a novel approach in determining a patient's risk.

[abigailpoul]

Since this is the first time the data submitted, Sarah Rosner Preis, and NHLBI postdoctoral researcher and research leader pointed out that the findings are preliminary. She's found a wider neck and other higher risk of heart disease related to the level of measurement.

[petercheck1]

Independent of other factors, the width of your neck may play a role in determining your heart disease risk, according to researchers with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, who presented their data Wednesday at a meeting of the American Heart Association in Orlando, Fla.