Big head and thick neck?

There is a saying in daily life that people with big heads and thick necks are rich. In fact, this has no scientific basis. People with big heads and thick necks have a high chance of suffering from cardiovascular diseases. If a man's neck is longer than 38 cm and a woman's neck is longer than 35 cm, it is generally called a big neck. Everyone needs to be cautious, as this is very likely some potential disease. The following introduces what is going on with a big head and thick neck?

What's the matter with a big head and thick neck? 1. A thick neck indicates obesity. People with thick necks are generally obese, which makes them prone to high blood lipids, blood sugar and blood pressure, sleep apnea syndrome and cardiovascular problems. Most men will experience noticeable changes in body shape after they reach middle age, and most women will experience noticeable changes in body shape after they reach perimenopause. Especially for men, when they reach their forties or fifties, they will gain weight noticeably and their necks will also become thicker. 2. Be careful of cardiovascular disease if you have a thick neck . As you age, your blood vessels begin to age. The middle-aged and elderly people are a high-risk group for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Add to that the high-risk factor of obesity. It is not surprising that people with thick necks have an increased probability of developing cardiovascular disease. Neck circumference, as an indicator reflecting the subcutaneous fat of the upper body, is an independent fat depot located in a separate area compared to visceral fat and is the main source of free fatty acids in the whole body. Compared with normal people, obese people store more free fatty acids in subcutaneous fat. When its storage capacity reaches saturation, the neck circumference increases significantly, and excess fatty acids are deposited around blood vessels and myocardial cells, leading to arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

3. A short and thick neck may be caused by Madelung's disease . Madelung's disease, also known as benign symmetrical lipomatosis, is a disease caused by fat metabolism disorder and diffuse and symmetrical deposition of adipose tissue in the superficial subcutaneous fascial spaces and (or) deep fascial spaces of the neck and shoulders. Among the previous Madelung cases, most patients had the bad habit of alcoholism, and some patients also had liver disease, hypercholesterolemia, hyperuricemia, hypothyroidism, hypertension and other diseases related to excessive drinking. Because this disease is suspected to be obesity, it is easily ignored by most people. Obese people may be more susceptible to Madelung's disease, especially those with fat hyperplasia, such as a short and thick neck and symmetrical fat growing on both sides of the cheeks, which is commonly described as a "bull neck." 4. A thick neck can also increase the incidence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Excessive fat deposition aggravates the narrowing of the upper airway, leading to hypoxia and hypercapnia during sleep. In addition, factors such as disordered sleep structure and irritable personality can also promote the occurrence of hypertension. Hypertension is the basis of cardiovascular disease and can increase the incidence of coronary heart disease, stroke and cardiovascular events such as acute myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death.

[In addition to looking at neck circumference, you should also look at waist circumference] In clinical practice, it is found that most people with thick necks also have thick waist circumference, which is often called an "apple-shaped" body. People with this body shape are more likely to have high blood pressure, high blood lipids, high blood sugar, etc. than ordinary people. These are high-risk factors for coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis. Many obese people notice that their necks are getting thicker, but in fact they already have excess fat in their waist and abdomen. Research published in the British Journal of Nutrition shows that if the ratio of a person's waist circumference to their height is greater than 0.5, they will have a greater chance of developing cardiovascular disease, which means that the waist circumference should not exceed half of their height. [Daily Care] When you find that your neck has become thicker, you should first control your diet, pay attention to low salt and low fat, reduce sugar intake, and eat more fresh vegetables and fruits; it is recommended to exercise moderately, control your weight and waist circumference, and not stay up late; people who snore should pay attention to adjusting their sleeping position, try to lie on your side, adjust the height of the pillow, keep the airway open, and improve sleep quality; maintain an optimistic mood and avoid anxiety; strictly quit smoking and limit alcohol. People who already have diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, and diabetes should adhere to regular drug treatment, do a good job in secondary prevention of chronic diseases, and reduce cardiovascular disease events.

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