Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a kind of visceral fats within the coronary heart. It lies between the myocardium, the thick muscular layer of the guts muscle, and the pericardium, the skinny sac that surrounds the guts. Unlike subcutaneous fats, which is beneath your pores and skin, visceral fats surrounds your organs and might trigger well being issues.
EAT is related to a number of coronary heart circumstances, together with heart problems and irregular rhythms referred to as arrhythmias. Weight loss and sure medicines can generally decrease EAT ranges and enhance coronary heart well being.
EAT is an energetic fats as a result of it’s made up of energetic free fatty acids. Normal ranges of EAT are useful as a result of the fatty acids play a key function in your coronary heart’s metabolism. They assist keep power manufacturing and hold the guts at a wholesome temperature.
This layer of visceral fats may shield the coronary arteries. A 2017 review of earlier analysis additionally means that EAT secretes molecules referred to as cytokines that regulate the operate of the arterial partitions, blood clotting, and irritation.
However, an excessive amount of of factor might be dangerous. High ranges of EAT can improve irritation within the coronary heart.
And as a result of the visceral fats is correct subsequent to the myocardium, there’s an elevated danger of myocarditis, irritation of the myocardium. According to a 2022 study, myocarditis is a significant danger issue for arrhythmia.
In a separate 2022 study, researchers recommend that the buildup of EAT may cause your coronary arteries to slim. This will increase your danger of coronary artery illness, the most typical type of coronary heart illness. The research notes that as EAT ranges rise, your physique responds to the discharge of anti-inflammatory molecules by producing extra pro-inflammatory molecules.
A 2017 report additionally notes that the EAT buildup isn’t only a danger issue for coronary heart illness. It’s additionally a consequence. Damage to your coronary heart can enable extra adipose tissue to gather throughout the coronary heart’s layers.
For individuals with kind 2 diabetes, excessive ranges of EAT could also be notably harmful. Diabetes is an unbiased danger issue for coronary heart illness, however higher EAT thickness might elevate the danger.
A 2020 study means that extra EAT tends to be extra widespread in people with kind 2 diabetes. The research additionally notes that any such visceral fats can be related to atherosclerosis (plaque buildup that narrows your arteries) and cardiovascular occasions, reminiscent of coronary heart assault.
A 2022 study of greater than 700 individuals additionally linked excessive ranges of EAT with a higher danger of creating extreme COVID-19 with cardiac issues.
Your physician might not search for excessive ranges of EAT except you might have diabetes or have been identified with an arrhythmia or different cardiac situation. But your physician can decide whether or not you might have excessive ranges of EAT utilizing varied varieties of cardiac imaging.
One generally used and comparatively low value screening is transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). TTE makes use of sound waves to create computerized photos of the guts and the community of blood vessels within the chest.
A typical CT scan or MRI can also reveal how thick EAT is within the coronary heart. The higher the thickness, the upper the probability of issues.
A 2016 study of greater than 100 adults means that the common EAT thickness in wholesome individuals with no cardiac circumstances was about 4.4 millimeters (mm). The common thickness for individuals who develop acute coronary syndromes (issues from lowered blood circulation to the guts) was about 6.9 mm.
If your physician determines that you’ve an excessive amount of EAT and you’re chubby, they might advise you to drop extra pounds by exercising and consuming a extra balanced food plan.
Medications, reminiscent of GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors, could also be prescribed to assist cut back EAT ranges. Doctors often prescribe these medicines to assist deal with diabetes and weight problems.
Your physician can use additional imaging to examine when you’ve lowered your EAT thickness. For many individuals, the mix of medicines and a life-style that gives health-promoting advantages can reverse a few of the issues triggered by extra EAT.
While it’s possible you’ll not be capable of see epicardial adipose tissue the best way you possibly can see stomach fats, extra EAT can nonetheless pose dangers to your coronary heart well being.
If testing reveals that you’ve an excessive amount of visceral fats round your coronary heart, discuss together with your physician about methods to scale back it and different steps you possibly can take to guard your coronary heart.