Does Neck Size Indicate Health?

Dr.Rakesh Pandit, 3 mins read

Yes. Recent studies suggest that the circumference of your neck can provide insights into your metabolic and cardiovascular health, nutritional status, and even the likelihood of mortality. Therefore, you can make informed predictions about your health and receive a timely diagnosis from your doctor. Let’s break it down into simple words.  

Understand the Relation Between Neck Size and Health Risks 

In this modern era, we are surrounded by innumerable screening methods that can tell us about problems early on. Thus, helping us in getting better and early treatment, which improves the outcomes. 

There are annual health checkups and wearable gadgets, which aid in the prediction of health. But there is one more way, which is simply looking at your body at home for any abnormal signs. 

Take the example of self-examination of breasts in front of a mirror at home to check for any abnormal signs. This approach is even trusted by experts for the early detection of breast cancer. 

Likewise, your neck size can tell you a lot about your health.

Sounds absurd? Well, here is the explanation. 

By neck size, we mean neck circumference. You can measure the circumference just below Adam's apple. It is an easy, non-invasive method for health screening. A thicker neck means excess upper body fat, which is a marker for many health issues. 

Excess fat is a primary risk factor for many health conditions. There are many tools to measure obesity, like BMI (Body Mass Index) and waist measurement. Add neck circumference to it. A thicker neck could mean metabolic trouble and clogged arteries. 

According to the study, a neck circumference of around 38 cm for men and 33.7 cm for women can be an indication of metabolic syndrome. 

Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that together can raise the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and other serious conditions.

Now, if we talk about clogged arteries, men with a neck circumference of 43 cm or larger and women with a neck circumference of 36 cm or larger are at a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation is a heart disorder where the heart beats irregularly and chaotically, raising the risk of blood clotting in the heart, which can lead to stroke, heart failure, and other serious heart-related conditions.  

Experts have also flagged the possible risk of obstructive sleep apnea with a higher neck circumference. It is a sleep disorder where the upper respiratory system repeatedly closes or narrows during sleeping, leading to pauses in breathing. 

According to experts, neck circumference is a measure of fat stored around the neck and shoulder. Higher fat in this region can lead to inflammation, insulin resistance, heart strain, sleep apnea, and other problems.

By this time, you most probably have tried to measure the circumference of your neck. If not, then do it now. If you find your neck size in the risky range, consult a doctor to know if it is due to an underlying issue and what you can do to reduce your neck circumference.