A wrinkle on the earlobe is a sign of something

I don't want to scare you, but you need to pay attention to your nails, eyes and ears.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men and women.

That's why it's important to take extra care of your heart and avoid risk factors that may be associated with heart disease.

When it comes to heart disease, symptoms can manifest differently for everyone.

Many people only find out about heart problems when they have a heart attack.

But this should not be the first signal to action.

Signs of Heart Disease

There are several symptoms of heart disease, which you should pay attention to:

Chest discomfort

Nausea, indigestion, heartburn or stomach pain

Dizziness or weakness

Sore throat or jaw

Pain spreading to the arm

All of these symptoms are common and tell you to pay attention to your heart or make an appointment with your doctor if your symptoms persist.

It is important to know that there are unusual signs that you may have heart problems. These are external manifestations that you can see with the naked eye, and which will help you learn more about your health.

Signs of heart problems

1. Folds on the earlobes

More than 40 different studies have found a link between earlobe folds and an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis, a disease in which plaque builds up inside the arteries.

It is difficult to say what causes this connection, but many experts believe that it has to do with general embryological characteristics.

Deep folds on the ears are known as Frank's sign and were named after Sanders Frank, the physician who first described this phenomenon.

2. Fatty bumps

Yellowish fatty growths, scientifically called xanthomas, appear on the elbows, knees, buttocks and eyelids and are one of the external manifestations of heart disease.

These plaques occur in people with a genetic disorder called familial hypercholesterolemia, in which the level of bad cholesterol is so high that it is deposited on the skin. Unfortunately, such fatty deposits also settle in the arteries that go to the heart.

Signs of heart disease

3. Thickened, rounded fingernails

Nail deformation occurs as a result of changes in the shape of the nail. It becomes thicker and wider due to the production of large amounts of tissue.

This sign indicates heart disease, since oxygenated blood does not reach the fingers. Because of this, tissue cells grow, and nails become like watch glasses.

4. Circle around the cornea

The so-called corneal arc is one of the indicators of coronary insufficiency. The ring is often gray in color and located around the cornea, representing a fat deposit.

It does not interfere with vision and occurs in about 45 percent of people over 40 and 70 percent of people over 60.

5. Sore gums and loose teeth

Our mouth is filled with good and bad bacteria. Bad bacteria can enter the bloodstream in the mouth and cause inflammation of blood vessels, leading to heart disease.

Moreover, research has shown that some markers of heart disease are tooth loss, loose teeth and inflamed gums (periodontitis).

If your lips have a bluish tint, and this is not due to cold or altitude, then this indicates heart problems.

Bluish skin occurs when the cardiovascular system is unable to provide oxygenated blood to the tissues.

If this symptom occurs along with the others mentioned above, you should consult a doctor for advice.

These are not symptoms, but a reason to pay attention. With characteristic signs, the body warns in advance about possible diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

1. Fold on the earlobe

Diagonal folds on the earlobe are a sign of heart disease. They were first described by the American Frank Sanders. The folds are called Frank's sign in his honor. Such marks are on the ears of the famous film director Steven Spielberg.

More than 40 studies have confirmed that folds are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis, a disease in which plaque builds up in the arteries. The reasons for the connection have not yet been clearly identified. But recently a connection has been discovered not only with cardiovascular diseases, but also with similar problems of cerebral vessels.

2. Xanthomas

These growths under the skin on the elbows, knees, buttocks or eyelids are fatty deposits. Xanthomas themselves are harmless, but they are a sign of possible heart disease or other health problems.

Most often, fat deposits are formed in people with the genetic disease hypercholesterolemia. Their blood contains a lot of low-density lipoproteins, the so-called “bad cholesterol”. There is so much of it that it is deposited under the skin and also in the arteries, forming dangerous plaques.

3. Fingers of Hippocrates

A strange-looking symptom, when fingers look like drumsticks and nails like convex watch glasses, may be a sign of heart disease.

The deformity develops when oxygenated blood does not reach the fingers in the required volume. Cells, trying to solve the problem, produce a special substance that promotes tissue growth.

Drumsticks are one of the well-studied medical symptoms. It was first described by Hippocrates in the fifth century BC. Since then, the disease has been called Hippocrates' fingers.

4. Corneal arch

Excess cholesterol can be deposited not only under the skin or in the blood vessels, but also in the eyes, forming gray-blue arcs or a ring around the outer part of the iris. The symptom is noted in 45% of people over 40 years of age and up to 70% of people over 60 years of age.

A corneal arch does not interfere with vision, but since it indicates a violation of lipid metabolism, it is a sign of impending heart disease.

5. Sore gums and loose teeth

Research confirms that gum inflammation and tooth loss are associated with heart and vascular diseases. There are many bacteria in the mouth, both beneficial and harmful to the body. Bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream, causing inflammation in the blood vessels.

6. Blue lips

Usually people's lips are red. They turn blue or bluish due to lack of oxygen. It's okay if your lips turn blue from the cold or in the mountains. But a persistent change in color gives reason to check the condition of the cardiovascular system.

Find out more

Good health!

Thank you for your interest. If the article is worthy, please like it and share it with your friends on social networks. Subscribe to the channel, don't miss the latest publications.

Medicines, advice on treatment, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle mentioned in this or any other channel publication should not be taken or used without consulting a specialist.

Your risk of developing heart disease increases if you are overweight or smoke. But the diagonal fold on the earlobe can also say something about this.

An earlobe with a fold has a straight depression, or gyrus, which seems to cut the earlobe in half. In 1973, the New England Journal of Medicine reported that the diagonal fold of the earlobe was a possible indicator of coronary artery disease (CAD). This fold was called the “Frank sign” after the author of the publication, Dr. Sanders T. Frank.

So could a small mark on the ear actually have something to do with heart disease?

Scientists have not yet established an exact connection, but there are several theories. A fold on the earlobe is formed due to degeneration of elastic tissue around the vessels supplying blood to the earlobe. Such changes in blood vessels also occur with ischemic heart disease. In other words, visible changes in the small blood vessels of the ear may indicate a similar process in the vessels surrounding the heart.

The cause of the fold on the earlobe can also be Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, or gigantism, as well as a genetically determined shape of the earlobe or racial differences.

Should you be concerned if you have a crease in your earlobe?

Scientists have been studying the potential link between the earlobe crease and CAD. Studies show different results: some found a connection, others did not.

Supporting studies

A 1982 study of 340 patients found that earlobe folding was a sign of early aging and CAD. Scientists have concluded that the fold may be an indicator of a tendency to early aging and the development of heart disease, so it is possible to improve the prognosis for such patients through preventive measures.

In 1989, the results of a study of 300 corpses of patients who died from various causes were published. Researchers have found a strong link between earlobe crease and cardiovascular cause of death in men and women. In studies from 1991, 2006 and 2012, the results were similar. In 80% of cases in people under 40 years of age, a fold of the earlobe was a sign of coronary artery disease.

Opposite results

In other studies involving American Indians and Japanese Americans, researchers did not find a significant correlation. This may indicate that Frank's sign may not be associated with coronary heart disease in other ethnic groups, and may not be as significant in patients who have more significant risk factors, particularly diabetes.

In addition, some studies note that with age, earlobe folds and heart disease are more common and may not be related to each other. That is, this fold is just a sign of the aging process in some people.

What does this mean for you?

There is now enough evidence of a link between having a diagonal earlobe crease and heart disease to seriously consider it if you have one. Recent studies suggest that the diagonal fold is a predictor of CAD more often than traditional risk factors. Start by seeing your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other risk factors. Assessing all the data, including the structure of the ear, will help you see the whole picture of your risk and determine the steps you can take to protect your heart health.