Vertical fold on the earlobe

Prevention of cardiovascular diseases is the main goal of doctors, but early diagnosis is also very important. This may lead to lifestyle changes and medical treatments that delay the onset of a heart attack or prevent you from having one. Almost 80% of all heart diseases can be prevented through lifestyle changes. You will be surprised to know the following signs of underlying heart disease.

Erectile dysfunction may indicate blocked arteries

Men have their own warning system for asymptomatic coronary artery disease. If it is difficult or impossible to achieve an erection, this indicates a blockage of the arteries in the pelvic area, which often occurs before a heart attack occurs. On average, three to five years pass between the onset of erectile dysfunction and the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. This means you have enough time to detect the disease and prevent heart problems. If you're starting to have sexual problems, look for and treat the underlying causes of arterial damage before just buying a life-saving pill.

Baldness may indicate an artery problem

In a comprehensive new study of nearly 37,000 men, severe balding on the crown of the head was a sign of silent coronary artery disease at any age. In a separate study of nearly 7,000 people (including 4,000 women), moderate to severe baldness was associated with a doubling of the risk of death from heart disease. The results are true for both sexes.

A crease on the earlobe indicates blockage of the arteries

One rather strange sign of clogged arteries is a crease in the ear (specifically, a sloping crease that runs diagonally from the canal to the bottom edge of the earlobe). This feature has been mentioned in medical research reports on asymptomatic coronary artery disease for several decades. A crease in the ear can be the result of poor blood circulation, including to the arteries and heart. Although some experts say it is just one sign of aging, researchers last year used a sophisticated CT scan to measure signs of coronary artery disease. They found that ear crease predicted heart disease, even when the authors did not take into account other risk factors such as age and smoking.

Pain in legs while walking

Pain in the legs that causes you to limp also indicates clogged arteries. Atherosclerosis can block the arteries of the leg, especially in smokers, even before a diagnosis of coronary artery disease is established. This symptom requires immediate diagnosis. Your doctor should measure the pulses in the legs and perform simple measurements of blood pressure and blood flow in the legs to confirm a diagnosis of poor circulation. It is very important to diagnose coronary artery disease as early as possible, since there are many dietary and medical treatments that can solve this problem.

It is necessary to include more plant foods in your diet and, if possible, give up food of animal origin, and also start taking walks. In this case, the pain in your legs will go away in just a few weeks and will not bother you for at least another few years.

Anyone who has at least one of the above symptoms should know their normal blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels. You should be screened for heart disease using an ECG, coronary calcium imaging, and exercise testing. Preventing the disease will cost you much less effort than treating it.

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.

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.