It was the first sign of a heart attack.
Millions of people die each year due to insidious heart disease. Therefore, it is vital to protect our heart health and diagnose heart disease early. Although it is generally believed that the symptoms of heart disease occur in the heart, studies state that they also show different symptoms. Changes in the ear can warn of heart disease.
IF YOU EXPERIENCE A CHANGE IN YOUR EAR, SEE THE DOCTOR
Researchers have found a link between earlobe wrinkles and coronary artery disease. The fold usually forms a 45-degree angle and runs diagonally backward. While the crease in the earlobe isn’t always a sign of heart disease, experts recommend seeing a doctor if you experience the change. The diagonal crease of the earlobe is named after Frank Sanford, who said that the line from the opening of the auricle to the earlobe can predict the development of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and premature aging. Frank observed this connection in the 1970s and since then experts have conducted numerous studies on the subject.
IS TINING IN THE EAR LINKED TO HEART DISEASE?
A pulmonologist, Dr. Frank Sanford, reported an association between heart disease and earlobe creases in a 1973 article, based on the conclusions he and his colleagues had drawn. In the decades since, many researchers have studied the relationship between the earlobe line and coronary artery disease. One of the best-known studies, based on more than 500 autopsies, found that earlobe creases predicted the risk of heart disease in people younger than 40 years old in 80 percent of cases.
IT HAS BEEN OBSERVED IN 80 PERCENT OF EARLOBES PATIENTS
Another study also found that earlobe wrinkles are associated with an increased incidence, size, and severity of heart disease. In another study that involved about 250 patients hospitalized for an acute stroke, they found that about 80 percent had a diagonal crease in their earlobes. Based on the results, the doctors concluded that crossed earlobe folds can predict ischemic stroke, that is, heart disease caused by insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle. The research on this topic is a 2021 study reporting that the earlobe fold is still insufficient to detect chronic coronary syndromes in relation to the diagnostic utility of the earlobe fold.
WHY CAN CROWNED EARRINGS SIGN HEART DISEASE?
Researchers aren’t sure where the aforementioned mysterious ear-heart connection comes from. One explanation is that the heart muscle and the earlobe consist of the same hereditary material and are directly related to each other. From another point of view, ear wrinkles are a form of skin degeneration that can result from vascular disease.
LACK OF BLOOD FLOW CAN CAUSE WRINKLES
But there are other theories about the relationship between diagonal earlobes and coronary artery disease. For example, changes in the DNA helix of a particular chromosome may be related to the diagonal fold of the earlobe, as both are linked to atherosclerosis, the cause of coronary artery disease. Elastin, the protein responsible for the flexibility and strength of tissues, may also play a role in earlobe wrinkling. Physical wrinkles can occur due to lack of blood flow.
RISK SYMPTOMS
It is more important to see a doctor if you experience symptoms related to coronary artery disease. These worsen with exertion and disappear at rest. These symptoms include chest pain or pressure, pain in the shoulder or lower jaw, chest pain radiating to the left arm, pain or swelling in the leg, shortness of breath, and fatigue.