Heart diseases are a leading cause of death around the world. These are often blamed on genetic factors, but as per experts, hypertension and high cholesterol also have a huge role to play in the same....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
As per doctors, both high blood pressure and high cholesterol can be called silent killers as these conditions aggravate silently without showing any early signs and symptoms.
Over time, if left untreated, they can result in strokes, coronary heart disease or heart failure. High cholesterol, in particular, is a consequence of atherosclerosis, a condition charactersied by fat build-up in the arteries.
Read on to know its symptoms that appear in the ears.
What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?
According to experts, the sooner one spots the symptoms of high cholesterol, the better it is as one can seek treatment timely.
It can even lead to a heart attack if left unaddressed for too long. And when it comes to the early symptoms of high cholesterol, most doctors note the following:
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Feeling weak
Confusion
Chronic fatigue
Pain in the legs and arms while exercising
But according to doctors, Frank’s sign is also an important early symptom. This refers to a small diagonal crease in the lower part of the earlobe.
How is Frank’s sign linked to high cholesterol?
Frank’s sign was first discovered in 1975 in patients under 60 years of age living with coronary artery disease and angina. Doctors noticed a diagonal crease on the ear.
And in a recent study, it was discovered that the earlobe crease could be associated with low concentration of klotho, an age-suppressing hormone.
Another study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine in 2021 evaluated 3951 patients living with coronary disease.
Researchers also concluded that its presence should not affect clinical care for patients. However, for easy interpretation, it was be considered a part of physical examination.
How to reduce heart disease risk?
In some patients, genetics play a role in raising risk of atherosclerosis. But it is also associated with lifestyle choices such as diet and smoking. In order to reduce its risk, doctors suggest the following:
Maintain a healthy weight
Quit smoking
Eat healthy fats
Limit intake of saturated fats and sugar
Do not drink more than 14 units of alcohol in a week
Exercise regularly
Keep blood sugar levels under control…CONTINUE READING>>
