Can The Shape of Your Earlobe Predict a Heart Attack?
Most people are very well aware of the correlation of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, etc.. but ear creases?!
To the surprise of many people, Earlobe Creases May Indicate Artery Disease.
The possible association between ear lobe creases and coronary artery disease garnered attention when a study by Dr. William Elliott was published in The American Journal of Medicine more than a decade ago. Results of his study indicated that 19 out of 20 people with risk factors for coronary artery disease also had diagonally creased earlobes.
Dr. Elliott recently completed a larger study of 1,000 people admitted to the medical service of a large hospital that seemed to confirm his earlier studies. Of the 373 people with ear lobe creases, 275 (74%) had coronary artery disease and 98 (26%) did not. Of the 627 people with no ear lobe creases, 101 (16%) had coronary artery disease, and 526 (84%) did not. Some additional studies, but not all by any means, have found similar results.
An article published in the 1996 American Journal Of Medicine stated that ear lobe creases were shown to be associated with higher rates of cardiac events in this study of 264 consecutive patients. (Am J Med 1996 02/01;100:0205)
The presence of a diagonal ear lobe crease has been recognized as a sign of cardiovascular disease since 1973.
Over 50 subsequent studies have been reported in the medical literature, with the largest involving 1,000 unselected patients. The ear lobe is richly vascularized, and a decrease in blood flow over an extended period of time is believed to result in collapse of the vascular bed. This leads to a diagonal crease.
Although my research of the literature on earlobe creases and heart disease was quite revealing, I must emphasize that an individual should be knowledgeable of all the risk factors that may contribute or be linked to heart disease.
- Family history of cardiovascular disease
- Personal history of myocardial infarction, peripheral artery disease, or coronary artery disease
- Thyroid disorders
- Chronic illness (including chronic fatigue)
- Diets high in saturated and trans fats
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Use of alcohol,nicotine,drugs (including certain medications)
- Use of oral contraceptives
- Hormonal imbalances (estradiol, cortisol, insulin, melatonin)
- Renal disease
- Earlobe crease
A review of the medical research strongly documents the need for all individuals suspect of having heart disease to be thoroughly evaluated. If you have been evaluated and been told that your cholesterol and blood pressure was within acceptable limits, you may get a false sense of security. When in reality, you may be on the brink of a heart attack or stroke.
The following "markers" should be part of comprehensive cardiovascular screening. Considering heart disease is the number one killer in America today, I will go as far to say that I recommend the following "cardiovascular markers" be part of a routine physical evaluation.
Cardiovascular disease claims as many lives as the next 8 leading causes of death combined, including cancer, accidents and AIDS. No other modern illness comes close to reaping such a grim toll on human life:
Over 950,000 deaths a year in the U.S. alone-or an average of about 2600 deaths each day.
Clinical Markers Include:
- Total Cholesterol
- Apolipoprotein A-1
- Apolipoprotein B
- Ratio of Apo B/Apo A-1
- C-Reactive Protein
Dr. Grisanti's Comments:
It is interesting to study the medical research and see the wealth of information supporting my article. I want to encourage all people reading this report to take personal responsibility for their health, especially their cardiovascular health. Don't settle on a "good report" on your cholesterol and blood pressure as the only measurements of your "heart health." Your false sense of confidence may cause you to over-estimate your "heart health" leading to a potential stroke or heart attack.
New Study: G. Zapata-Wainberg and J. Vivancos, Bilateral Earlobe Creases, New England Journal Medicine 2013;368
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Before starting any self treatment Dr. Grisanti recommends that you consider consulting with a doctor trained in functional medicine. Visit www.FunctionalMedicineUniversity.com to find doctors thoroughly trained in functional medicine
Functional medicine embraces the totality of the regulatory functions of the body. It encompasses all of the biophysical, biochemical, enzymatic, endocrine, immunological, and bioenergetic regulatory capacities.
Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., D.A.C.B.N., M.S.