Recently, a topic that has been widely discussed is the association between earlobe folds and heart disease. Some have highlighted the importance of this phenomenon through personal experience. For example, one netizen shared his own experience: "My husband's earlobe folds became more noticeable before the heart attack, which made me more convinced that there is a link between earlobe folds and heart health. On the other hand, there are also those who question this statement, arguing that it is just an unfounded concern.
So, can earlobe folds really predict heart disease? First, we need to understand what an earlobe fold is. It refers to one or more creases that appear on the front of the earlobe, a phenomenon that is congenital in some people and may appear with age in others.
Historically, several medical studies have attempted to explore the potential link between earlobe folds and heart health. These studies suggest that earlobe folds may be linked to coronary artery disease, a condition in which the heart does not supply enough blood. However, the conclusions of these studies were inconsistent, and most studies had limited sample sizes, which meant that we could not use earlobe folds as a reliable indicator for diagnosing heart disease.
In practice, doctors usually don't tell a patient to be at risk of heart disease just because of earlobe folds. The assessment of heart health requires a combination of factors, including but not limited to family history, lifestyle, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, etc. In addition, regular physical examinations and heart function tests are more accurate ways to assess heart health.
Earlobe creases, a phenomenon that has attracted the attention of the medical community since the early 70s of the 20th century. Initially, Frank's study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, noted that 19 out of 20 subjects with earlobe creases carried risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This study suggests that earlobe creases may be linked to cardiovascular health.
Subsequent research has further deepened this understanding. In 1974, a survey of 531 patients with acute myocardial infarction showed that about 47 percent had earlobe creases, a significantly higher proportion than the control group of 30 percent. A subsequent Danish study also found that nearly 47% of patients aged 50 to 59 years with acute myocardial infarction had earlobe creases. A 1976 study further revealed the association between earlobe crease and age, and found that a higher proportion of coronary heart disease patients over the age of 40 had earlobe creases.
These studies seem to suggest a link between earlobe creases and cardiovascular health. However, this view is controversial in clinical practice. On the one hand, some studies support earlobe creases as a marker of cardiovascular disease risk, and on the other hand, some experts believe that more evidence is needed to support this association.
An earlobe crease can be a warning sign of cardiovascular problems, but it cannot be used alone to diagnose cardiovascular disease. Doctors will consider a variety of factors when making a diagnosis, including the patient's overall health, family medical history, lifestyle habits, etc. Earlobe crease may be a cause for concern, but it should not be a decisive factor in clinical diagnosis.
From a medical point of view, earlobe creases may be a sign of arteriolar pathology throughout the body, especially in the coronary arteries of the heart. The earlobe, as the only part of the ear that contains more soft tissue, is mainly composed of connective tissue and is particularly sensitive to insufficient blood**. When arteriosclerosis occurs, the earlobe and heart muscle may suffer from microcirculation disorders at the same time, which can cause collagen fibers to break and form earlobe creases.
However, the clinical significance of this phenomenon is not consistent. Studies have shown that the sensitivity, specificity, and positive values of earlobe crease as an indicator of cardiovascular disease vary across ethnicities and clinical settings. In the 1980s, studies linked earlobe creases to sleeping positions, suggesting that they could be temporary. However, follow-up studies have found that long-term sleep on the side can cause the earlobe to fold over for a long time, forming permanent creases.
Another factor worth noting is age. The incidence of earlobe crease is positively correlated with age, which is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This has led some researchers to believe that the presence of earlobe creases may be indicative of premature aging relative to peers. For example, people with signs of Progeria, such as baldness, gray hair, and wrinkles, are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease.
In Japan, Higuchi et al. found that in patients with metabolic syndrome, the presence of earlobe creases was associated with shorter telomerase lengths, which were associated with longevity lengths. The study from Xi'an University also noted that the exact relationship between earlobe creases and cardiovascular disease remains unclear. International studies have also shown that earlobe creases may be associated with telomere shortening, suggesting that it may be a sign of premature aging or normal aging.
Still, an earlobe crease does not necessarily mean a heart attack or a risk of sudden death. It may be an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease and is useful for initial screening, but it is not a substitute for modern medical tests such as coronary angiography or CT angiography. Therefore, if middle-aged and elderly people find that they have creases on their earlobes, it is recommended to go to the hospital for heart disease-related tests, such as echocardiology** and blood biochemical tests, so that the diagnosis can be confirmed and appropriate**.