Your earlobes may hold a sneaky clue about future heart disease
AOL.com • • health
Key Points:
- The American Heart Association warns that 61% of American adults are likely to develop cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the US.
- Frank's sign, a diagonal crease or wrinkle in the earlobe, is increasingly recognized as a potential indicator of underlying cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease.
- Studies have linked Frank's sign to higher risks of heart complications, peripheral vascular disease, and ischemic cerebrovascular events like strokes, especially when the crease is bilateral, deep, and complete.
- The crease may result from the same loss of elastin and elastic fibers that damages arteries in heart disease, or it could have a genetic basis, as the sign appears across different ethnic groups.
- While not a definitive diagnostic tool, the presence of Frank's sign alongside traditional risk factors like diabetes and high blood pressure warrants consultation with a healthcare provider.