The writer of twice-monthly health columns is a practicing cardiologist, clinical professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine and founder of the Kahn Center for Cardiac Longevity in Bingham Farms. He is an author and has appeared on national TV, including "Dr. Oz" and "The Doctors Show."
By Dr. Joel Kahn
The prevention and early detection of the traditional #1 killer of men and women, heart disease, is a goal so important that any clue, no matter how subtle, should not be ignored or overlooked. Heart disease is silent in most for years until it is tragically advanced and requires emergency procedures that at times are ineffective. These 5 clues are proven in scientific studies to raise a concern over advancing heart disease. Give yourself a check-up by asking if they apply to your health status.
1. Erectile dysfunction (ED) could mean clogged arteries
Men have a built-in warning system for silent heart disease. Many scientific studies indicate that ED can be a sign of clogged arteries in the pelvis and in the heart too. There are three to five years between the onset of ED and the beginning of heart events like heart attacks. If you have issues with ED or if your partner does ask for a complete cardiac evaluation with laboratory studies, EKG, and a heart calcium CT scan.
2. Premature baldness could indicate clogged arteries
In a comprehensive study of almost 37,000 men, severe baldness at the crown of the head predicted the presence of silent clogged heart arteries. In a separate study of more than 7,000 people (including over 4,000 women), moderate to severe baldness doubled the risk of dying from heart disease in both sexes and was present with no warning symptoms.
3. Premature gray hair Is a clue to clogged arteries
A study found that a high amount of gray hair, particularly early in life, is a risk factor for silent heart disease. A total of 545 adult men without known heart disease had a CT of their heart arteries, a very accurate way to identify silent problems. Having equal amounts of gray and dark hair, or mainly gray and white hair, correlated with finding silent heart blockages. The researchers commented that hardening of arteries and gray hair occur through similar biological pathways.
4. A diagonal ear lobe crease might indicate clogged arteries.
One of the strangest markers, a crease in the earlobe (specifically, an angled crease in the ear that runs diagonally from the canal to the lower edge of the earlobe) has been mentioned in medical research reports as a sign of silent heart disease for decades. The ear lobe crease may result from weak collagen found in both ear lobes and arteries. Researchers used CT scans to measure silent clogged heart arteries and found that a diagonal ear lobe crease predicted heart disease with a 70% accuracy. Take a look!
5. Calf pain when you walk might mean clogged heart arteries.
If your legs cramp when you walk, you might have claudication (from the Latin for “to limp”). Leg arteries can clog up, particularly in smokers, before heart disease is diagnosed. Ask your doctor to examine the pulses in your legs and feet and perform simple measurements of leg blood pressure and blood flow to confirm a diagnosis of poor circulation. Then get your heart checked too.
It is critical that heart disease be diagnosed as early as possible because there are many treatments that can help reverse the problem to avoid heart attack, stents, bypass surgery and death. If you have one or several of these clues, know your numbers (at least your blood pressure, cholesterol, fasting glucose). Ask your doctor for an EKG and a heart calcium CT scan which costs $75-100 dollars at local Detroit hospitals. Changing your lifestyle by quitting smoking, starting to walk for fitness, managing stress, and adding a lot of plant meals to your menu can reverse problems before they attack your health or your life.
