In cardiovascular diseases, as in almost all diseases, prevention is better than cure. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and checking regularly the levels of cholesterol and glucose, blood pressure and an electrocardiogram is essential to reduce the risk of developing a heart disease or if it already suffers, it gets worse.

​

There are a number of signs that are visible to the naked eye in our body and that could alert us that we have a cardiovascular risk factor.

​

In this article, you will discover the seven most common ones. Do not panic if you recognize any of them, go to the doctor to monitor your health and correct those habits that are harming you.

​

Deep wrinkles on the forehead

 

In most cases, wrinkles on the forehead are due to age or the repetition of gestures such as raising the eyebrows or frowning.

​

However, a research presented at the last congress of the European Society of Cardiology argues that people who have horizontal wrinkles more abundant and deeper than would correspond to their age may have a 10 times greater risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

​

The study followed a 20-year follow-up of 3,200 adults, who initially were healthy and were 32, 42, 52 and 62 years old.

​

Bumps on the eyelids

​

It is still premature to associate wrinkles in the forehead with cardiovascular risk: More studies are needed to validate it, for example carrying out the tests in a wider population and taking into account factors such as weather conditions, sun exposure, skin type.

​

One of them is the appearance of cysts or bags of fat in the eyelids, called xanthelasmas.

​

For specialists, it is an obvious sign that this person has high cholesterol.  In addition, they not only appear on the eyelids:  There may also be deposits of cholesterol in other parts of the body, such as tendons.

​

Senile arch in the iris of the eyes

​

The senile arch or gerontoxon is a white, yellow, or grayish, ring-shaped opacity on the outer edge of the iris.

​

It usually appears with age, but when it occurs in younger people, it usually indicates that they have high cholesterol levels and deposits in the arteries (atherosclerosis).

​

Fold in the lobe of the ear

​

It is another of the signs that specialists already consider a marker of cardiovascular disease. An abnormal configuration of the lobe of the ear, which consists of having a stripe, notch or diagonal fold that crosses the lobe, is usually associated with ischemic heart disease.

​

According to a 2014 study, 45.8% of patients with a history of heart attack had this fold in their ears, as well as 48.9% with a history of stroke.

​

Periodontal disease

​

The relationship between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease is also well documented. In fact, it can not only warn about it but it can aggravate it.  If your gums bleed a lot or you have increased sensitivity in the teeth, you should consult a doctor. Caring for oral health is much more important than we think.

​

Nail clubbing

​

Nail clubbing, also known as digital clubbing, is an enlargement of the final phalanges of the fingers, with a thickening below the nails that causes these to curve downwards.

​

It’s another sign that can alert of congenital heart diseases especially in children, when it occurs in adults, it can be due to cardiovascular disease as well as lung disease or lung cancer.

​

The most important signal: the abdominal circumference

​

We have left it for the last place because it is the most widespread cardiovascular warning signal. Despite this, it is not usually given the importance that it is due.

All these signs that we have explained are very well taken into account and consulted with the doctor and measures taken, but the accumulation of fat in the abdomen is the most reliable and obvious signal at sight that there is a high cardiovascular risk. People do not know how serious it is or what happens.

​

The cardiologist explains that checking it is as easy as taking a tape measure and measuring the abdominal circumference at the level of the navel.

​

If the figure is higher than 102 cm in men and 88 cm in women, there is cardiovascular risk.

​

Abdominal fat is associated with increased cholesterol and triglycerides, insulin resistance, poorer glucose control and an increased risk of diabetes, as well as hypertension, hormonal disorders, thyroid disorders… It is not an aesthetic issue, but to prevent the risk of cardiovascular disease.

​

Remember that tests are important to prevent, but not cure! If the person does not do their part with healthy lifestyle habits, taking care of food, exercising, controlling stress, leaving the snuff and resting what enough… the only thing that will be achieved by repeating analytics is that they will get worse over time.