7 Bizarre Warning Signs That Could Foretell Heart Problems In Your Near Future

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 17.3 million deaths every year! And this number is only expected to grow—to more than 23.6 million by 2030. ([1]) And sadly, it can be hard to spot. In far too many people, the first symptom is actually sudden death or a heart attack.

While it’s always best to know the documented signs of heart issues—shortness of bre

ath, palpitations (irregular heartbeats), extreme weakness or dizziness, nausea, sweating, discomfort, pressure, heaviness, or pain in your chest, arm, or below your breastbone, discomfort radiating to your back, jaw, throat, or arm, a feeling of fullness, indigestion, or choking feeling (like heartburn)—there are also some quite odd signs that could actually signal pending heart issues according to some research.

1. A stubby ring finger

There are all kinds of theories about finger length and lines linked to astrology but did you know that your ring finger length can also indicate whether you are at risk for heart disease? That’s right. According to researchers at the University of Liverpool in the UK, if your ring finger is the same length as your index (pointer) finger, you are at greater risk in your 40s and 50s for heart disease, compared to people with a larger ring-to-index-finger ratio. ([2]) The actual science behind it suggests that longer ring fingers are a sign of more exposure to testosterone as a fetus, which is apparently associated with lower rates of heart disease among men. Ladies, you may be in luck! According to the researchers, the connection is not as strong among women.

2. Yawning during exercise

Ahhhh….the involuntary yawn. While science has never actually explained this phenomenon, some studies suggest our bodies yawn as a way to help put more oxygen into our blood and cool our brains. ([3]) If that is the case, then the odd yawn here or then while working out may seem normal. But according to some studies, if you continually yawn during your workout, it may actually be a signal that your body’s built-in cooling mechanisms are on the fritz! ([4]) Researchers of one study go so far as to say that uncontrollable yawning during exercise may indicate a heart or circulatory issue. ([5]) So, if you think your internal AC is acting up, it’s a sure sign it’s time to see your doctor for a quick check up.

3. Bad Breath

We all know someone who has incredibly bad breath—you know the kind that not even a mint seems to cover up. This type of bad breath may actually be caused by gum disease and according to experts, gum disease promotes inflammation, which in turn can lead to stoke and heart disease. ([6]) The good news is that you can kill two birds with one stone as the saying goes by treating any gum disease right away. Not only will you get rid of that nasty breath, but you can also lower your risk of heart disease. ([7])

4. Feeling light-headed when you stand up

You have probably felt that very uncomfortable dizziness now and then when you stand up too fast—you know when you things seem a little shaky and you see black spots before your eyes. There is actually a name for it—orthostatic hypotension. ([8]) For most people, it only lasts a few seconds. For some, however, this light-headedness can last for a few very scary minutes, which, if you are under 55 is not good news! According to experts from the University of North Carolina, it can indicate an underlying blood flow issue. Their study revealed that people who experience prolonged dizziness after rising are 54 percent more likely to have heart failure later on than those who don’t. ([9]) So, go see your doctor if this is happening to you on a regular basis.

5. Clear skin during your teen years

This next one obviously has some pretty hefty trade-offs. According to researchers at the American Journal of Epidemiology, if you had acne as a teen, your risk for heart disease actually drops 33 percent. ([10]) Not surprisingly, this is related to hormone levels—higher circulating levels of testosterone during your adolescence years triggers acne flare-ups, but amazingly, these nasty pimple popups also protect you from heart disease later in life. ([11]) Good news for pimply teens, although they will probably beg to differ, right now, anyway.

6. Thinning Hair

You see these guys all the time—thinning hair on the top or crown of their head, but not in front. It’s called “male pattern baldness.” Well, according to a Japanese study of 37,000 participants, this type of hair loss is linked to a 32 percent jump in coronary heart disease risk. ([12]) And, says Dr. Tomohide Yamada, author of the study and a respected member of the University of Tokyo’s department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, the more severe the baldness, the more serious the heart disease risk. For people in the study who had the most severe balding, the risk actually spiked to 48 percent. So, if you are among the follically challenged, it may be well worth your while talking to your doctor about your heart health and any possible lifestyle changes you can make to assure you are in tip-top shape.

7. A Wrinkled Earlobe

Finally, this one may really seem a little odd, but there is actually evidence to support it. According to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, even if you don’t have any of the more traditional heart disease symptoms your doctor warns you about—you know the ones: poor cholesterol scores or diabetes—if you have a diagonal crease in either (or both) of your earlobes, it is a sign your heart may not be working properly. ([13])Sounds a bit crazy? Well, apparently this is not the first study to link the two. This creased earlobe was actually named “Frank’s Sign” after the researcher, Sanders T. Frank, who discovered it in 1973. ([14])

According to Frank, the wrinkles or crease in the earlobe are caused by the collapse of tiny blood vessels that go to your ear lobe, which can signal changes in the blood vessels around your heart, possibly even an arterial blockage. Not so funny, now, is it? If you suspect you may have any heart issues, it is always best to be safe than sorry. Talk to your doctor to rule it out.

So, what is the “take-away” from all of this? Well, while these may seem like completely unrelated and whacky warning signs, heart disease is definitely no joke. According to more “traditional” experts, your blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels are what you should be more concerned about. ([15])  But if can say “Hey, that’s me” to more than one of these more “untraditional” signs, it might be worth talking to your doctor and having some blood work done. It certainly can’t hurt.

sources:
[[1]] https://www.heart.org/idc/groups/ahamah-public/@wcm/@sop/@smd/documents/downloadable/ucm_470704.pdf
[[2]] http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306987702004000
[[3]] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3251816/
[[4]] http://www.prevention.com/fitness/fitness-tips/yawning-while-exercising-heres-why
[[5]] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18550130/
[[6]] http://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/gum-disease-can-cause-serious-illness
[[7]] http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/treating-gum-disease-may-lessen-burden-heart-disease-diabetes-conditions-201407237293
[[8]] http://www.prevention.com/health/what-those-black-spots-when-you-stand-mean
[[9]] http://hyper.ahajournals.org/content/59/5/913.long
[[10]] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15937017
[[11]] http://www.prevention.com/beauty/hormone-balancing-foods-better-skin
[[12]] http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/3/4/e002537.abstract
[[13]] http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/130/1/92.full
[[14]] http://www.prevention.com/health/what-your-wrinkles-reveal-about-your-health
[[15]] http://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/measuring-triglycerides