Researches Special wrinkles may indicate heart disease

Deep wrinkles on the forehead are an indication of heart disease

People whose forehead is marked by several deep wrinkles are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. These are the results of a recent French study. Creases could quickly and cheaply identify groups of people at increased risk of dying from heart disease.

Dr. Yolande Esquirol presented the study results of its team at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2018. The key message: people who have more deep forehead wrinkles than is typical of their age, also have a higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease. In addition, the research team proposes to include the evaluation of eyebrow wrinkles in the diagnosis of heart disease as a cost-effective method.

A French team of researchers found that people with deep forehead wrinkles have a significantly higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. (Image: Valua Vitaly / fotolia.com)

Visual markers for cardiovascular disease

"You can not see or feel any risk factors like high cholesterol or high blood pressure," says Professor Dr. Yolande Esquirol from the Center Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse in a press release on the study results. Her team examined whether forehead wrinkles are useful as a visual marker for the detection of heart disease. "If you only look at the face of a person, the wrinkles can give alarming hints," says the expert.

Lifestyle changes can help

People with more deep forehead wrinkles than usual for age should change their lifestyle, advises the professor. In particular, these changes would involve more exercise and a healthier diet. "Of course, people also need to be checked for classic risk factors such as high blood pressure and high lipid and blood sugar levels," explains Dr. Esquirol.

Early identification of high-risk groups can save lives

As the researchers report, the risk of heart disease increases with age. Lifestyle and medical interventions are the most effective ways to reduce this risk. The challenge is to identify high-risk patients quickly and early enough to make a difference.

What do forehead wrinkles have to do with heart disease??

The exact reasons for the relationship between deep horizontal forehead wrinkles and an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease are not yet known. The researchers, however, assume that the premature wrinkles could be signs of arteriosclerosis (arteriosclerosis).

How did the research team come up with this connection??

The team led by Professor Esquirol surveyed a group of 3,200 professionals over a 20-year period. The subjects were all healthy at the beginning of the study. Participants received a score between zero and three, which represents the intensity of the forehead wrinkles. Zero meant "no wrinkles" and three "many deep wrinkles". During the study period, the participants were regularly examined for health.

What happened in the 20 years?

During the 20 years 233 participants died from different causes. The researchers found that people without wrinkles (zero wrinkles) had the least chance of dying of heart disease. Those with a wrinkle rating of one only had a slightly increased risk of dying. The groups of individuals whose wrinkles were two or three had an almost ten times higher mortality risk compared to wrinkle-free individuals.

Deep forehead wrinkles indicate a higher risk of death

"The higher the wrinkle score, the higher the cardiovascular mortality risk," Dr. Esquirol. Even though the reasons for this have not yet been precisely identified, the expert sees a connection. "Changes in collagen protein and oxidative stress seem to play a role in atherosclerosis as well as in wrinkles," the professor sums up. In addition, the blood vessels in the forehead are so small that they are more sensitive to plaque accumulation. This means that wrinkles can be one of the first signs of vascular aging.

Forehead wrinkles as a sign of atherosclerosis

"Forehead wrinkles can be a sign of atherosclerosis," said Esquirol. But this must be confirmed by future studies. Nevertheless, even doctors' offices and clinics could pay attention to it now, because it is a free indication of possible serious illnesses. (Vb)