Heart diseases are considered "the largest killer in the world," usually caused by the interruption of blood supply to the heart due to the accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries. Risk factors for heart disease include poor diet, smoking, and lack of exercise. However, a new study has discovered a surprising risk factor associated with heart disease.
The scientific study found that individuals with deep wrinkles on their foreheads may be at a higher risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death globally, claiming an estimated 17.9 million lives each year, according to the World Health Organization. Researchers state that the presence of deep "furrows" in the forehead can be a warning sign concerning potential issues such as heart disease or strokes, according to a 20-year French study.
The lead author of the study, Yolande Eskerol, an associate professor at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, explained that those with "many deep wrinkles" may be up to ten times more likely to die from cardiovascular diseases. The study suggests that wrinkles are still a weak method for assessing cardiovascular diseases compared to current methods like blood pressure tests and lipid profiling.
The research team analyzed data from 3,200 adults over two decades, aged between 32 and 62. Each individual was assigned scores based on the number and depth of wrinkles on their forehead. A score of zero indicates completely smooth skin, while a score of three indicates "many deep wrinkles." The researchers found that individuals with a score of one had a "slightly higher" risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases compared to those with a zero score, while those with scores of two or three had nearly ten times the risk.
Professor Eskerol added, "The more wrinkles you have, the greater the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases." She continued, "You cannot see or feel risk factors like high cholesterol or high blood pressure, so we discovered forehead wrinkles as a sign because they are simple and highly visible." She explained, "Just looking at a person's face can sound the alarm, and then we can provide advice to reduce risks."
What is the link? The researchers found that the blood vessels in the forehead are particularly good, which may mean they are more sensitive to plaque accumulation, a hallmark of atherosclerosis. The website "Medical News Today" states, "In atherosclerosis, plaques accumulate within the arteries, making them less flexible and narrowing them over time." The site adds, "This limits the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the body's vital organs, which in turn can lead to a range of diseases, depending on the affected organ. When plaques accumulate in the coronary arteries, coronary artery disease and even heart attacks can occur."
The study's authors also suggested that forehead wrinkles could be an easier and less expensive way to determine whether someone has this condition compared to lipid tests and blood pressure measurements. Professor Eskerol noted, "Forehead wrinkles may be a sign of atherosclerosis." She added, "This is the first time a link between the risk of cardiovascular diseases and forehead wrinkles has been proven, so the results need to be confirmed in future studies."
