Research shows that a subtle but visible change in the skin of the earlobe is a sign of heart disease, indicating that a person is at risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Doctors may examine the earlobes of patients suspected of having heart problems for a diagonal fold that extends across the earlobe at a 45-degree angle.
Research has shown that the longer and deeper the fold, the greater the risk, also known as Frank’s sign or the diagonal earlobe fold (DELC).
Patients with folds in both earlobes or multiple folds are also at greater risk.
Notable individuals who have been mentioned in the medical literature as having DELC include former President George W. Bush. He was known as an avid runner and mountain biker, but was diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.
President George W. Bush was diagnosed with heart disease in 2013, despite being an avid runner and mountain biker
Doctors may examine the earlobes of patients with suspected heart problems for a diagonal crease that extends across the earlobe at a 45-degree angle. Known as Frank’s sign, or diagonal earlobe crease (DELC), the longer and deeper the crease, the greater the risk
In 2013, President Bush reportedly underwent a routine scan that revealed “a severe blockage” in one of the arteries leading to his heart.
He underwent an angioplasty, a procedure in which a stent – a metal tube – is implanted in the blocked artery to restore blood flow.
Actor James Gandolfini, who played Tony Soprano on the long-running HBO series The Sopranos, died of a heart attack in 2013 and also appears to have DELC.
Oscar-winning film director Steven Spielberg has also been cited in a number of medical journals as having visible DELC, although he has never publicly stated that he has a heart condition.
The phenomenon was first described in 1973 by pulmonologist Saunders T. Frank, hence the name. He noticed the diagonal line in patients with angina pectoris chest pain.
Since then, numerous studies have shown that someone with DELC confirms the connection.
A study found that 78 percent of patients who suffered a fatal heart attack also had DELC.
The reason why people with heart disease develop this fold is not entirely clear. It may be due to changes in the small blood vessels that supply the ears.
There may also be a genetic reason: people with a predisposition to heart disease also have genes that code for wrinkles and folds in the earlobes.
Actor James Gandolfini, who played Tony Soprano on the long-running HBO series The Sopranos, died of a heart attack in 2013 and also appears to have had a DELC
The phenomenon was first described in 1973 by pulmonologist Saunders T. Frank, hence the name, who noticed the diagonal line in patients with chest angina.
Oscar-winning film director Steven Spielberg has also been cited in a number of medical journals as having a visible DELC, although he has never publicly said he has a heart condition
Research shows that Japanese and Chinese men do not appear to develop DELC.
Tim Chico, professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Sheffield, said DELC was “something cardiologists knew about” and “made sense”.
He added: ‘Cardiovascular disease is not just something that affects the heart, but all the blood vessels in the body and all the organs.
‘It increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes, but also of kidney disease and even dementia.
‘If we see DELC in a patient, it doesn’t change the advice we give. You reduce the risk by not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly.’
Heart disease is responsible for around 68,000 deaths each year in the UK, which equates to an average of 190 people every day.
In the US, someone dies from heart disease every 33 seconds, which is about 700,000 people each year.
Other visible signs of heart disease include xanthelasmas: small yellow bumps that form around the inside of the eyes.
The reason why people with heart disease develop the crease is not entirely clear, but it may be due to changes in the small blood vessels that supply blood to the ears. There may also be a genetic reason: People who are prone to heart disease also have genes that code for wrinkles and creases in the earlobes.
These spots usually appear along the corners of the upper and lower eyelids and are a sign of high cholesterol.
Another indicator of elevated cholesterol levels is the corneal arcuate, a pale white or gray ring around the iris.
High blood sugar and risk of diabetes are associated with darkening and thickening of the skin in ‘folds’ such as the back of the neck, armpits and groin, known as acanthosis nigricans.
Obesity is also known to be associated with an increased risk of heart disease, heart attacks and strokes, as well as a host of other health problems.
