Loss of smell could be a warning sign that you are at risk of developing coronary heart disease, a new study suggests.
A team of researchers from Michigan State University have found a link between loss of smell and the likelihood of being diagnosed with heart disease. Also known as ischemic heart disease, this is one of the leading causes of death in the UK and worldwide.
Coronary artery disease occurs when the heart's blood supply is blocked by the buildup of fatty substances in the coronary arteries, causing angina (chest pain), heart attacks, and heart failure.
Prevention is key, and doctors often recommend lifestyle changes, such as replacing fatty foods with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and increasing physical activity.
In the UK, 2.3 million people have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease, but many don't know they are at risk, and some only realise when it is too late.
The new study, published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, analyzed health records of 5,142 adults with an average age of 75 and no history of coronary heart disease. Their sense of smell was tested with a standard 12-question test, and categorized as: good (11–12), average (9–10), and poor (0–8).
Over a period of approximately ten years, 280 participants developed coronary heart disease. Of these, 4.4% had good sense of smell, 5.9% average and 6.3% poor. The researchers said:
"Compared to good smell, poor smell is associated with a twofold higher risk of coronary heart disease during the first four years of monitoring."
Dr. Honglei Chen, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics, explained that loss of smell can be caused by physical problems like nasal polyps or neurodegenerative diseases like dementia, but it can also be linked to an unhealthy cardiovascular system. This is because damage to the blood vessels in the nose can affect its function.
He added that loss of smell can also affect the nutrition, mental health and physical well-being of the elderly, contributing to the development of coronary disease.
However, the researchers caution that the findings are indicative and the explanations speculative, and further studies are required to confirm these links.
Heart disease is being accelerated by obesity, diabetes and undetected high blood pressure. The latest figures for 2022 show that 80 out of every 100,000 people in England died from heart disease — the highest level since 2011. Deaths from heart disease in people under 75 have risen for three years in a row. /GazetaExpress/
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