Khaberni - A new study has shown that a loss of sense of smell may be an early warning sign indicating an increased risk of heart disease.
A team of researchers at Michigan State University found that individuals with weakened sense of smell have a greater likelihood of being diagnosed with coronary heart disease, also known as ischemic heart disease.
Coronary heart disease occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is obstructed due to the accumulation of fats in the coronary arteries, which can lead to angina (chest pain), heart attacks, and heart failure. In most cases, prevention is considered the best treatment, with doctors recommending lifestyle changes including eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains rich in fiber, quitting smoking and alcohol, and increasing physical activity to boost heart health and overall fitness.
In the study, 5142 adults with an average age of 75 years, all without a prior history of coronary heart disease, participated as part of the "Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study Group." Their sense of smell was measured using a standard test involving 12 items, and the results were classified as good (11–12), average (9–10), and poor (0–8).
During a follow-up period of about ten years, the researchers discovered 280 participants developed coronary heart diseases.
The researchers explained that impaired sense of smell was associated with a doubled risk of coronary heart disease during the first four years of follow-up, with the strength of this association decreasing thereafter.
Dr. Huongli Chen, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics, pointed out that impaired sense of smell may result from physical problems or neurological diseases such as dementia, but it could also reflect the deterioration of cardiovascular health, as vascular damage in the nose could affect its functions. Furthermore, a loss of sense of smell could negatively reflect on nutrition and mental and physical health in the elderly, and is associated with early warning signs of plaque accumulation in the arteries.
However, the researchers warned that the findings of the study are preliminary, and more research is needed to confirm this relationship and understand possible explanations.
The study was published in the JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery journal.
