Jahnavi Sarma
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Lowers risk of heart disease: Sex is a great form of exercise for your heart. In addition to raising your heart rate, sex helps keep your estrogen and testosterone levels in balance. Low level of these hormones can put you at risk of many diseases, including osteoporosis and even heart disease. In one study, men who had sex at least twice a week were found to be half as likely to die of heart disease than men who had sex rarely.
Heart disease often shows up without any signs. Most people are surprised to know that they have this condition when their physician informs them of it after a routine checkup. This is one disease that comes silently and kills silently. Apart from the usual chest pain and heart palpitations, it also has a few other symptoms that you may not be aware of. According to a study in Menopause, hot flashes may indicate heart disease in women between the age of 40 to 53 years. Hot flashes, as we all know, is one of the most common symptoms of menopause and it interferes with a woman's overall quality of life. Researchers say that 'early occurring hot flashes may be those most relevant to heart disease risk'. The associations were independent of other heart disease risk factors.
Here, let us look at a few other unusual symptoms that may indicate heart disease.
This is a strange one. It is also known as Frank's sign, after Sanders Frank, an American doctor who first described the sign. A visible external crease on the earlobe may indicate that you may be prone to atherosclerosis. This is a disease where plaque builds up inside your arteries. This is one of the main causes of heart diseases. It may also indicate cerebrovascular disease, a disease of the blood vessels in the brain.
Another indication of heart disease may be the appearance of yellow, fatty bumps on your elbows, knees, butts or eyelids. These bumps are known as xanthomas. Though these bumps are benign, it may indicate other health problems. It is very common in people with the familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic disease. People who suffer from this disease exhibit very high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or bad cholesterol. And, high cholesterol, as we all know, leads to heart diseases.
If you notice your fingernails change shape, become thicker and wider, it may be an indication that everything is not all right with your heart. These changes are painless and it may happen because oxygenated blood is not reaching the fingers properly. This is an old symptom that was first described by Hippocrates in the fifth-century BC and is also known as Hippocratic fingers. But many people are not aware of this.
If you notice a grey ring around your iris, it may be another indication that you may have or are heading towards developing heart disease. The ring usually starts at the top and bottom of the iris before forming a complete ring. It does not affect your vision.
Are you worried about your bad breath, loose teeth and bleeding gums? You must definitely visit a cardiologist and schedule a heart checkup. Bad bacteria from your mouth can enter the bloodstream and this can lead to inflammation in the blood vessels. This is a precursor to cardiovascular disease.
If you notice that the colour of your lips have turned blue, it may be due to the failure of the cardiovascular system to deliver oxygenated blood to tissues. You must immediately consult a doctor in this case.