Freaked out by earlobe crease - Heart Disorders Message Board

acp44 · 05-12-2007, 11:56 AM

Folks,

I am a 45 year old man, 188 lbs, in generally good health and physical condition. Eat healthy, do extensive cardio every day, take supplements. Cholesterol total 190, LDL 122, HDL 52, Triglycerides 95. BP around 124/74 average.

During last couple months the infamous diagnol earlobe crease has appeared on my right earlobe. It is not deep, but it is visible up close. It also seems more pronounced when I wake up, and less so by the end of the day.

Anyway I am freaking out over this given all the stuff I've read about this being a harbinger of sudden cardiac death if it appears before the age of 60. In February I had a cardiolite stress test that showed "normal," ejection fraction of 70, no left ventricle problems, etc.

My doctor laughed when I mentioned this. A friend's doctor told him to tell me I have about 5 years left!!! I doubt I can get a doctor to approve an angiogram based on this, but I am worried I am a ticking time bomb now.

acp

bonzer · 05-12-2007, 07:36 PM

that's only if the crease is diagonal.. the risk only rises 55%, therefore with the way you are taking care of yourself, you are AOK.

Lenin · 05-13-2007, 05:31 AM

acp,

I read about the creases, and lo and behold I found TWO deep diagonal creases. This was my last straw and after years of clasic angina symptoms even after a good stress test result (but not nuclear) I demanded a catheter angiogram and found out my RCA was completely blocked.
After my stent the crease in my RIGHT ear disappeared.

Let the doctors laugh all they wish, there's something TO this correlation.

At least YOUR cholesterol numbers are far better than mine before the Lipitor: TC 265, HDL 28 for a risk ratio of 9.5!

DON'T have an angiogram without symptoms...the risk/benefit ratio is too big and the out-of-pocket cost is too high without insurance coverage (You're right- they WON'T coverr it).
Keep up the hard cardio work and keep an eye on your cholesterol... make sure it stays at least as good as it is now. You might be wise to make the assumption that you HAVE heart disease and push the LDL's down below the 100 level to stop plaque buildup in its tracks.

The cardiolite stress test normalcy is VERY good news...

If 10 years from now you start developing some angina, then maybe the time will be ripe for an angiogram.

acp44 · 05-13-2007, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenin

acp,

I read about the creases, and lo and behold I found TWO deep diagonal creases. This was my last straw and after years of clasic angina symptoms even after a good stress test result (but not nuclear) I demanded a catheter angiogram and found out my RCA was completely blocked.
After my stent the crease in my RIGHT ear disappeared.

Let the doctors laugh all they wish, there's something TO this correlation.

At least YOUR cholesterol numbers are far better than mine before the Lipitor: TC 265, HDL 28 for a risk ratio of 9.5!

DON'T have an angiogram without symptoms...the risk/benefit ratio is too big and the out-of-pocket cost is too high without insurance coverage (You're right- they WON'T coverr it).
Keep up the hard cardio work and keep an eye on your cholesterol... make sure it stays at least as good as it is now. You might be wise to make the assumption that you HAVE heart disease and push the LDL's down below the 100 level to stop plaque buildup in its tracks.

The cardiolite stress test normalcy is VERY good news...

If 10 years from now you start developing some angina, then maybe the time will be ripe for an angiogram.

Thanks much for the input. No angina symptoms yet, knock wood. I typically get my heart rate up to 166 when doing daily cardio, and not even mild discomfort.

The crease is actually more of a faint X as there is an even fainter line running horizontal right across it! I'm a little superstitious so I am sure this means bad news!

The cholesterol reading was from summer of 2006...am waiting results on new test from 2 weeks ago (guessing that if numbers were high doc would have called). If they are high, that will certainly feed the earlobe crease connection.

Family history is mixed; dad is 79 and heart disease free, healthy as a horse. Mom died at 68 of a heart attack...had smoked until 60, was overweight, and had high cholesterol, and very high stress. Sis is 50 and heart disease free, as is brother at 48.

I've been taking grapefruit pectin and pomegranite juice, given anecdotal evidence re plaque reduction. Curious if there is anything non-medical that can regress plaque, beyond the tough Ornish diet?

Lenin · 05-14-2007, 07:25 AM

I'm thinking maybe HALF an Ornish Diet...like adding fish and skinless chicken to a low calorie vegan diet might be better than no Ornish at all.

Can't hurt!