Study: Change in Sense of Smell May Indicate Higher Risk of Heart Disease

Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special

Arab Sea_Follow-ups: Hearing loss has always been linked to a higher probability of developing dementia, but losing another of your five senses may also indicate serious health problems. A new study has shown that any noticeable change with age may indicate a risk of future heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure, according to the "New York Post." Recent research conducted on more than 5,000 older adults found that a weakened sense of smell is associated with an increased risk of heart disease within four years. There is a simple explanation for how this sense can predict future health problems, according to one medical expert. Dr. Neil Shah, a cardiologist at Northwell Health in the United States, who was not involved in the original study, said: "The sense of smell... is partly related to blood flow to those areas of the nose." He added, "In order for these senses to function properly, there must be good blood flow and blood supply to those areas, similar to diseases that may affect the coronary arteries or heart arteries." Heart diseases, which include conditions such as heart attacks and strokes, tend to affect older adults, but anyone who smokes, has high cholesterol or blood pressure, or practices other unhealthy lifestyle habits may be at risk. However, the doctor advises young people not to rush to conclude that their hearts are having problems if they cannot distinguish certain smells. He said, "The other aspect to consider is that the study was limited to older adults. There may be a significant overlap with overall cardiovascular health, whether there is neurological deterioration leading to loss of smell and cardiovascular health." Nevertheless, the study raises further questions about the relationship between the loss of the ability to sense odors and heart disease. Shah explained, "It is difficult in light of this study to determine whether cardiovascular disease led to the emergence of smell problems first, or whether there is another reason, and is the loss of the sense of smell part of the natural aging process, or does it exacerbate risk factors that can affect cardiovascular disease outcomes?" But regardless of the order in which the symptoms appear, the research published in the journal "JAMA" indicates that a simple smell test can be used as an early warning sign to identify older adults who are more at risk of developing heart disease. The doctor continued, "In any case, conducting more studies will be very important. Ensuring that patients communicate with their healthcare team to better assess risks is actually how this study will affect patient care."