23 replies to this topic

[tham]

Ear Creases

http://blog.myplainv...16/ear-creases/



Relation of diagonal ear lobe crease to the presence, extent, and severity of coronary
artery disease determined by coronary computed tomography angiography.

" DELC was independently and significantly associated with increased prevalence,
extent, and severity of CAD. "

http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/22335855



Diagonal earlobe creases and fatal cardiovascular disease: a necropsy study.

" In addition to coronary artery disease, we found that those with other fatal
cardiovascular diseases such as ruptured aortic aneurysms also tended to
have earlobe creases. "

"The presence of a previous cardiovascular disease was not as strongly associated
with cardiovascular causes of death as the presence of an earlobe crease alone.
This suggests that cardiovascular disease was being underdiagnosed in the population. "


http://www.ncbi.nlm....les/PMC1216678/



The earlobe crease, coronary artery disease, and sudden
cardiac death: an autopsy study of 520 individuals.


" ELC was strongly correlated with CAD in both men and women but with sudden cardiac death
(SCD) only in men.

The sensitivity of the ELC sign was 75% and the positive predictive value (ppv) was 68%.
In individuals below 40 years, the ppv was as high as 80%. Using multiple logistic regression
analysis, ELC was found to be the strongest independent risk factor for CAD and SCD apart
from age and BMI (both genders), as well as baldness and hair in the meatus externa (in males). "

http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/16738431



Increased all-cause and cardiac morbidity and mortality associated
with the diagonal earlobe crease: a prospective cohort study.

' ..... a diagonal ELC is associated with increased all-cause and cardiac morbidity and
mortality. Patients with ELCs may be at higher risk for coronary events, and might be
especially cautioned to control or reduce other cardiac risk factors, even if currently
without diagnostic evidence of CAD. "

http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/1892144/



Earlobe creases and coronary atherosclerosis. The view from forensic pathology.


" ..... 800 consecutive autopsies performed for medicolegal reasons and thus
including a wide spectrum of subjects.

Statistical analysis by the chi 2 test demonstrated a positive correlation between
the presence of the diagonal earlobe crease and obstructive coronary atherosclerosis
narrowing on at least one major coronary artery greater than 75%. "

http://www.ncbi.nlm..../pubmed/3578215



Diagonal ear lobe crease and coronary risk factors.

" Ear lobe biopsies in 12 subjects revealed tears of the elastic fibers in all subjects
with ELC, and prearteriole wall thickening in subjects with MI and/or ELC, but not
in the 2 subjects with neither MI nor ELC. The early appearance of ELC may imply
the existence of coronary heart disease with or without coronary risk factors. "

http://www.ncbi.nlm..../pubmed/7365179



Predictive Value of Auricular Diagnosis on Coronary Heart Disease

http://www.hindawi.c...am/2012/706249/

Edited by tham, 05 May 2013 - 04:04 PM.

[tham]

This Brazilian study is the only one on preauricular creases.


Association between coronary artery disease and the
diagonal earlobe and preauricular creases in men.


" The bilateral presence of ELC (ear lobe creases) and PAC (periauricular creases) was
positively associated to CAD even after adjusting for other coronary risk variables.
The presence of both creases represented sensitivity of 56.3% and a positive predictive value of 90%. "


http://www.scielo.br...arttext&tlng=en





Diagonal Ear-Lobe Crease is Correlated With Atherosclerotic Changes in Carotid Arteries

https://www.jstage.j...9-0141/_article

[joelcairo]

I looked around and couldn't find a good theory of WHY this correlation exists. Anyone have any good ideas? You can't argue with carefully compiled statistics, but I have trouble taking these studies seriously if there is no known mechanism for it. OTOH, knowing the reason might provide you with something actionable.

[zorba990]

I think its collagen related so more support for ascorbate deficiency theory.

http://clinicalnatur...scular-disease/

Edited by zorba990, 06 May 2013 - 03:41 PM.

[tham]

[tham]

[tham]

Aging Signs Predict Risk of Ischemic Vascular Disease Independent of Chronological Age

http://circ.ahajourn...bstracts/A15333


" Telltale Visible Signs of Aging May Predict Heart Disease "

http://www.scienceda...21106114221.htm

http://newsroom.hear...of-aging-239569


" Looking 'old for years' boosts cardiovascular risk "

http://www.internalm...8afa8c2252.html


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk7xKFzy3Mw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYZIBA2nhQE




Cutaneous markers of coronary artery disease

http://www.wjgnet.co...l/v2/i9/262.htm

Attached Files

•  HEART.jpg   79.84KB   13 downloads

Edited by tham, 08 May 2013 - 06:26 PM.

[joelcairo]

I only watched the first of the videos posted, but this doctor asserts the crease needs to be at a 45 degree angle from where the ear attaches downward to the outer edge of the lobe, in order to be diagnostic. That seems very specific, not consistent with generalized wrinkling or collagen problems, anyway. I wonder if a particular gene could be involved?

One of the links also talks about differences in electrical resistance across the earlobe. Not sure what to make of that.

Edited by joelcairo, 08 May 2013 - 07:01 PM.

[tham]

The 45-degree angle is likely related to the terminal branches of the
anterior and posterior auricular arteries.

http://classconnecti...17495232278.jpg



Diagonal earlobe creases and atheromatous disease: a postmortem study.

" The risk of atherosclerosis as a cause of death was nearly doubled in men with grade 3
creases in both earlobes, and more than trebled in women with bilateral high-grade
creases. The risk of death from myocardial infarction was 2.50 in men with high-grade
creases and 3.70 in women. "


http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/1404022/



Diagonal earlobe creases and prognosis in patients
with suspected coronary artery disease.

" The number of creased ears was significantly associated, in a graded fashion,
with 10-year cardiac event free survival: 43.5%, 33.0% or 17.5% for 0, 1 or 2
ELC, respectively. "

http://www.ncbi.nlm..../pubmed/8629656

Edited by tham, 12 May 2013 - 04:11 PM.

[tham]

Ear lobe crease and coronary artery disease. 1,000 patients and review of the literature.

" ..... with the exception of Oriental patients "

http://www.ncbi.nlm..../pubmed/6359874

The above is inaccurate.



Hongkong study.

Predictive Value of Auricular Diagnosis on Coronary Heart Disease


" The presence of ELC, which is the primary auricular signal for CHD prediction
in this study, was significantly associated with CHD. "

" .... the average percentage of ELC across the ear lobe among cases with acute
condition was significantly different from the control group, whereas the chronic
cases were found to have significant hair growth on right ear. "

" Among these CHD+ve cases, the most commonly involved artery with blockage was
the left anterior descending (LAD, 75%), followed by the right coronary artery (RCA, 55.3%),
left circumflex (LCX, 44.7%), posterior descending artery (PDA, 16.2%), and posterior
lateral branch (PLB, 2.6%). "

" Among these arteries, the degree of RCA stenosis was significantly associated with
the presence of ELC on either the right or left ear. Moreover, the number of major
epicardial arteries involved was also associated with the presence of ELC. "

" The French physician P. Nogier also put forward a hypothesis that the human body can
be projected into the auricle in the same way as it is projected into the brain cortex. "

" ELC usually appeared bilaterally (45.0%) rather than just on one side of the ear (13.0%). "


" The occurrence rate of ELC on the left side of the ear was found to be slightly higher
than that on the right ear. This phenomenon may possibly be explained by the reflex path
way of the “Heart”, which is more likely to occur on the left side of the ear. This trend is
similar to the pictograph of foot reflexology, which shows that the “Heart” is located on the
left foot and not on the right foot. Moreover, the said phenomenon may be associated with
the fact that the LAD artery in these subjects was most commonly involved in
blockage (75.0%). "


http://www.hindawi.c...am/2012/706249/




Relationship Between Earlobe Crease and Brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity
in Non-hypertensive, Non-diabetic Adults in Korea


" Brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (baPWV) is a non-invasive and useful measure
of arterial stiffness predicting cardiovascular events and mortality.

ELC had a significant correlation with baPWV, independently controlling for other classical
cardiovascular risk factors in adults aged 20 yr or older. ELC is an important surrogate
marker of increased arterial stiffness as measured by baPWV in Korean adults. "


http://synapse.korea...31-e2009002.pdf



Risk factors for hemorrhagic stroke in Wonju, Korea.

" ..... hypertension, age of menarche, earlobe crease, "

http://www.ncbi.nlm..../pubmed/9664827



Iranian study.

Earlobe crease and coronary artery disease

" The severity of ELC (size and unilateral or bilateral) was significantly related to presence of CAD. "

http://pjms.com.pk/i.../article24.html



This Turkish study backs up the Japanese study cited earlier.

Diagonal ear-lobe crease is associated with carotid intima-media thickness in subjects
free of clinical cardiovascular disease.

http://www.ncbi.nlm....ubmed/17027992/



Diagonal earlobe crease as a marker of the presence and extent of coronary atherosclerosis.

The presence of ELC was also related to the extent of CAD as measured
by the number of major arteries narrowed.

http://www.ncbi.nlm..../pubmed/1442611

Edited by tham, 12 May 2013 - 04:58 PM.

[tham]

I looked around and couldn't find a good theory of WHY this correlation exists. Anyone have any good ideas? You can't argue with carefully compiled statistics, but I have trouble taking these studies seriously if there is no known mechanism for it. OTOH, knowing the reason might provide you with something actionable.

I think this should answer your question.


Coming back to the Hongkong study.

Predictive Value of Auricular Diagnosis on Coronary Heart Disease

" The French physician P. Nogier also put forward a hypothesis that the human body can
be projected into the auricle in the same way as it is projected into the brain cortex. "

http://www.hindawi.c...am/2012/706249/



" Four Pillars of Diagnosis "


" That is, that a small area, like the ear or the pulse, is a holographic representation
of the larger whole of the human body. This means that nearly any part of the body
can be an image of the entire body. "


http://acupunctureec...s-of-diagnosis/

Edited by tham, 12 May 2013 - 05:23 PM.

[joelcairo]

The 45-degree angle is likely related to the terminal branches of the
anterior and posterior auricular arteries.

http://classconnecti...17495232278.jpg

Hmm, honestly I don't see any particular correlation between where the crease is supposed to appear and this diagram of the blood supply. Again, I'm not arguing with the statistics, but I don't see any pattern in connection with the arteries.

BTW, I'm also highly skeptical of the holographic theory. It doesn't really seem to explain or predict anything. It's just an assertion that maladies in the body could show up in the earlobe. But where on the earlobe can you see markers for kidney disease, or lung cancer, or MS, or anything else?

[niner]

I don't see a need for any new theories here- what's wrong with the idea that the earlobe crease is an indicator or elastin or collagen breakdown, and when the same things happen in the vasculature, it's a problem? Or maybe that the common thread between the two is chronic inflammation?

[tham]

The 45-degree angle is likely related to the terminal branches of the
anterior and posterior auricular arteries.

http://classconnecti...17495232278.jpg

Hmm, honestly I don't see any particular correlation between where the crease is supposed to appear and this diagram of the blood supply. Again, I'm not arguing with the statistics, but I don't see any pattern in connection with the arteries.

BTW, I'm also highly skeptical of the holographic theory. It doesn't really seem to explain or predict anything. It's just an assertion that maladies in the body could show up in the earlobe. But where on the earlobe can you see markers for kidney disease, or lung cancer, or MS, or anything else?

Why is the earth round ?


Frankly, why would you insist on questioning a form of healing system thousands
of years old, to which even most of their current practitioners do not really know the
answers as to how it was evolved ?

To do so would have to go back in time and question the ancient Chinese physicians
as to how they knew that a certain point of the body, ear or foot represented an organ,
and why pain or misalignment of that point indicated a malady of that organ.

Quite similar to questioning the Native Americans, or any of the world's ancient cultures
for that matter, as to how their ancestors knew that a certain plant is effective for a certain disease.

These people never had any need for "controlled studies" nor any form of scientific research,
but I have the highest respect for their culture and knowledge. They just knew - pure instinct,
holistically, spiritually or otherwise.


If you have any doubts about the "holographic" theory, you only need try it out on a
classic example - your foot, as in reflexology. That area which has a malady would be painful
if you press on it.

I have hemorrhoids, and had a hemorrhoidectomy in 2003. Pressing on the heel
area, which represents the rectal region, I can feel a sharp pain. I have gastritis
too, or maybe even an ulcer, and pressing on the stomach/intestinal area gives some pain.

The heart region is about 2 to 3 inches below the fourth toe on the left foot.

http://serenityheali...logy-chart1.jpg



" Some acupuncturists specialize in diagnosing and treating from the ear, and can
tell instantly by looking at the ear where someone has pain, where a woman is in
her menstrual cycle, etc "

http://acupunctureec...s-of-diagnosis/


" Based on 3,000 years of Chinese medicine, auricular acupuncture is being used
in over 1,000 addiction treatment centres in North America. "


http://www.tcmclinee...cupuncture.aspx



As for the vascular explanation - if you look carefully at how the lowest terminal
branches of the anterior auricular artery and posterior artery meet, you will note
a more or less 45-degree angle, particularly emanating from the lowest of the
three anterior branches (just above and to the left of the maxillary artery).

As Niner put forward, stenosis of these arteries would cut off the circulation with a
resultant breakdown of the collagen of each half nourished by them.


And regardless of the cause or pathophysiology as to how the crease forms, the
facts presented are very clear-cut and overwhelming :

EAR CREASE = ATHEROSCLEROSIS


To try to find out the how and why is pointless and does not make any difference.
Ignoring it just because you can't explain their cause is foolhardy and at your own peril.
Basically, being your own worst enemy.


Ear creases are not a very sensitive indicator, meaning there will be a good number
of false negatives. This Indian despatch clerk in my office, for example, had
angioplasty done a few years ago, but has no creases.

But ear creases are quite specific - few false positives. If they appear, particularly
if deep, you can be pretty sure that the owner's blood vessels in his heart, brain
and throughout his body are already fairly well clogged up.

Edited by tham, 13 May 2013 - 08:39 PM.

[zorba990]

Since the arteriosclerosis is reversable you would need to show evidence of ear creases reversing for this to be much of a reliable indicator

Fyi traditional acupuncture of the ear http://thepincushion...stress.html?m=1

[niner]

Why is the earth round ?

Frankly, why would you insist on questioning a form of healing system thousands
of years old, to which even most of their current practitioners do not really know the
answers as to how it was evolved ?

These people never had any need for "controlled studies" nor any form of scientific research,
but I have the highest respect for their culture and knowledge. They just knew - pure instinct,
holistically, spiritually or otherwise.

The earth is round because that's the shape that minimizes gravitational potential energy, but maybe you mean why is that the case... We're interested in understanding biology and altering it for our benefit. The best way to do this is to have underlying models that are accurate. If the underlying model is completely wrong, but it happens to work much of the time, then it has some practical value, but it doesn't do anything for our understanding, and it will probably be difficult to extend.

Traditional medicine may have been developed without controlled studies, but if it in fact works, a controlled study should show that. If it doesn't work in a valid controlled study, then I think an argument could be made that it doesn't really work.

[tham]

Since the arteriosclerosis is reversable you would need to show evidence of
ear creases reversing for this to be much of a reliable indicator

Fyi traditional acupuncture of the ear http://thepincushion...stress.html?m=1

'' Which is why, despite his apparently good health, I arranged for him tohave certain
tests — these revealed his arteries were dangerously blocked and within days he
had to undergo coronary artery bypass surgery. But six weeks later, post operatively,
he drew my attention to his ears and the creases had almost disappeared. ''

http://www.dailymail...rt-disease.html



'' 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. ''


http://index.healthb...earlobe-crease/

Edited by tham, 17 August 2013 - 05:04 AM.

[zorba990]

Since the arteriosclerosis is reversable you would need to show evidence of
ear creases reversing for this to be much of a reliable indicator

Fyi traditional acupuncture of the ear http://thepincushion...stress.html?m=1

'' Which is why, despite his apparently good health, I arranged for him tohave certain
tests — these revealed his arteries were dangerously blocked and within days he
had to undergo coronary artery bypass surgery. But six weeks later, post operatively,
he drew my attention to his ears and the creases had almost disappeared. ''

http://www.dailymail...rt-disease.html



'' 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. ''


http://index.healthb...earlobe-crease/

Not very reliable resources. The only reason I continue to reply to this thread is so that people will avoid getting needless tests and procedures which may actually end up causing they very issue they are trying to avoid (e.g. Ct scans)

http://www.lef.org/m...CT-Scans_01.htm

[tham]

Those two cases are clear-cut evidence of the validity of ear creases, in
addition of course to the countless studies.

Ear creases are warning signs that your coronary, carotid, cerebral and your
body's entire arterial system are already clogging up.

If they are ''not good enough sources'', then there is no necessity to reply
if you do not feel like doing so as that is your prerogative, but ignore them
to your own detriment, peril and your life.

[tham]

This Malay company director in my office was another case of sudden
death from a heart attack last week.

I had warned him two years ago about the deep creases on both his ears.

He had brushed it off, quoting his doctor who, when he had brought this
up to him, laughed at him for believing in such ''nonsense'', saying he
had never heard of creases on the ear having anything to do with the heart
in his entire practice.

[zorba990]

This Malay company director in my office was another case of sudden
death from a heart attack last week.

I had warned him two years ago about the deep creases on both his ears.

He had brushed it off, quoting his doctor who, when he had brought this
up to him, laughed at him for believing in such ''nonsense'', saying he
had never heard of creases on the ear having anything to do with the heart
in his entire practice.

Uh huh. And my mother has had those deep creases since age 50 until her present, healthy, butter eating 75....anecdotes are relatively meaningless.

[tham]

That last post wasn't meant for your information.

As I have pointed out, if this whole thread is meaningless to you,
that is your own funeral.

Don't reply to it.

[tham]

Bilateral Earlobe Creases


Bilateral ear crease associated with a stroke causing right homonymous hemianopia
(loss of the right half visual field in each eye).

'' Frank's sign was originally described as a marker of coronary artery disease,
with a moderate sensitivity (approximately 48%) and specificity (approximately 88%). ''

This translates into 52 per cent false negatives and 12 per cent false positives.

http://www.nejm.org/.../NEJMicm1213006



'' A crease on one lobe raises the risk by 33 percent; a crease on both lobes
increases it by 77 percent. ''


http://barnesjewishb...s-can-tell-you/



Diagonal earlobe creases and fatal cardiovascular disease: a necropsy study.

'' A cardiovascular cause of death was present in 154 (73%) of 211 with and
41 (45%) of 92 without diagonal creases and was associated with an increased
risk of a cardiovascular cause of death of 1.55 in men and 1.74 in non-diabetic women. ''

Which means -

45 per cent false negatives , 27 per cent false positives.

http://www.ncbi.nlm....les/PMC1216678/



Association between ear creases and peripheral arterial disease.

http://www.scielo.br...ipt=sci_arttext




Calf Circumference Is Inversely Associated With Carotid Plaques

http://stroke.ahajou...tent/39/11/2958

[blood]

What do you do when you encounter a person in your daily life (maybe someone you don't know well, like the mailman etc) who has ear lobe creases? Try to warn them?