Right in plain sight.
Cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes, is responsible for more deaths in the US than cancer and accidents combined, accounting for more than a quarter of all deaths in the U.S. in 2023.
Catching early warning signs of these diseases could be a game changer, and research has found a potential one that’s visible to the naked eye.
The accumulation of fatty plaques in the arteries that causes restricted blood flow, known as atherosclerosis, is responsible for most heart attacks and strokes.
However, it builds up slowly and silently over time, not showing symptoms before a major medical incident strikes.
To better understand the deadly condition, a study published in the journal Atherosclerosis looked at what are considered harmless yellow patches near the eyes — a deposit of cholesterol known as xanthelasma — and how it may be related to increased risk of a cardiovascular event.
When macrophages (immune cells) get filled with cholesterol and other fats, the patches puff up, often indicating higher cholesterol in the blood — a factor in cardiovascular disease.
“As research continues to elucidate the relationship between xanthelasma and cardio-cerebrovascular risk factors, we aimed to evaluate the association between xanthelasma and major cardio-cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) in a large study population,” the study authors wrote.
While the percentage of those with xanthelasma who had a heart attack or stroke was low, the risk for a cardiovascular event increased over time in this group compared to those without the yellow growths.
Analyzing health data from 17,925 people diagnosed with xanthelasma, the study found that 1% of those with the condition had a heart attack in the first year compared to 0.35% of those without.
Meanwhile, nearly 1% of people with xanthelasma suffered a stroke and 0.6% had a “mini-stroke,” or a transient ischemic attack.
Only 0.3% of those without the condition had a stroke, while 0.19% had a “mini-stroke.”
And whether or not the xanthelasma group had high cholesterol levels, rates of cardiac events were similar, suggesting other factors could be at play.
While these patches are generally harmless on the surface level, they could signal future heart health issues.
“Most of the patients with xanthelasma are seen by dermatologists for cosmetic reasons, while they may have undiagnosed or uncontrolled cardiovascular risk factors that contribute to this elevated risk,” the study authors wrote.
Along with this condition, heart trouble can often bring about unexpected signs, such as tooth pain, sweating, fatigue or simply no symptoms at all.
The researchers suggest that while the yellow, puffy patches are not a direct cause of heart attack or stroke, those with xanthelasma could be screened for heart health problems and prescribed lifestyle changes or treatments early.
Further research is needed to look into why those with eyelid patches are at higher risk and a better understanding of how these conditions develop.
