Unexpected harbinger of heart disease discovered

Deterioration of sense of smell in elderly people may be an early sign of increased risk of ischemic heart disease, as shown by a study conducted by scientists from Michigan State University, published in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to foreign media, an analysis of data from more than 5000 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study revealed that people with impaired sense of smell were approximately twice as likely to experience heart attacks in the following years compared to those who maintained the ability to distinguish smells. This connection was most pronounced in the first years of observation, and then weakened.

According to researchers, a decrease in the sense of smell may indicate hidden vascular and inflammatory processes affecting nerve pathways and vascular endothelium. Doctors emphasize that a sharp deterioration in the sense of smell should not be perceived as a normal phenomenon of aging, but as a signal to undergo an examination of the cardiovascular system.