Research reveals what to look for in prevention
A new US study has found a strong link between loss of smell and heart failure, the UK's leading cause of death. But a third of people may not notice that they have lost their sense of smell.
Human health researchers have discovered a possible link between heart failure and the loss of a key sensory organ. It's a subtle symptom that can be missed, but if people find that they can't smell the onions when cooking a flavorful dish, it could be a sign that they are at risk of heart failure.
Heart failure is the leading cause of death in the UK. and 1.4 million people live with the disease, which is treatable but incurable. The heart's inability to pump blood properly can be caused by heart disease, blood pressure problems and substance abuse, but there are several early warning signs for those at risk.
Heart failure is when your heart becomes unable to properly pump blood throughout your body, usually as a result of muscles becoming too stiff or weak. There is no cure for this condition, but it can be treated and controlled.
Medical News Today reports on a study conducted by the University of Michigan that identified a potential early warning for the deadly disease of impaired sense of smell.
“For many people, especially after age 60, their sense of smell may begin to deteriorate,” suggests study author Keran Chamberlin. “This may be a sign of subclinical changes in the cardiovascular system.”
Expert Honglei Chen notes: “About a quarter of older people suffer from loss or deterioration of their sense of smell. However, public awareness is low, with only about 30 percent of people with smell loss knowing they have it.” He added: “Over the last two decades we have learned that loss of smell is one of the most important early signs of dementia and Parkinson's disease. Interestingly, new evidence, including ours, suggests that loss of smell may have more serious health consequences in older adults, including the risk of death, pneumonia, functional decline, and frailty.”
The researchers analyzed data from tests involving 2,500 people whose physical health, including their sense of smell, was monitored for more than ten years. They found that those who lost their sense of smell were 30 percent more likely to develop heart failure than those who had a stronger sense of smell.
Because heart failure is a common, multifaceted syndrome, its progression may worsen increased vulnerability. Thus, loss of smell may be associated with cardiovascular health as a marker, a disease-promoting factor, or both.
But while the researchers found evidence of a link between heart failure and loss of smell, they found no link with the two leading causes of heart failure—stroke and heart disease.
Compared with coronary artery disease, the researchers said heart disease or stroke, congestive heart failure is a more complex and progressive syndrome with structural or functional abnormalities of the heart.
The National Health Service describes the main symptoms of heart failure as follows: shortness of breath after exercise or at rest, most time the person feels tired or dizzy. In addition, experts advise monitoring for swelling in the ankles and legs.
These symptoms, according to scientists, can appear very quickly, which is called acute heart failure, or increase gradually over weeks and months, which is called chronic heart failure insufficiency.