Losing Your Sense of Smell Could Signal Increased heart Disease Risk, study Finds
New York, NY – A diminished sense of smell may be an early indicator of potential heart problems, according to research published recently. The study, conducted by Michigan State University, found individuals with a poor sense of smell faced double the risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD) within the first four years of a nearly decade-long follow-up period.
Atherosclerosis, the narrowing of the arteries, is a leading cause of heart attack adn stroke. Researchers assessed the olfactory abilities of participants using a 12-item odour identification test, categorizing them as having good smell (scores of 11-12), moderate smell (scores of nine-10), or poor smell (scores of nil-eight).
Over the course of the study, 280 adults were diagnosed with CHD. Of those, 83 (4.4 percent) had good olfaction, 101 (5.9 percent) had moderate olfaction,and 96 (6.3 percent) had poor olfaction.
“Compared with good olfaction, poor olfaction was associated with a two-fold higher risk of CHD during the first four years of follow-up,” the researchers stated. This association weakened over longer periods of observation.
Lead researcher Dr. Honglei Chen, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Michigan State University, explained that a reduced sense of smell can stem from physical obstructions like nasal polyps or neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia.Though, it can also be linked to an unhealthy cardiovascular system, as damaged blood vessels in the nose can impair its function.
A compromised sense of smell can also negatively impact overall health, perhaps affecting “nutrition, mental health, and the physical well-being of older adults,” Dr. Chen noted. It may also signal early warning signs of plaque buildup in the arteries.
The researchers cautioned that their findings are preliminary and require further investigation to confirm the observations and explore potential underlying mechanisms.
These findings come as heart disease rates are climbing. Recent figures for 2022 show heart disease killed 80 out of every 100,000 people in England - the highest rate since 2011. Heart fatalities in those under 75 have increased for three consecutive years, highlighting the growing impact of factors like obesity, diabetes, and undiagnosed high blood pressure.
