Scientists say yellow marks around the eyes are an indicator of heart disease.
A study conducted by the University of Copenhagen found people with yellow spots, known medically as xanthelasmata, had a greater risk of suffering a heart attack or dying within ten years.
The patches are cholesterol deposits that are soft & painless. They don’t hamper vision and people usually go to a dermatologist to treat them.
Nevertheless, people with xanthelasma must consult their physician as well because they face a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease.
The xanthelasma-heart disease association was quite significant in males aged between seventy and seventy nine. Men with xanthelasmata were twelve percent more at risk compared to those without this condition. The risk was 8% for women in this age group.
The raised yellow spots around the eyelids, however, were a more accurate sign of cardiovascular disease in women due to their lower overall risk.
According to researchers, white or grey patches around the cornea (arcus corneae), are not tied to an increased cardiovascular risk.
The presence of xanthelasmata may help clinicians while diagnosing heart disease & associated conditions.
These findings may be of great help in societies where it’s not easy to have access to lab facilities & therefore lipid profile measurement.
