By CHLOE
LAMBERT FOR THE DAILY MAIL
EYES
WHITE RINGS IN THE IRIS: If someone has high cholesterol in their
bloodstream, it can show up as a white circle in the iris, the coloured part of
the eye.
‘Another sign of high cholesterol is small fatty deposits in the white
of the eye, known as pingueculas,’ says Francesca Marchetti, of the College of
Optometrists.
Small fatty lumps or pimples on the eyelids and skin around the eye are
another symptom of high cholesterol.
These are a particular danger sign, says David Webb, professor of
therapeutics and clinical pharmacology at the University of Edinburgh and an
expert in cardiovascular health.
‘They suggest you have a greater propensity to lay down fat than other
people do and, therefore, are more likely to have it blocking up the blood
vessels, which can lead to heart attack or stroke.’
DROOPING EYELID: This may be an indicator of Bell’s palsy where the
nerve supply to the eye becomes disrupted, says optometrist Ms Marchetti.
Bell’s palsy is often linked to a virus making the nerve inflamed. In
rare cases, it may suggest a stroke (although here it would usually be
accompanied by other symptoms such as weakness on one side and slurring of
words).
MOUTH
SHORTENED TEETH: ‘I often see people with thinner, shortened teeth as a
result of acid reflux — here acid from the stomach splashes up the gullet into
the mouth,’ says Dr Ben Atkins, principal dentist and owner of Revive Dental
Care.
‘Stomach acid is more damaging than fizzy pop — it literally dissolves
the teeth.’
BLACK TONGUE: When tiny structures called papillae on the surface of
the tongue don’t periodically shed as normal, bacteria builds up, giving the
tongue a black colour and a hairy appearance. It can be the result of poor oral
hygiene, smoking, or after someone has been taking antibiotics.
Brushing the tongue and using mouthwash can help, says London dentist
Dr Linda Greenwall.
SKIN
YELLOW SKIN: Yellow skin and eyes can be a side-effect of some
medication, such as those for diabetes and high blood pressure. But it also
suggests significant liver damage, says GP Dr Rob Hicks — this triggers
jaundice.
BROWN PATCHES: Melasma — characterised by brown or grey-brown patches
on the face — is up to ten times more common in women than men.
‘The patches can be as small as a thumbnail or big enough to cover both
cheeks,’ says Dr Lowe. ‘It’s caused by the hormone oestrogen, so it can happen
when women are pregnant or taking the Pill. It tends to occur on the face
because it’s triggered by damage from UVA rays in sunlight.’
WRINKLES: Deep lines in the face could be a sign of osteoporosis,
according to a U.S. study published in 2011.
Research on 114 post-menopausal women in their 40s and 50s found those
with the worst wrinkles had the most fragile bones. The team said the link may
be due to low collagen — the building block for both bones and skin.
EARS
WRINKLED EAR LOBES: ‘It’s not clear why, but there’s some quite good
research showing that a diagonal crease across the ear lobe is a risk factor
for heart disease,’ says Professor Webb.
One study of 253 people, published last year in the journal Angiology,
found those with a visible ear crease were 10 per cent more likely to suffer
from blocked arteries. This may mean that cholesterol is deposited there,
leaving a crease.
Arthur Friedlander, professor of oral and facial surgery at University
of California, Los Angeles, says the link may be down to the fact blood vessels
terminate in the earlobe. It may also be because the blood vessels in the lobe
have less elastin, which means they are more likely to become stiff.
HAIR
THINNING HAIR: In women, it can signal an overactive thyroid, says Dr
Lowe, though why this triggers hair loss is unknown. Meanwhile, female baldness
may be a symptom of iron deficiency, because iron binds to ferritin, a protein
important for the production of hair cells.
HAIR ON THE FACE: More than one in 20 women in the UK has polycystic
ovary syndrome, where high levels of the hormone androgen can cause excessive
hair on the face and acne. Facial hair can also signify arrival of the
menopause.
THINNING EYEBROWS: Loss of eyebrow hair is a classic sign of an
underactive thyroid, says Dr Lowe. Here the thyroid does not produce enough of
the hormone thyroxine, crucial for hair follicles.
CHEEKS
RED CHEEKS: While redness in the face can be a sign of a skin problem
such as rosacea (caused by inflammation), it can also indicate internal issues,
says Dr Nick Lowe, a consultant dermatologist and president of the British
Cosmetic Dermatology Group.
These can include Cushing’s syndrome, where there are excess levels of
the hormone cortisol.
Cortisol causes blood vessels to swell, explains Dr Lowe — and blood
vessels in the upper body seem particularly affected, perhaps because those in
the face and chest are very sensitive.
PURPLE CHEEKS: Blue or purple cheeks suggests low oxygen levels in the
blood. One reason could be pulmonary hypertension — raised blood pressure in
the arteries that supply the lungs, which means not enough oxygenated blood is
transported round that body, says Tony Heagerty, professor of medicine at the
University of Manchester.
Deoxygenated blood is blue or purple because the red blood cells are
carrying less oxygen. Low oxygen in the blood is also associated with chronic
lung disease, and some types of heart disease.
RASH: A butterfly-shaped rash that spreads across the bridge of the
nose and the cheeks can be a symptom of lupus, a rare auto‑immune
condition that also causes fatigue and joint pain.
‘It’s sun-related, so tends to appear in spring and summer,’ says
Joseph Jorizzo, professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College in
New York. ‘We think the immune system overreacts when UVA rays damage the skin
cells.’
Sometimes a purple rash can also appear on the face. This rash, which
particularly affects the scalp and eyes (the knuckles can be affected, too), is
thought to be triggered by the immune system malfunctioning and attacking the
skin cells.
‘It’s very rare, but it can be an indication of cancer, such as breast
and ovarian cancer,’ explains Professor Jorizzo.
‘It may be that in some people, when cancer starts, it triggers this
immune response.’
NOSE
BUMPS ON THE NOSE: A relatively rare condition called sarcoidosis,
which causes scarring of the organs of the body, first presents with red bumps
on the nose and ears, although it’s not clear why, says Professor Jorizzo.
‘It’s most common in people of northern European and of
African/Caribbean descent - although in this group the lumps appear on the
scalp and face.'
BIG NOSE: The good news is that big-nosed people may be less prone to
bugs.
A U.S. study published in 2010 found that bigger noses provided a
better barrier against dust particles and bacteria — possibly because bigger
noses have more nasal hairs which stop particles getting into the lungs.
Lead author Dr Renee Anthony, a researcher in occupational and
environmental health from the University of Iowa, said: ‘The nose sticks out
and gives better protection to the mouth. It may work for pollen, too.’
Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2856621/Face-health-shrinking-teeth-thinning-eyebrows-face-reveal-health.html#ixzz3KhxS3oFR
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