Xanthelasma or xanthelasma palpebrarum is a health condition that has recently been linked to heart disease. This condition can be easily recognized because it comes in the form of clearly visible yellowish fat deposits that appear under the skin, especially around the eyelids. The yellowish deposits are found both on the lower and upper eyelid close to the inner corner of each eye.
The scientific study and the findings of this study were shared by the British Medical Journal.
Risk Factors for Heart Attack
It is good to point out that this health condition can be found in both women and men and it is especially present in people over the age of 40.
The yellow formations are a direct result of the buildup of cholesterol and usually suggest the presence of excessive cholesterol levels (this is true for more than 50% of patients who are suffering from xanthelasma).
The growths don’t cause pain, they are soft on touch and they don’t cause any problem with the vision.
Most people with this condition visit their doctors only when they decide that the growths are affecting their appearance.
In other words, most of them look for a way to remove them because of aesthetic reasons and they have no idea that xanthelasma is a warning sign of a more serious problem. In addition, these formations tend to re-grow after their removal.
The Link Between Heart Disease and Xanthelasma
The latest research related to xanthelasma conducted by Danish scientists has shown that there is a connection between this health condition and heart disease. Thanks to Professor Tibjaerg Hansen and his team of scientists, people will stop looking at these formations as something harmless and only visually unacceptable.
According to the study, men who suffer from this condition have 12% more chances to experience a heart attack while those who are older than 70 have even more chances. When it comes to women, the percentage is slightly lower – 8%.
It has been confirmed that women have a lower chance of developing heart disease and what is even more interesting, scientists have managed to show that the probability of developing heart disease can be measured very precisely in certain patients.
This research has confirmed that xanthelasma may be a solid indicator of heart disease, heart attack, and severe atherosclerosis.
Both women and men who have to deal with these yellowish growths which usually appear on the eyelids have greater chances of experiencing a heart attack and their lives might be at risk in the long run. Men are more prone to diseases and conditions related to the heart.
In case you notice these yellow formations on the eyelids, make sure to check the levels of cholesterol in your body.
Via Harvard