If your skin looks healthy, you’ll probably be happy about your looks, but what about your health? What can the skin say about heart health?
Having great-looking skin is more than just a cosmetic thing – it can tell you if you’re healthy. In fact, there are certain skin conditions that can let you know how your heart health is doing.
According to Dr. Azeen Sadeghian, Baton Rouge General Physicians Board-Certified Dermatologist, it’s important to catch heart disease early. “Heart disease is something that is a silent killer, and so we want to catch it early.” Sadeghian is also the Medical Advisor for VisualDX and Aysa, its app that checks for skin symptoms.
Skin and Heart Health
According to Sadeghian, your skin and certain conditions can give you clues about your heart health. “I would say the most obvious is something called xanthelasma palpebrarum,” says Sadeghian.
Xanthelasma palpebrarum is a condition where you get a yellow spot on the inner part of your eyelid. This spot is actually cholesterol depositing in the skin. In addition, there are eruptive xanthomas which result in dozens to hundreds of yellow to orange bumps on the skin.
Sadeghian explains that if you have either of these conditions, your doctor will test you for high cholesterol or triglycerides. “The heart is a muscular pump and has these nourishing blood vessels that feed it,” explains Sadeghian. “Over time, cholesterol can deposit his blood vessels and cause a blockage.”
Other Conditions
Sadeghian adds that swelling in your legs can be a sign of heart failure. “The kind of swelling you want to worry about is if you can get indentations on the back of your foot or the front of your shin by pressing on it firmly with one or two fingers,” says Sadeghian. “If you have this and you’re easily fatigued, and you have shortness of breath, this could be a sign of heart failure.”
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and worldwide, which is why it’s important to note any health changes. “Check yourself out, and a loved one, and if you notice any of those findings, contact your medical team and ask them about heart disease,” notes Sadeghian.
The Outlook
Due to the rising rates of heart disease around the country, it’s important that you take any skin changes seriously. Don’t assume that skin changes are normal; instead, make sure you visit your doctor for regular checkups and let them determine if it’s a sign of something bigger.
In addition, if you want to give your heart health an extra boost, you can take supplements like L-arginine Plus. Its ingredients are effective at promoting circulation, lowering blood pressure, better cholesterol, and more.
If you’re ready to give your heart health the support it deserves, then check your skin and take L-arginine Plus.