Is a crease in the earlobe a sign of a heart attack? Expert warns it is 'not an indicator on its own'

Posts claiming that a diagonal crease in the earlobe is a sign of a heart attack have once again become a subject of debate on social media. This appearance, known as "Frank's sign," has sparked curiosity due to claims linking it specifically to cardiovascular diseases.

As symptoms and risk factors related to heart health have come to the fore once again following the heart attack suffered by Cem Yılmaz, experts emphasize that a crease in the earlobe should not be considered a diagnosis or a definitive indicator of risk on its own.

Cardiovascular Surgery Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emre Selçuk from Medipol Health Group stated that while the crease in question can be indirectly associated with vascular calcification, it is not sufficient to determine the risk of a heart attack.

This crease is not an indicator of a heart attack on its own. It is said that it may be an indirect sign of vascular calcification, but it is not possible for us to say that our risk of cardiovascular blockage is high just by looking at our earlobe. We perform much clearer analyses to reveal the risk of a heart attack.

Selçuk also pointed out that a heart attack may not show symptoms in every patient beforehand. Stating that some individuals may not experience any complaints before a heart attack, Selçuk expressed that regular check-ups are important for the early detection of risky vessels.

According to experts, risk assessment in cardiovascular diseases should be conducted based on a person's age, family history, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, smoking habits, and necessary medical examinations. For this reason, it is recommended to consult a physician rather than reaching a conclusion based on a single visual symptom circulating on social media.