Heart disease risk

[bill9]

I'm a healthy 45 year old male and just noticed that I appear to be developing ear lob creases.  I live a healthy lifestyle, don't smoke; exercise vigorously to the tune of about 3,000-3,500 kcal of aerobic activity per week; try to watch my diet, am not overweight (5'10, 188 lbs); my blood pressure is generally in the range of 120's over 70's/80's (but its been slightly elevated (approx 140/90 range) recently I believe because of anxieties I've been having, including major surgery for my wife); about 2.5 years ago, I had a lipid profile taken: 'cholesterol' = 184 mg/dl (ref <200), trig 132 mg/dl, LDL 148, HDL 49.5, VLDL 26.

I have no familial history of premature heart disease or stroke.  My mother is 81 and healthy.  My father, at nearly 83, has never had a heart attack but has a weak heart (and is diabetic, diagnosed at age 79 - controlled by diet).  He had an angioplasty with stent at age 79.  Up until his mid 70's, he had no overt evidence of heart disease - walking several miles per day.  He also has ear lobe creases.

Should I just relax and not worry about the ear lobe creases and just continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle and regularly monitor my risk factors or is there something more I should do at this point?  How would you assess my risk?

[MLS]

I'm sorry, but hasn't anyone ever heard that if you have creases in the bottom of your ear lobe that it "might" mean that you will develope cardiovascular heart disease in later life.  So it was a valid question.  Everyone has a concern and shouldn't be belittled.

[Brenda]

Don't you know there are no stupid questions?  Give the guy a break.

[stop stupid replies]

To JR:
You are wasting everyone's time by posting stupid comments on this forum.  We need comments that are beneficial not stupid.

[JR]

ITS A VALID QUESTION....SOUNDS TO ME LIKE MAYBE SOME OTHER FORM OF HELP MAY BE IN ORDER FOR SOMEONE IN THAT PREDICAMENT. MAYBE A LITTLE PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP. I WAS JUAT WONDERING IF THERE WERE ANY MORE SYMPTOMS THAT WOULD MAKE HIM THINK THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG, OH BY THE WAY LOOSER, IF WE NEED A SUERHERO AROUND HERE TO KEEP THE PEACE, WE WILL SEND UP THE BAT SIGNAL...OK SO STEP OFF AND FIND SOMETHING BETTER TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE.

[JR]

if you dont have any other symptoms, what on earth would earlobe creases make you think you have heart disease for?

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear bill9,
Relax a little bit.  Ear-lobe creases have been associated with elevated cholesterol and increased heart disease but this is not a gospel truth.  Your LDL is a bit high and you should discuss a treatment plan with your doctor.  Your goal LDL based on your profile should be <130.  I would probably recommend starting with diet and exercise modification and then add medications if needed.