If you have ever heard that a crease in the earlobes - specifically one that runs diagonally - indicates an increased risk of heart disease, you aren’t alone. More than 30 studies over the past few decades have examined whether an earlobe crease is a sign of heart disease, indicative of cholesterol deposits in arteries, or means a higher than normal risk of heart trouble.
The good news is that there's no medical consensus on whether or not an earlobe crease is a meaningful marker for the presence of heart disease or a propensity toward it. Some studies have found an association between earlobe creases and heart disease and some have not, leading to the conclusion that the prevalence of earlobe creases probably increases with age, as does heart disease. So if you do have a creased earlobe, don’t fret - but it is prudent for everyone, creased lobes or not, to take preventive steps when it comes to heart disease: eat a heart healthy diet like my Anti-Inflammatory Diet; manage lifestyle risk factors such as not smoking and getting regular exercise; and know your personal history of heart disease and discuss it with your doctor.