Heart Failure: Sense of smell predicts heart health!

A loss of the ability to smell is considered a common symptom of aging. However, a recent study has shown that a loss of sense of smell can also be a sign of heart failure.

According to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, a loss of sense of smell may be a sign of developing heart failure. The study found that a loss of sense of smell in older adults increases the risk of heart failure by 30%.

In the study, researchers at Michigan State University studied 2,537 adults aged 70 to 79. They tested these adults' sense of smell and then followed them for 12 years. During this period, 477 participants developed heart failure.

Link to the brain

One theory is that the sense of smell is linked to the same area of ​​the brain that controls the heartbeat. Therefore, a loss of smell could be a sign of declining heart health. Another theory is linked to inflammation. Inflammation is linked to both heart disease and loss of smell. Widespread inflammation in the body may contribute to the development of heart failure as well as damage the olfactory nerves.

Heart Failure Risk Factors

The study's findings may expand our understanding of heart failure risk factors. However, researchers say that a sense of smell cannot yet become a standard tool for assessing heart failure risk. More research is needed to understand how a reduced sense of smell is linked to heart failure and could be used to develop future prevention or treatment strategies.