Heart disease warning sign if you can't smell it well
Oct 31, 2025
|
A research team from Michigan State University in the United States published a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association 'JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery' showing that there is a correlation between decreased olfactory function and the risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD).
This study is drawing attention in that it can provide new clues to early detection of heart disease.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a disease in which plaque builds up in the arteries (corrhizal arteries) that supply blood to the heart, reducing or clogging blood flow, and it is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Angina and myocardial infarction are typical, and high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and lack of exercise are considered major risk factors.
The study was conducted on 5,142 adults with an average age of 75.4, all of whom belonged to the 'Atrial Sclerosis Risk Group'. The researchers evaluated participants' olfactory senses through 12 odor identification tests and classified them into 'good (score, 11 to 12)', 'normal (score, 9 to 10)', and 'bad (score, 0 to 8)' depending on the score.
After about 10 years of follow-up, a total of 280 people suffered from coronary heart disease, of which 83 (4.4%) had a good sense of smell, 101 (5.9%) usually, and 96 (6.3%) had a bad sense. In particular, during the first 4 years of the study, people with a bad sense of smell had a twice higher risk of developing coronary heart disease, and the association decreased somewhat over time.
In response, the researchers explained "Perfusion degradation may be associated with intranasal vascular damage, which may be a sign of poor cardiovascular health." It added that decreased olfactory function also affects the nutritional status, mental health, and physical well-being of the elderly, which may be indirectly associated with the development of coronary heart disease.
However, the researchers "This result is preliminary, and the explanation is still at the level of hypothesis"We need to confirm this correlation and identify the cause through further research in the future." he said.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
