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Hearing loss linked to diabetes? Eye sight decline linked to dementia?
Studies now show that these seemingly unrelated heath issues can
indicate a future chronic health issue. So keep an eye out for these
somewhat innocent yet gradual physical changes that my actually pinpoint
a health hazard down the road…
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1. Hair Loss and Thyroid Problems
While some hair loss is arguably hereditary, according to the British
Thyroid Foundation, sometimes hair loss has to do with an underlying
thyroid issue. While a properly working thyroid (the endocrine gland in
your neck) maintains healthy hormone secretion—a faulty thyroid (either
hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism) can cause issues with metabolism,
weight gain, body temperature, and even hair loss.
In addition to hair loss, thyroid issues can also cause thinning
eyebrows, dry hair, and coarse hair that breaks easily several months
after the onset of the disease. Luckily, if hair loss is tied to hormone
levels, hair can regrow with proper thyroid medication. |
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2. Loss of Smell and Alzheimer’s Disease
Even though the senses can suffer due to the natural aging process,
research from the American National Institute of Neurological Disorders
and Stroke (NINDS) notes that issues with smell (the olfactory system)
can also be an early signal of Alzheimer’s disease.
The NINDS research found that lab mice with Alzheimer’s disease also
showed increased rates of nerve cell death in their noses compared to
healthy mice. That means if you notice sudden changes in your sense of
smell, it’s time to consult with your doctor. |
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3. Hearing Loss and Diabetes
You might never have guessed that a hearing impairment could indicated
the onset of diabetes. That was until scientists at Japan’s Niigata
University found a link between damaged blood vessels in the ears, and,
you guessed it, high blood sugar levels.
Researchers found that patients who developed diabetes doubled their
risk of hearing impairment compared to those without diabetes. This was
particularly so for diabetes patients under the age of 60-years old. |
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4. Brittle Nails and Lupus
Medscape.com indicates that “spooned” or concave fingernails (also known
as koilonychia) are commonly a sign of lupus, a disorder that causes the
immune system to attack healthy tissues.
Researchers also note that the sudden appearance of a rash on the
fingers and backs of hands, swollen nail beds, and redness under the
fingernails as other signs that you may have lupus. |
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5. Eye Issues and Dementia
A 2016 study out of New Zealand has discovered a shocking link between
the size of the blood vessels in the retina and the onset of dementia.
The researchers examined the retinal blood vessels of roughly 1,000
people as a means to predict future brain health.
Researchers found that patients starting as young as 38-years old with
smaller retinal veins were prone to a decline in brain health years
before the onset of their dementia. According to study scientists,
“…knowledge about retinal vessels may enable [science] to develop better
diagnosis and treatments to increase the levels of oxygen into the brain
[in order to] prevent age-related worsening of cognitive abilities.”
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