High blood calcium levels may be a warning sign of cancer

A new study published in the British Journal of Cancer, reveals that high calcium levels in the blood may be a warning sign of cancer, especially in men. 
 
High blood calcium levels of hypercalcaemia occurs in about 10 to 20 per cent of cancer patients people with cancer, said the researchers. So, it’s already known that cancer patients have elevated calcium levels in the blood but this is the first study that shown high blood calcium level can be a marker of cancer diagnosis. 
 

For the research, scientists analysed the electronic records of 54,000 patients who having increased levels of calcium in their blood and looked at how many of them went on to receive a cancer diagnosis. A simple blood test could identify those with hypercalcaemia, prompting doctors to investigate further. 

Results showed that high blood calcium levels increased cancer risk to 28 per cent. A surprising finding was that out of 54,000 patients, the risk was found to be higher in men compared to women. It was found that in men, even mild hypercalcaemia conferred a risk of cancer in one year of 11.5 per cent. In women, the risks were much less, with the corresponding figures being 4.1 per cent and 8.7 per cent. 

In men, 81 per cent of the cancer associated with hypercalcaemia was caused by lung, prostate, myeloma, colorectal and other haematological cancers. In women, cancer was much less common, researchers said. 

‘We were surprised by the gender difference. There are a number of possible explanations for this but we think it might be because women are much more likely to have hyperparathyroidism, another cause of hypercalcaemia. Men rarely get this condition, so their hypercalcaemia is more likely to be due to cancer,’ Hamilton added. 

‘All previous studies on hypercalcaemia and cancer had been carried out with patients who had already been diagnosed with cancer – hypercalcaemia was seen as a late effect of the cancer,’ said Dr Fergus Hamilton, from the Centre for Academic Primary Care at the University of Bristol, who led the study. 

‘We wanted to look at the issue from a different perspective and find out if high calcium levels in blood could be used as an early indicator of cancer and therefore in the diagnosis of cancer,’ said Hamilton. 

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.








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Can Earlobe Creases Be a Sign of Heart Disease?

Could that small vertical mark on your ear have something to do with heart disease? Here is a simple test that could protect you from serious damage to your health.

 In 1973, a doctor named Sanders T. Frank conducted a number of studies to determine whether an earlobe crease, known as "Frank's sign", could be an indicator of coronary artery disease. He found that patients who had creases running at an angle from the bottom of their ear opening to the edge of their ear lobe were at higher risk for heart disease.  
 
But before you start worrying, here are some basic statistics and background on the test. Since Dr. Frank's studies were published, more scientists have looked into the correlation between the earlobe crease and heart disease.

Researchers found that the earlobe crease "may identify a subset of patients prone to early ageing and to the early development of coronary artery disease, whose prognosis might be improved by early preventative measures." Others like Dr. Sarah Samaan clarify that, "Heart disease doesn't cause earlobe creases, nor do the creases cause heart disease, but they seem to be a marker for an unhealthy lifestyle."

Biologically, ear creases result when the elastic tissue around the small blood vessels in the ear begins to degenerate. This is the same type of change that occurs in the blood vessels when one has coronary artery disease. Therefore, scientists concluded that the visible change in the earlobe could be an indication of more serious changes occurring in the blood vessels around the heart.

To provide you with some numbers, a more recent study in 2006 found the predictive value of the ear crease to be about 80 percent in individuals 40 years and younger. That said, it appears that ear creases can predict certain aging diseases like heart disease and possibly even diabetes, but there are still some scientists that are unconvinced.

One study conducted in 1980 found that there was no significant relationship between earlobe creases and coronary artery disease in American Indians, suggesting that "Frank's sign" may not have the same level of indication in other ethnic groups. Another study on Japanese Americans also found no correlation between earlobe creases and heart disease.

Yet other scientists propose that because the studies are usually conducted on patients over the age of 50, the results may be biased as individuals naturally have a higher risk for these diseases as they age. It could be that earlobe creases are simply a sign of the natural aging process.

Despite these doubts, most scientists and doctors agree that the appearance of an ear crease at the age of 50 and below could be a good indication that the body is not as healthy as it should be. For this reason, if you have an earlobe crease, or know someone with one, it is important to consult a doctor who can test your blood and determine if this odd indicator holds any truth. 

 And remember, heart disease can be treated and even stopped in its tracks, and once it has disappeared, so too will the earlobe crease!

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