Daijiworld Media Network – Middletown

Middletown, Aug 10: A diagonal line across the earlobe, known as Frank’s Sign, has long sparked debate over its possible link to serious health issues such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. First noted by Dr Sanders T. Frank in the 1970s, the crease has been observed more frequently in patients with coronary artery disease and vascular problems.

Studies offer mixed conclusions. Some report that people with the crease face over three times the risk of coronary artery disease or poorer recovery after stroke, while others — particularly in type 2 diabetics — found no association. The crease is also common in older adults, raising questions on whether it’s an age-related change rather than a warning sign.

Experts say the crease may reflect microvascular changes or collagen loss, but stress it is not a reliable diagnostic tool. They advise that real health risks lie in high blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, and family history.

Doctors suggest that if the crease appears in younger individuals, it could prompt a routine health check, but there is no cause for alarm as it is often just a natural sign of aging.