Small? Spherical? Tilted? The shape of your heart reveals your risk of cardiovascular disease
New study links more spherical heart shapes to higher likelihood of atrial fibrillation and identifies 14 new genes associated with heart conditions
The simplicity of the symbol we use to represent the heart (♥) stands in stark contrast to the complexity of the organ itself, and bears little resemblance to its true shape. An international team of scientists, led by experts from Spain, has created three-dimensional models of the heart’s full structure using magnetic resonance images. This groundbreaking work was done for over 40,000 individuals, each with a unique heart shape at a specific point in their lives. The team then examined the genetic factors behind these distinct morphologies, ultimately linking both the shape and genetics of the heart to the cardiovascular conditions they were prone to. In their findings, the researchers discovered that more spherical heart shapes are associated with a higher risk of atrial fibrillation.
