Stress

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Hair Samples Prove Stress Causes Heart Attacks

Posted on 15. Nov, 2010 by wisdom.

New research has used male hair samples to prove that chronic stress and lead to cardiovascular disease such as a heart attack.

It has been known for some time now that stress such as that from a marriage, job problems, and/or financial problems can lead to an increased risk of heart attack. However, there was never really a way to directly measure this stress.

Drs. Gideon Koren and Stan Van Uum from the University of Western Ontario have developed a method to measure cortisol levels in hair which can provide a measure of stress levels before a problem like a heart attack occurs.

It is well known that cortisol is a stress hormone and more of it is released when someone is stressed out.

Dr. Koren explains “We know that on average, hair grows one centimetre (cm) a month, and so if we take a hair sample six cm long, we can determine stress levels for six months by measuring the cortisol level in the hair.”

The researchers used three cm long hair samples from 56 adult males who were admitted to Meir Medical Centre in Kfar-Saba, Israel after suffering heart attacks. The researchers also used hair samples from 56 adult males at the center who were there but not for a heart attack as a control group.

The researchers found that higher hair cortisol levels were found in the heart attack patients when compared to the control group. Thus they feel that measuring cortisol in hair may be a good way predict a future heart attack and possibly alert an individual that they need to get their stress under control before they have one.

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Posted on 12. Dec, 2008 by wisdom.

Stress causes cortisol levels to increase within the body, which increases oil production and causes acne breakouts. Getting more exercise, obtaining proper rest, and caring for skin are three basic steps to counteract these problems.

Dermatologists have found when you’re stressed out, your body releases a hormone called cortisol.

“When cortisol levels increase, oil production increases and sometimes that will cause acne in patients that have never even had acne before,” Flor Mayoral, M.D., a dermatologist in South Miami, Fla.

As if acne wasn’t bad enough, stress can cause your hair to fall out too! “When people are stressed out, your body also responds by taking a time out, and we really do not need hair,” Dr. Mayoral explains.

Men and women can develop alopecia — bald spots of hair in the beard or scalp — when they’re under stress. Nervous habits like twirling your hair can also pull hairs out, causing bald spots.

“And then when the hair grows back, sometimes it grows in as gray hairs.” Dr. Mayoral says.

Stay ahead of stress by taking better care of yourself during tough or hectic times. “Sometimes people meditate to help them deal with stress,” Dr. Mayoral says. “Exercising is a wonderful way to deal with stress. It releases endorphins..”

Dr. Mayoral says when adults suddenly develop acne, it is usually in response to stress. Stress stimulates the body to release a hormone called cortisol, which promotes the release of oil by the skin. This increase in oil is what encourages acne to develop. Ways to help minimize the effect of stress on skin include avoiding extra hot showers, applying moisturizer after bathing, and using sunscreen.

There are some easy, practical things humans can do to reduce the amount of stress in their lives.

Be realistic and don’t try to be perfect.
Don’t over-schedule and cut out an activity or two when you start to feel overwhelmed.
Get a good night’s sleep.
Get regular exercise to manage stress and follow a healthy diet.
Learn to relax by building time into your schedule for reading or a nice long bath.

Source: ScienceDaily