Connection between gray hair and the cardiovascular disease risk
As a study showed, can be diseases of Gray hair and balding the first indications to existing or future cardiovascular. „The study showed a connection with Männern“, how cardiologists at the University of Cairo reports.
In an observational study, which was presented at the conference “Euro prevent”, were able to prove the scientists working with the cardiologist, Dr. Irini Samuel of the University of Cairo, that gray or white hair can be diseases, a note on the risk of cardiovascular. Who gets early gray hair, should therefore, where appropriate, more frequent control examinations, reported Dr. Samuel at the Congress. Your colleagues to go further on a Indian national Congress one step. According to Dr Sachin Patil from U. N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre is also an early-onset baldness may be a harbinger of heart disease.
Grey hair is an independent risk Marker?
The Egyptian cardiologist, according to the aging is an inevitable coronary risk factor, which is, in turn, with certain signs, such as, for example, the grey hair in connection. These signs of aging, therefore, may indicate, according to the testimony of the expert is also an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The scientists have investigated in their study, the correlations between the Occurrence of the grey hair and the risk of cardiovascular disease. “This study assessed the prevalence of gray hair in patients with coronary heart disease and whether it is an independent risk Marker of the disease,” says Dr. Samuel.
545 men with suspected CHD investigated
The prospective observational study included according to the researchers 545 adult men were examined due to suspicion of coronary heart disease with a so-called Multi-Slice computed tomography (CT) and coronary angiography. The scientists then determined on the basis of the existence or Non-existence of coronary heart disease and the amount of gray/white hair among groups of participants.
The amount of gray hair has been classified on the basis of a “Whitening Score”: 1 = pure black hair, 2 = black more than white, 3 = black and white evenly distributed , 4 = more white than black, and 5 = pure white. It’s data to the traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, Diabetes, Smoking, dyslipidemia (lipid metabolism disorder) and the Occurrence of coronary heart disease in the family were recorded as well.
Whitening of the hair in CHD patients more
In the evaluation, the researchers found that a high level of hair lightening (grade 3 or more) with an increased risk of coronary heart disease was associated – regardless of the age of the subjects and other present cardiovascular risk factors. “Patients with coronary heart disease showed a statistically significant higher hair lightening, and greater coronary artery calcification than subjects without coronary heart disease,” says Dr. Samuel.
Similar biological mechanisms as the cause for the connection
The connection between the appearance of gray hair and the risk of CHD, the researchers traced back to the mechanisms that fail at the hardening of the arteries, and the graying of the hair in a similar way. Thus, impaired DNA repair, oxidative Stress, inflammation, hormonal changes, and the senescence of functional cells (senescence = cessation of cell division after a certain number of partial payments) in both cases, explained Dr. Samuel. “Atherosclerosis and the graying of the hair occur due to similar biological mechanisms and the incidence of both increases with age,” says the cardiologist.
Checkups for people with gray hair?
The results of the study indicate, according to a statement by Dr. Samuel, to the fact that gray hair could be a warning sign for an increased cardiovascular risk. Although further studies are needed to determine more about the genetic causes and possible preventable environmental factors, the hair whitening, and there is need for a larger sample of men and women, the Association between gray hair and heart disease in patients to confirm without other known cardiovascular risk factors. However, the observed relationships were relatively clear. “If our results are confirmed, could be used in the standardisation with the help of a Scoring system for the assessment of gray hair as a predictor of coronary heart disease,” says Dr. Samuel.
Identified high-risk patients could then go for regular screening and, where appropriate, preventive and therapeutic measures. (fp)
