Graying Hair Linked to Increased Heart Disease Risk, Study Finds
PARIS – A 2017 study by the European Society of Cardiology suggests a correlation between the amount of gray hair in men and their risk of developing atherosclerosis, a disease affecting the arteries. The research indicates this risk exists irrespective of age.
The study, involving thousands of cardiology professionals, found participants already diagnosed with atherosclerosis were more likely to exhibit graying hair. “Aging is an unavoidable cardiovascular risk factor and is associated with dermatological signs that may signal an increased risk of heart disease,” explained Dr. Irini Samuel, a cardiologist at Cairo University and one of the study’s authors.
While the link warrants further investigation, experts caution that the risk of cardiovascular disease naturally increases with age.
Beyond heart health, the article highlights other potential health indicators tied to hair changes. Vitamin deficiencies, especially low levels of vitamin B12, can contribute to decreased pigmentation, though this is rare in Western countries due to generally balanced diets, according to Dr. Karthik Krishnamurthy,director of dermatology at Montefiore Medical Center in New York.
Moreover, depigmentation of hair can be a symptom of autoimmune diseases like vitiligo, characterized by white spots on the skin, and alopecia areata, which causes patchy hair loss and can result in regrowth of white hair.
