Bald and gray hair indicate an increased risk of heart disease

What do early baldness and gray hairs tell about health??

Most men wish to avoid the formation of a bald spot for as long as possible because they are afraid of becoming less attractive. An early baldness, however, can also point to impending health problems. Physicians found that coronary artery disease is more common in men with bald or gray hair. This disease is often a precursor to a heart attack.

The scientists of the European Society of Cardiology found in their study that the formation of a bald head and gray hair can be associated with a coronary artery disease. The experts published a press release on the results of their study and also presented their research at this year's Conference of the Cardiac Society of India.

When men develop balding or gray hair early on, it is often associated with coronary artery disease, which often occurs before a heart attack. (Image: Bits and Splits / fotolia.com)

Plaque in the arteries leads to coronary heart disease

A disease of the coronary arteries often occurs before a heart attack. The danger posed by such a disease should not be underestimated, the researchers say. The risk of coronary heart disease arises when plaque forms in the arteries.

The study included more than 2,000 male volunteers

For their study, the researchers examined a total of more than 2,000 Indian men. It was found that when men get bald or gray hair early, there is a higher risk of coronary heart disease. Of the men examined, 790 were under 40 years of age and had coronary artery disease. 1,270 examined subjects of similar age were completely healthy and served as a control group.

The participants' hair was examined closely and classified into different scales

All participants had their case histories, blood tests and other medical examinations analyzed to determine the health of their hearts. In the study, the degree of hair loss was rated between one and three for all participants. A higher number in the classification meant that the participants had less hair. It was also rated on another scale, how many gray hair the subjects had. This scale ranged from one to five, the higher number stood for more gray hair.

Like gray hair and an early bald head?

The physicians found in their study that early hair loss in men was associated with a 5.6-fold increased risk of coronary heart disease. When men prematurely lost hair pigments, they had a 5.3-fold increased risk of such heart disease. These two factors were stronger predictors of heart disease than obesity, which was associated with an increased risk of 4.1-fold.

Effects of obesity

According to U.S.. Department of Health & Human Services excess pounds are also associated with other medical conditions, such as high cholesterol, high triglyceride levels, high blood pressure and diabetes. These disorders are also believed to greatly increase the risk of heart disease.

Balding and premature graying indicate the biological age

"Baldness and premature graying should be considered as risk factors for coronary heart disease," says Dr. Kamal Sharma of U.N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Center. "These factors may indicate a biological rather than a chronological age, which may be important in determining the overall cardiovascular risk. At present, doctors use common sense to estimate the biological age, but a validated scale is needed, "adds the expert.

Pay attention to a healthy body weight

However, the results of the study do not mean that you should stop paying attention to healthy body weight just because you are still blessed with full, non-graying hair. Doctors must continue to warn of the health risks caused by a too high body mass index. (As)