Gray hair is perceived as a sign of aging. Now, a new study suggests that having more white hair could also be a warning sign of a higher risk for developing heart disease.
Atherosclerosis And Heart Disease
In a study presented at the EuroPrevent 2017 on April 8, researchers reported that the graying of the hair and atherosclerosis, the hardening and narrowing of the arteries and the usual cause of stroke and heart disease, share similar mechanisms.
Both are marked by impaired DNA repair, inflammation, oxidative stress, hormonal changes, and deterioration of functional cells.
"Atherosclerosis and hair greying occur through similar biological pathways and the incidence of both increases with age," said Irini Samuel, a cardiologist at the Cairo University in Egypt.
In the study involving 545 participants, researchers looked at the prevalence of gray hair in patients with suspected coronary artery disease to find out if the graying of the hair is an independent risk marker of the condition.
The participants, all adult men, were divided into groups depending on whether or not they have coronary artery disease and the amount of white hair that they had.
Two independent observers graded the amount of gray hair of the participants. Researchers also collected data on traditional heart disease risk factors which include diabetes, smoking, hypertension, and a family history of the disease.
Results revealed that the men with high hair whitening score, or those who had equal amount of white hair and black hair as well as those with mostly white hair, had higher risk for coronary artery disease that is independent of other cardiovascular risk factors and chronological age.
The researchers also found that those with coronary artery disease had significantly higher hair whitening score and higher calcifications in the artery compared with those without coronary heart disease.
"We tested the hypothesis that hair graying as a visible marker of aging is associated with risk of coronary artery disease independent of chronological age," the researchers reported. "In our population, high hair whitening score was associated with increased risk of CAD independent of chronological age and other established cardiovascular risk factors."
Samuel said that asymptomatic patients with high risk for heart disease need to have regular check-ups to avoid early cardiac events.
Researchers of the new study said that if their findings are confirmed, standardization of a scoring system that evaluates the graying of the hair may be used to predict risk for coronary artery disease.
Heart Disease In United States
The American Heart Association said that 45 percent of the U.S. population will develop health problems associated with heart disease by 2035. Costs associated with these cardiovascular conditions would also increase to $1.1 trillion from $555 billion in 2016. Health experts have recommended preventive measures.
"Rather than treating illness when it is far advanced, the American Heart Association advocates for heart-healthy habits and wellness throughout a person's life — and the earlier the better," AHA said. "Those who follow a lifestyle of regular exercise, a heart-healthy diet and regular screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes can dramatically reduce their risk of developing CVD."
