Feeling upset can cause you to pull out your hair.
However, scientists may now be able to determine the actual pressure by examining the locks themselves.
Researchers have discovered that cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, can be precisely detected in hair.
Scientists could previously only detect the stress hormone in blood, urine, or saliva.
The team’s findings show that detecting the hormone in hair is an effective method for recognizing persistent stress.
Over time, the disease can lead to anxiety, sleeplessness, excessive blood pressure, and even a compromised immune system.
The study, which was published in PLOS Global Public Health, examined hair samples from 881 Mexican women and 398 Icelandic women.
The 3cm-long segment closest to the scalp was analyzed by a machine after the hair was extracted from its root.
Each month, hair grows one centimeter, therefore this area represents the last three months.
The same ladies were subsequently given a 10-item questionnaire to assess their level of stress.
They were asked the extent to which they saw their lives to be unpredictable, unmanageable, and overburdening.
They responded on a five-point scale, and respondents were divided into five groups based on their overall scores, which indicated their level of stress.
Results showed that women who scored in the top fifth for stress had cortisol levels that were 24,3% greater than those who scored in the bottom fifth.
Dr. Rebekka Lynch of the University of Reykjavik, who authored the study, says that detecting cortisol in hair may be a promising method for diagnosing chronic stress.
The researchers said, ‘A correlation was discovered between felt stress and [hair cortisol concentration] in a group of women from two distinct geographical and cultural backgrounds.
“[It demonstrates] that [hair cortisol concentration] is a reliable biomarker in studies of persistent psychological stress,”
Cortisol is regarded as the body’s natural alert system.
Although it is generated for reasons other than stress, it has been dubbed the “stress hormone” since it is released when the body is in “fight or flight” mode.
Typically, the body generates more of this hormone in the morning and less at night.
What is cortisol, the “stress hormone”?
Cortisol is regarded as the body’s natural alert system.
Although it is generated for reasons other than stress, it has been dubbed the “stress hormone” since it is released when the body is in “fight or flight” mode.
It is secreted into the bloodstream from the kidneys.
Typically, the body generates more of this hormone in the morning and less at night.
However, if levels remain too high for too long, it can lead to a variety of health issues, including anxiety, depression, heart disease, and sleeping difficulties.
It can also result in Cushing syndrome, which is characterized by fast weight gain, easily bruised skin, muscle weakness, and diabetes.
