We all know that stress can cause a laundry list of health
problems… mental and physical. Your hair can fall out, for example; your sleep
patterns can be disrupted; your appetite can increase along with your waistline.
A recent study from The Netherlands showed that increased
cortisol in the hair samples of older men and women was indicative of
cardiovascular health. Essentially, higher cortisol and stress levels – can
greatly increase your chance at sustaining future heart disease.
Over three months, researchers used scalp hair analysis to
identify patterns in levels of cortisol in roughly 300 seniors aged 65 - 85.
They found that those with elevated cortisol levels over a period of time were
more likely to be at risk for cardiovascular disease, and they also were more
likely to have a history of stroke, diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, and
coronary heart disease.
"Because scalp hair can capture information about how
cortisol levels have changed over time, hair analysis gives us a better tool
for evaluating that risk,” said study co-author Laura Manenschijn, MD.
Bottom line: elevated cortisol levels show a strong link to
cardiovascular disease.
And while the study was not related to lowering cortisol
levels, it seems to follow that doing so, through the use of supplements like
Sanyx, could have a positive effect on heart health, among other things.
