The study was conducted by experts at the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The research team analyzed hair samples from over 6,000 adults. The goal was to analyze the concentration of the stress hormone cortisol in the hair, according to the health news website Medical Daily .
A new method could identify the risk of heart attack and stroke by testing the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in hair.
Participants will be monitored for an average of 5 to 7 years to assess the long-term relationship between cortisol and cardiovascular disease. During this period, 133 people experienced heart attacks and strokes.
Research shows that people with high cortisol levels in their hair have a doubled risk of heart attack and stroke. Specifically, this risk is three times higher for those under 57 years old.
Explaining the mechanism of this phenomenon, researchers said that the concentration of cortisol in hair reveals a person's stress level in the preceding months. This is because when stressed, the body releases the hormone cortisol. A portion of this hormone remains in the hair.
"We hope that this hair analysis method can serve as a useful test to help clinicians identify which patients are at high risk for cardiovascular disease," said Professor Elisabeth van Rossum, one of the study's authors.
Cardiovascular disease is a general term referring to diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels. These diseases include coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and several others.
Factors contributing to cardiovascular disease include age, being overweight or obese, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, smoking, alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, genetics, and several others. To reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, people need to eat healthily, reduce stress, exercise regularly, and avoid alcohol and tobacco, according to Medical Daily .
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