adminmay be touted as the most common cause but ignoring the contributing factors will only cause further hair loss.
Various hormones regulate nearly every function of the body and their imbalance are classified as a leading cause of hair loss. However, hormonal imbalance is a rather vague and confusing grouping of symptoms or health conditions. Several hormones will be discussed to best understand the complexity of the problem.
Hormone induced hair loss
The thyroid gland produces several hormones that regulate the metabolism and energy levels of the body.
Thyroid conditions can be genetic but are commonly brought on by poor lifestyle choices that will facilitate the problem.
The exposure to toxic chemicals is a major contributor to hair loss. Chemicals found in cleaning products, added chemicals in our food supply and the cumulative effects of environmental toxins cause the thyroid to be sluggish, over-active or cease to function altogether.
Thyroid medications are not always the simple solution to re-grow one’s hair. One may not be able to re-grow hair without correcting the underlying causes of the hormonal imbalance and the lifestyle factors that may have caused it in the first place.
Why am I losing my hair now?
As mentioned there are several types of medications that can cause hair loss.
The leading culprits include blood thinning medications and beta-blockers for heart conditions, anti-inflammatory drugs, birth control pills and antidepressants. A variety of common health conditions can contribute to the problem.
Diabetes is commonly thought of as a blood sugar condition but in reality it’s related to a hormone called insulin. Diabetes is linked to obesity, lack of physical activity, poor dietary choices and is classified as a major preventable and reversible health condition.
A side effect of diabetes is often hair loss. By utilising the proper management techniques one may be able to reverse diabetes and re-grow their hair.
Stress linked to hair loss
Accidents, injuries and other physical traumas can cause up to 75 percent of hair to fall out. Hormones help the body react and heal from injuries but the injury may also sacrifice the body’s effectiveness to respond to stress.
Various health conditions can develop when the body’s ability to heal is sacrificed such as diabetes.
Blood sugar spikes in response to physical stress and excessive blood sugar will prevent the body from healing. The long-term use of strong anti-inflammatory medications used to treat pain can cause excessive hair loss as well.
Emotional disturbances are not only linked to physical pain but also the remainder of what we call life. It’s common to lose hair when one experiences financial stress, relationship woes, death of loved ones or even challenging work environments.
A complicating factor is that many emotional disturbances can cause depression and are treated with antidepressants — another cause of hair loss.
Does diet play a role?
One’s body is known to strip essential nutrients from non-vital systems to replenish the vital ones. Hair is not vital and is commonly stripped when faced with nutritional deficiencies.
Severely restricted caloric diets, dangerous fad diets and the failure to eat a variety of nutrient dense foods can contribute to hair loss and poor hair growth. It is important to eat a balanced diet with plenty of nutrient dense fruits and vegetables.
No minerals, no hair
The anti-baldness diet should contain adequate vitamins and minerals from natural sources. It is more common to be mineral deficient than vitamin deficient. Some minerals can be very effective to prevent hair loss and help to naturally restore it. The main minerals include zinc, copper and iron. Hair may seem not important but it affects one’s self-confidence and emotional health that will contribute to more serious health conditions. Improving one’s lifestyle factors is important regardless of genetic tendencies. The ultimate goal is not to treat baldness, but treat the lifestyle factors that can contribute to it.
This column is directed by your questions, comments and inquiries. The health advice provided is in collaboration with the World Health Organisation’s goals of disease prevention and global healthcare education. Views do not necessarily reflect endorsement.
Online Reporter