Is it true that gray hair is linked to an increased risk of heart problems in men?

One of the last was carried out in 2017, a cardiologist at the University of Cairo (Egypt) stated that “aging is an unavoidable coronary risk factor and is associated with dermatological signs that could indicate a greater propensity”, such as gray hair. Still, he acknowledges that “more research is needed on the skin signs of risk that allow us to intervene earlier in the process of cardiovascular disease.”

The authors of the research also pointed out that gray hair and atherosclerosis (it is a syndrome characterized by the deposit and infiltration of lipids in the intimal layer of the walls of medium and large-caliber arteries) share similar mechanisms, such as DNA repair, oxidative stress, inflammation, hormonal changes and aging of functional cells. The study looked at the prevalence of gray hair in patients with coronary artery disease, to see if it was an independent marker of disease risk.

In this investigation, 545 adult men participated, who underwent multiple-slice computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography to verify whether or not there was coronary artery disease. The patients were divided into groups, according to the presence or absence of coronary artery disease and the amount of gray/white.

The amount of gray hair was rated using the hair whitening score:

• 1 = pure black hair
• 2 = black more than white
• 3 = black equals white
• 4 = white more than black
• 5 = pure white

Data were collected on traditional cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and family history of coronary heart disease.

The researchers found that a high level of hair whitening (grade 3 or higher) was associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease, regardless of the chronological age, and established cardiovascular risk factors of the individual tested. Patients with coronary artery disease had a statistically significant hair whitening score and higher coronary artery calcification than those without coronary artery disease.

In the analysis, age, hair whitening score, hypertension, and dyslipidemia (presence of abnormally elevated fat concentration in the blood: cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and LDL cholesterol) were independent predictors of the presence of diseases in women. atherosclerotic coronary arteries. Only age was an independent indicator of hair whitening.

Additionally, Samuel added that asymptomatic patients at high risk for coronary artery disease should have regular checkups to avoid early heart problems.

“More research is needed, in coordination with dermatologists, to learn more about causal genetic factors and possible avoidable environmental factors that determine hair bleaching,” he added. “A larger study, including both men and women, is required to confirm the association between graying of hair and cardiovascular disease in patients with no other known cardiovascular risk factors.” “If our findings are confirmed, the standardization of the system score for the evaluation of gray hair could be used as a predictor for coronary artery disease ”, Samuel concluded.