Blood Pressure And Hair Loss
A 2007 European Journal of Dermatology report discovered a strong link between high blood pressure and hairloss. Similarly, findings from a study published in 2017 by the University of Bonn revealed that going bald can be an indicator of health conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer.
Additionally, a Bangalore study evaluated 1,000 Indian men in the IT sector with hereditary hair loss between the ages of 25 and 35, and found 85 per cent had hypertension. The hair loss clinic researchers who carried out this study hypothesised that metabolic disorders such as coronary heart disease, obesity and hormonal disorders could be the basis of Male Pattern Baldness.
This is at odds of the widely recognised understanding regarding the causes of androgenetic alopecia: that an inherited genetic predisposition to the testosterone by-product DHT is the main cause of genetic hair loss in both men and women.
Following a Greek study which revealed the correlation between Male Pattern Baldness and aortic stiffness, Yorkshire-based GP Tillman Jacobi even suggested re-classifying this common hair loss condition from a cosmetic issue to an indicator of potential medical concerns.
How Effective Is Oral Minoxidil
The studies are very small but indicate that about one third of patients will notice a reduction in shedding, and a third will notice improved growth in 6 months or more. This means that up to 2 in 3 people may notice benefits from oral Minoxidil. It is best to take treatment for 6 to 12 months to give it enough time to work.
The only head to head study comparing oral minoxidil to topical minoxidil in women with Female Pattern Hair Loss showed that 1mg of minoxidil gave comparable effects to 5% solution once a day . In this study 26 women received oral minoxidil and 26 women received topical minoxidil. After 24 weeks of treatment, there was a 12% increase in hair density for women on oral minoxidil and 7.2% increase for women applying topical minoxidil. The difference was not statistically significant but the oral minoxidil group also had less hair shedding.
Does Diabetes Cause Hair Loss
We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Heres our process.
Diabetes can cause a range of symptoms and health issues, including hair loss. However, good blood sugar control may help reverse the effects of hair loss.
Hair loss is a natural part of the hairs life cycle. As hair reaches the final stage of the cycle, it will fall out. A new hair will typically grow from the same hair follicle to replace it. At times though, a new hair may fail to form. If there are large areas of the scalp in which new hairs do not appear, this hair loss can be noticeable.
Many factors can affect hair growth, including stress, hormones, high blood sugar levels, and underlying health conditions, such as diabetes.
In this article, we discuss how diabetes can affect the hair and explain the treatment options for hair loss. We also cover other effects that diabetes can have on a persons body.
Diabetes can cause hair thinning and hair loss in some people as it can have the following effects on the growth cycle of the hair:
- impairing hair growth
- causing more hair to grow than normal
- stopping new hair from forming
Several different factors may cause a person with diabetes to lose hair, but the most common causes include those below.
Also Check: How To Care Hair Loss
How Is Hair Loss In Women Treated What Medicines Or Supplements May Help
Treatment depends on the cause of your hair loss.
- In cases where the loss is due to stress or hormone changes like pregnancy, there might be no treatment needed. The hair loss will stop after a period of time.
- In cases of hair loss being due to hair styling practices, like tight braids or ponytails or certain chemicals, treatment means not doing the things that caused the damage.
- In cases due to nutritional deficiencies, you might be told to take supplements. For instance, you might be told to take a multivitamin and three to five milligrams of biotin daily.
- Minoxidil is approved for treating FPHL. The 2% or 5% solution can be purchased in stores. However, you have to follow directions exactly and use the product indefinitely. Dont use this product if youre pregnant, if you plan to get pregnant, or if youre breastfeeding.
- The HairMax Lasercomb® low light laser is approved by the US FDA to treat FPHL. Another FDA-approved laser product is the Theradome LH80 PRO® helmet and low light laser helmets and caps.
Other medications that have been studied, but not approved, for hair loss in women include:
- Spironolactone and other anti-androgens.
- Steroids.
- Other light treatments.
It is important to note that premenopausal women should not take medications for hair loss treatment without using contraception. Many drugs, including minoxidil and finasteride, are not safe for pregnant women or women who want to get pregnant.
When Minoxidil Should Be Avoided
There are certain instances when it is not safe to have oral minoxidil. These are listed below and you should ensure your doctor is aware of any underlying health conditions you may have.
Minoxidil should be avoided if you have:
- drug allergy NB it appears that oral minoxidil is safe if you have reacted to topical minoxidil even if your patch tests shows you react to minoxidil and not to the preservatives sun propylene glycol
- pheochromocytoma
- pulmonary hypertension with mitral stenosis
- severe hepatic impairment
- angina or recent myocardial infarction
- left ventricular hypertrophy
Also Check: What Should I Take To Stop Hair Loss
What To Do If You Suspect Your Hair Loss To Be A Sign Of A Cardiac Compromise
With several studies pointing to the fact that hypertension and hair loss may be connected, men who show signs of hair thinning should be encouraged to improve their cardiovascular risk profile.Medications, lasers, and hair transplant may be the right fix to your hair loss, but its also wise to pay attention to underlying factors that may have triggered or aggravated it.
As you know now, hair can be an external barometer for your internal health. Since hypertension can develop and worsen while on the down-low, you need to be cautious of the signs and symptoms. If there are obvious changes to your hairline, its high time that you also pay attention to your waistline.
Hair loss has been linked to different conditions, which means that excessive shedding could be your bodys call for help. Seek help from your physician or a hair transplant surgeon for medical advice. If you think you are predisposed, you may talk to Singapore hair transplant doctor, Dr Tyng Tan today.
About Dr Tyng Tan
Dr. Tan Tyng Yuan, MBBS completed her graduate and medical education in the United Kingdom over a span of 10 years.
Hair Loss Due To High Blood Pressure
An important takeaway from this study is the fact that the condition of a patients hair can be considered a telltale indicator of their internal health. For instance, if the quality and thickness of the patients hair suddenly starts to change, then its important to investigate whats causing that to happen.
As mentioned, in some cases, medication can be the culprit and some patients might not necessarily be aware that certain medications theyre taking are causing their hair to fall out. Hypertension is a condition that can be controlled through medication, but it needs to be accurately and effectively diagnosed first. The longer it goes untreated, the more obvious the symptoms become and hair loss or thinning is one of them. Since hypertension causes the heart to go into overdrive by overexerting itself, misdiagnosis and lack of treatment can be catastrophic in the long run.
Also Check: How To Grow Hair After Hair Loss
High Blood Pressure Damages Arteries
Another explanation is that high blood pressure can damage your arteries by making them less elastic. Unfortunately, hypertension is associated with problems such as high cholesterol levels, prediabetes, and abdominal obesity a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors called Metabolic Syndrome . MetS worsens arterial damage, decreasing blood flow to your organs which can lead to serious or even fatal complications.
When arteries in the heart are affected, it causes chest pain or what is referred to as angina, and if it affects the arteries in the brain, it can lead to a stroke.
Of course, the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the hair follicles are not spared. So the theory goes that, when high blood pressure restricts blood flow to the follicles, it deprives the hair of essential nutrients needed for it to grow. Hence, it can be a contributing factor to hair loss.
“Are You Showing More Scalp Than Hair?”
Restore Good Hair Coverage With Our Non-Shave FUE. It Is Less Invasive, Minimal Downtime, & Nobody Has To Know You Had it Done. Find Out How!
What Questions Might Your Healthcare Provider Ask To Diagnose And Categorize Your Hair Loss
Your healthcare provider might ask about your habits:
- What kinds of hair products do you use?
- What kinds of hair styles do you wear?
- What types of food do you eat ?
- Do you have a habit of pulling your hair out ?
They might ask about your history:
- Has anyone in your immediate family experienced hair loss?
- Is there anything stressful going on in your life?
- What medications and supplements do you take every day?
- Has hair loss ever happened to you before?
- What foods are in your diet?
And, they might ask about your observations:
- How long have you been losing hair?
- Have you been shedding more?
- Have you noticed hair loss in places other than your scalp, like your eyebrows? Leg and arm hair?
- Does anything worsen your hair loss?
- Does anything improve your hair loss?
- Have you noticed hair loss occasionally or has it been going on continuously?
- Have you noticed if your hair growth has changed?
- Has your hair been breaking more often?
You May Like: Can I Stop My Hair From Thinning
Blood Pressure Pills And Hair Loss
When you take medicine that your doctor has prescribed, you anticipate that it will help you feel better or solve your health problem. Usually the benefits of treatment outweigh the adverse effects. Still, sometimes people end up wondering if there could be a connection between their pills and hair loss. Doctors may see hair loss as a minor side effect, but to some patients it is a big deal.
The Claim: High Blood Pressure Will Increase Peoples Risk Of Losing Their Hair
- Read in app
THE FACTS Hypertension has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and early mortality. But hair loss?
Scientists are not exactly sure why, but a number of studies have suggested a relationship between blood pressure and mens baldness, particularly the early-onset kind.
In a study published in 2007, for example, researchers looked at 250 men ages 35 to 65. After controlling for age, high cholesterol, smoking and other variables, they found that hypertension was strongly associated with male pattern baldness: those with a blood pressure reading above 120 over 80 had twice the risk of the others.
Other studies have suggested a link between baldness and heart disease. For a 2000 study in The Archives of Internal Medicine, for example, researchers analyzed health records for 22,000 male doctors over 11 years, examining many aspects of their health. Men with mild balding of the crown had a 23 percent higher risk for heart disease, and those whose crowns were completely bald had a 36 percent greater risk.
But the relationship is only a correlation. Researchers suspect hair loss could be among many markers of an increased risk of hypertension, caused in part by higher levels of testosterone and other hormones, and more androgen receptors in the scalp.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Studies suggest that hair loss may indicate an increased risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.
Read Also: How To Get Thinning Hair Thick Again
What Is The Relationship Between Hair Loss In Women And Menopause
During menopause, you might see one of two things happen with your hair. You might start growing hair where you didnt before. Or, you might see the hair you have start to thin. One cause may be changing levels of hormones during menopause. Estrogen and progesterone levels fall, meaning that the effects of the androgens, male hormones, are increased.
During and after menopause, hair might become finer because hair follicles shrink. Hair grows more slowly and falls out more easily in these cases.
Your healthcare provider will do a thorough examination and take a detailed history to help you deal with changes in hair growth. You may be directed to have your iron levels or thyroid hormone levels tested. Your medications might be changed if what you take is found to affect hair loss or growth.
Whats Hair Loss In Women
Hair loss in women is just that when a woman experiences unexpected, heavy loss of hair. Generally, humans shed between 50 and 100 single hairs per day. Hair shedding is part of a natural balance some hairs fall out while others grow in. When the balance is interrupted when hair falls out and less hair grows in hair loss happens. Hair loss is different than hair shedding. The medical term for hair loss is alopecia.
Hair grows on almost all of your skin surfaces not the palms of your hands, soles of your feet, lips or eyelids. Light, fine, short hair is called vellus hair. Terminal/androgenic hair is thicker, darker and longer.
Recommended Reading: How To Stop Thinning Hair From Stress
How Minoxidil Was Transformed From An Antihypertensive To Hair
Founded in 1886 to make friable pills, Upjohn had a well earned reputation for serious pharmaceutical research, and did not want to get caught up in miracle baldness cures. But once minoxidil was on the market for hypertension, it quickly became an open secret that the drug stimulated hair growth, and a letter in the New England Journal of Medicine1 put paid to any lingering hopes that Upjohn could keep the side effect under wraps. If it did not develop minoxidil as a hair restorer, someone else would.
Anthony Chu, professor of dermatology, Buckingham University, and consultant dermatologist and honorary senior lecturer, Imperial College, London, explains that, before minoxidil, balding men were prepared to try anything to make their hair grow back, from standing on their heads to stimulate blood flow to the scalp to taking concoctions of anti-androgens that did little for their hair but caused breast enlargement and a loss of libido.
It was a wasteland, with predatory clinics offering spurious remedies to vulnerable men at considerable cost. In contrast, 40 per cent of men who use minoxidil get reasonable hair growth and, in another 40 per cent, the drug stops them losing more hair. So its only about 20 per cent who do not get any benefit, says Professor Chu.