Your hair can provide great insight into your overall health and well-being.
It's important to recognize the many different ways in which the hair on your head can reflect
what's happening inside your body.
Let's take a closer look at what your hair might actually be telling you.
Thyroid trouble
The butterfly-shaped endocrine gland that's found in the front of your neck is your thyroid,
and its role is to release hormones that regulate your metabolism, not to mention several other
bodily functions.
When your thyroid isn't working properly, this hormone imbalance can lead to numerous
health issues, including hair loss.
In fact, hair loss can result from both hyperthyroidism, which is caused by an overactive thyroid producing
too many hormones, or hypothyroidism, which is caused by an underactive thyroid not producing
enough hormones.
So if you're experiencing significant hair loss, especially in addition to other symptoms,
your thyroid might be the culprit.
Other causes of hair loss
A misbehaving thyroid isn't the only reason you might be seeing an unusually large amount
of hair in your drain after your shower.
Other causes include fungal infections, like ringworm, or bacterial infections that can
cause folliculitis, which is the inflammation of your hair follicles.
That's not all.
If you recently had a baby, you may experience a condition known as telogen effluvium, which
is a sizeable loss of hair.
In fact, this typically happens during the first five months after pregnancy, and affects
nearly fifty percent of women.
And even things as simple as iron deficiencies, too much vitamin A, skin conditions like psoriasis,
or simply being under a great deal of stress can lead to greater-than-usual hair loss.
Meanwhile, older women may experience hair loss because of menopause and the lower amounts
of estrogen and progesterone in your body.
In short, there are reasons large and small if you start noticing a lot of hair loss,
so be sure to chat with a doctor to find out why.
What if you have lackluster hair?
Having brittle and dull hair are common complaints for many women, no matter their hair types.
And while you may do everything in your power to fix your follicles, perhaps you've noticed
that your attempts have literally fallen flat.
But while overworking, over-processing, and over-styling your hair end up hurting it overall,
there are other health-related factors that you may be overlooking when it comes to your
seemingly misbehaving mane.
What medical reasons may be to blame when your brittle, boring hair is causing you heartbreak?
Pack some protein
While you may not realize it, there's a powerful connection between your daily diet and your
lovely locks.
And when your daily regimen is lacking protein, not only will your muscles, immune system,
and overall health suffer, but one of the many side effects is weak, brittle, and breakable
hair.
Each strand of hair consists of mostly protein, which is why your intake of the nutrient is
so vital for hair growth.
If you're not ingesting enough protein, your body will do its best to conserve the little
amount of protein you have for usage elsewhere, so your hair won't grow properly.
Other diet don'ts
While we're looking more closely at your diet, it's worth noting that what you put into your
system affects your whole body.
Fast food, unsurprisingly, can negatively impact your health.
Research has shown that those who eat fast food have a lower intake of healthier items,
such as vegetables, fruits, as well as essential vitamins and minerals.
And that means you're missing out on key nutrients that are crucial for hair growth.
So if you're really looking to see a positive change in the quality and quantity of your
hair, it's important to value healthy produce over expensive hair products.
What's more, if you start a crash diet and deprive yourself of proper nutrition, your
weight loss may be soon followed by hair loss.
The American Academy of Dermatology says that hair loss can occur approximately three to
six months after losing more than 15 pounds.
They also say that sufferers of certain eating disorders, like anorexia and bulimia, can
experience hair loss as well.
In a word, a healthy diet is an essential part of having the vibrant hair you so desire.
Going gray?
It's genetic
Researchers have managed to pinpoint the exact gene that's responsible for your graying hair
color.
In fact, the gene that controls and produces melanin — the pigment that determines your
eye, skin, and hair color — starts producing less and less of it as you age.
But just when this decrease in melanin happens is predetermined by your specific genes.
That's why some women go gray in their twenties and others into their late forties or even
fifties.
Too much worrying
The negative effects of excessive worrying are pretty well documented — but if stomach
aches, panic attacks, and depression aren't enough to worry about, stress can also turn
your hair prematurely gray.
(screams!)
In fact, it's been shown that continually feeling stressed and anxious can accelerate
the graying process due to the inflammation that this stress causes throughout your body.
However, there are steps you can take to manage your anxiety in ways that help your hair and
your health: there's deep breathing, exercise, practicing mindfulness, and mediation.
In fact, your mantra can be "no gray today."
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