At the recent EuroPrevent conference in 2017, a study showed that in men, white hair may be associated with increased risk of heart disease. There are some senescence related mechanisms in white hair and coronary heart disease. The study suggests that white hair may be an indicator of heart disease.
Atherosclerotic plaques are made up of cholesterol, fat, calcium, and other substances in the blood vessels. As time goes on, plaque gradually calcified, limiting the elasticity of the arteries and the supply of blood to the heart and other important organs. If untreated, atherosclerosis may cause serious cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease, stroke, and even heart failure.
It is well known that aging is one of the risk factors for heart disease. Atherosclerosis and white hair have similar causes: DNA injuries associated with aging, increased oxidative stress, inflammation, hormonal changes, and cell senescence.
White hair in adult men is associated with a risk of heart disease
The researchers examined 545 adult males who were likely to have coronary artery disease, and the number of white hair was divided into subgroups based on their prevalence. Coronary arteriography was performed on these men by multi-layer computed tomography to confirm whether they were suffering from coronary artery disease.
The research team of white hair to the participants of the grade 1 to grade 2 black hair, black hair more than 3 white hair, black hair and white hair is equal to the number, the 4 level for the white hair more than black hair, white hair 5. Each participant was assessed by two independent observers and scored on the level of white hair.
In addition, researchers collected clinical data on risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as hypertension, smoking, diabetes, dyslipidemia and CVD family history.
Multiple regression analysis showed that age, white hair level, hypertension and dyslipidemia independently predict atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.
2 white hair or a predictor of coronary artery disease
The study found that compared with the health control group, the patients with coronary heart disease had higher levels of white hair and higher levels of coronary artery calcification. In particular, the higher the white hair (usually more than 3 levels), it is associated with an increase in the risk of coronary artery disease. This correlation is not related to age or CVD risk factors.
The co author, Irini Samuel, is a cardiology expert at Cairo University in Egypt. He commented on the significance of the study: “ atherosclerosis and white hairs have similar biological mechanisms, and the incidence of both increases with aging. Our findings suggest that, regardless of age, white hair represents a biological age, which may be a warning to an increase in cardiovascular risk. There is also a need to further study skin signs of disease risk, which will enable us to intervene early in the process of cardiovascular disease. ”
Dr. Samuel also recommends regular checks for high-risk patients who have not been able to have symptoms of coronary artery disease to avoid heart disease and start taking preventive measures. “ further studies are needed, and in coordination with the doctor working in the Department of Dermatology, know more about the genetic determinants of white hair and potentially avoidable environmental factors, she said, ” “ larger studies include men and women is necessary, to identify those patients with white hair and no other known cardiovascular disease the association of cardiovascular risk factors. ”
“ if our research results were confirmed, &rdquo, Samuel concluded, “ the standardization of scoring system used to evaluate white hair can be used as a predictor of coronary artery disease &rdquo.
Prevention of cardiovascular disease, starting from gene detection
Cardiovascular disease and individualized drug detection
Cardiovascular disease has become the primary cause of the main causes of disease in rural and urban residents
Cardiovascular disease has brought huge economic losses to the family
For cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, we should pay attention to predict and assess the risk of future diseases and formulate intervention measures by detecting the genotype of individuals carrying disease risk, so as to achieve the purpose of individualized prevention and treatment.
Significance of gene detection for cardiovascular disease and individualized drug use:
People with family history of cardiovascular disease:
1) understanding family genetic factors helps to prevent and intervene early and later.
2) obtaining the information of individual metabolism level, supplemented by medical common sense and guiding the improvement of health life index
3) to have a good number of cardiovascular diseases, not to panic, and to reduce unnecessary expenses
High - fat, high - fat diet, overweight and less active people:
1) cardiovascular disease is closely related to obesity, too much sodium intake and lack of exercise. By detecting individual genotypes and guiding diet and exercise scientifically and rationally, we can make early intervention possible.
People with bad habits such as smoking and drinking:
1) smoking, drinking, irregular life habits are more likely to cause the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases, for this kind of crowd, we recommend to understand the health cause of their own, should belong to the genetic risk, that is more to give them a reminder, good habits, away from the acquired risk factor.
People with cardiovascular disease who are taking medicine:
1) due to the inherent differences in each person genotype, causes the body to produce different reactions to the drugs, cardiovascular disease treatment often requires long-term use, sometimes urgent, need to choose drugs more quickly, ahead of time by detecting the awareness of these differences, as far as possible to play the positive effects of drugs, reduce side effects, make the treatment more targeted, more personalized.
