At a barbershop, a conversation between two customers attracts attention.
Why has your hair fallen out so badly lately? "A customer asked worriedly, holding a comb full of hair.
Hey, so did I, my hair was dry and brittle, and the color was a lot duller. "Another customer also looked distressed.
This discussion of hair mutations is not uncommon in barbershops. As we age, many people experience various problems with their hair, but few people know that these changes can be warning signs from the body. Especially for middle-aged and elderly people, sudden changes in hair may hide health risks.
So, can these changes in hair really indicate a health problem? Especially for cancer-related health problems, what can hair tell us?
Hair, often seen as a symbol of beauty, is an important reflection of health. Every hair goes through a cycle of growth, rest, and shedding. Normally, losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is a natural physiological process.
Understanding the hair growth cycle is essential for identifying health issues. Hair growth is divided into three phases: anagen, transitional, and telogen. The anagen phase can last for several years, when hair continues to grow. The transition period lasts for a few weeks, and the hair stops growing and prepares to enter the telogen phase. In the final telogen phase, the hair is at rest and eventually falls out.
Physical health conditions can affect the hair growth cycle. For example,Factors such as poor nutrition, stress, or chronic illness can cause hair to enter telogen prematurely, causing abnormal hair loss. A study involving more than 100,000 participants showed that inadequate protein and iron intake are common causes of hair entering telogen prematurely.
The texture and color of your hair can also reflect your health. Healthy hair is usually soft and shiny, while dry, dull hair can indicate nutrient deficiencies or other physical problems。For example, a lack of adequate omega-3 fatty acids can make hair dry and brittle.
The health of the scalp should not be neglected either. Excess dandruff can be a sign of poor condition, while itchy scalp and rashes may suggest inflammation or an allergic reaction.
When changes occur within the body, hair is often the first to react. Especially in diseases like cancer, changes in hair can be an important warning sign. Here are three characteristics of hair changes that may be associated with cancer.
Sudden hair loss or thinning
A sudden onset of massive hair loss or noticeable thinning can be a warning sign. One study found thatAbout 30% of patients with certain types of cancer experience significant hair loss early in the course of the disease。This phenomenon may be due to the abnormal growth of cancer cells affecting the body's hormonal balance, thus affecting the normal growth cycle of the hair.
Significant changes in hair texture and color
Sudden changes in hair texture and color should not be ignored either. For example, originalHair that is soft becomes coarse, or the hair color becomes dull. This change can be the result of changes in hormone levels in the body, and some types of cancer develop precisely by affecting hormone secretion. When scientists looked at cancer patients, they found that some of them had such changes in their hair.
Abnormal symptoms of the scalp
The health of the scalp can also reflect internal problems in the body. Itching, redness, or unusual spots on the scalp may be a sign of an endocrine disorder that can be caused by certain cancers. There are clinical reports that some ** cancer patients have specific symptoms on the scalp before they are diagnosed.
Physical health conditions often manifest themselves in many ways, and hair changes are just one of them. In everyday life, there are other signals that are equally important and worth paying attention to.
Changes in your skin are one of the warning signs. For example,Sudden onset of ** yellow staining may indicate liver problems; Dryness, spots, or discoloration may be a sign of malnutrition or endocrine disorders. In a study of 1,000 participants, about 30% showed signs of change before they developed a serious health problem.
Oral health should not be neglected. Frequent mouth sores or bleeding gums can be a sign of a weakened body's immunity. Long-term oral discomfort or changes, such as persistent dry mouth, changes in taste, may be an early warning of a more serious condition.
Joint pain or muscle weakness should not be ignored. These symptoms can be associated with arthritis, muscle disorders, or a sign of a lack of essential nutrients in the body. Statistics show that about 60% of people over the age of 50 experience joint pain at some point in time.
Changes in the digestive system are just as important. For example, persistent stomach pain, indigestion or changes in bowel Xi may be a sign of a digestive disorder。According to a survey that covered 2,000 people, about 20% of people ignored these symptoms initially and were later diagnosed with a serious digestive disorder.
Unexplained changes in weight, especially rapid weight loss, are often a sign of a health problem. Rapid weight loss may be associated with diseases such as hyperthyroidism, diabetes, etc. In a study of people with chronic diseases, about 40% of people lost weight before the disease worsened.
By paying attention to these signals, potential health problems can be detected early, allowing for early action。It is also important to keep an eye on these changes in your daily life so that you can seek professional medical advice in a timely manner to stay healthy.