Scientists from Erasmus University have found that the level of stress hormones in the hair can predict the risk of cardiovascular disease. The study was presented at the European Obesity Congress in Dublin.
There is a lot of evidence that cortisol and cortisone hormones released in response to stress affect the body’s metabolism and fat distribution. But there is little data on the relationship of these hormones and their impact on long-term cardiovascular disease outcomes. To find out more, the researchers analyzed cortisol and cortisone levels in 6,341 hair samples from men and women from the Netherlands. The blood levels of these hormones are less stable and therefore do not accurately assess the presence of chronic stress.
Participants were then followed for an average of five to seven years. The researchers found that people with higher cortisone levels were more than twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease, including stroke or heart attack, and more than three times as likely to occur in people 57 years and younger.
However, half of the cardiovascular disease cases for participants over the age of 57 were not related to hormone levels. The authors noted that the study was observational in nature and did not prove that stress causes cardiovascular disease, but does show that they are related.
Source: Gazeta
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.