Losing Your Crowning Glory To Stress

Title:
Losing Your Crowning Glory to Stress

Word Count:
612

Summary:
Hair loss may be caused by a number of factors including heredity, improper treatment, underlying medical conditions, emotional upheaval and stress. Telogen effluvium and alopecia areata are the two types of hair loss that can be triggered by stress. While in most cases, the hair will eventually grow back, others may need to seek treatment to recover from hair loss.


Keywords:
stress, hair loss


Article Body:
Our hair is often referred to as our crowning glory. Its state can add or detract from the physical attractiveness of any person. Like our skin, our hair can be a good indicator of our over-all physical and psychological condition, telling us if our body is in balance. A physically and emotionally healthy person's hair will be radiant and shining, their scalps pliant and moist. Our hair becomes dull and lifeless, prone to loss and split ends, and will become waxy from overactive sebaceous glands.

Hair loss is a fairly common condition that affects both men and women. While it is normal to lose up to one hundred hairs on a daily basis, anything in excess of that may be considered hair loss. This condition may be classified as either hereditary or be brought on as a side effect of an underlying medical or psychological condition. Apart from those, hair loss can also be caused by overstyling of the hair, harsh shampoos, forceful and too frequent hair brushing, and allergic reactions to food, medications or other allergens. Contrary to popular opinion, hereditary hair loss is not caused by excessive hair loss but rather by the lack of hair growth to replace the hairs that were previously shed. On the other hand, physical or psychological conditions such as illness; hormonal changes; pregnancy, childbirth, and birth control pill usage; nervous habits; and chemotherapy.

Another condition that may cause hair loss is extreme stress. Stress is present in almost every human experience, regardless of whether it is positive or negative. It can be seen as our body's negative response to the pressures of life, and how it affects us individually cannot be predicted; sometimes, stress isn't even immediately considered as the cause of or what aggravates the health conditions plaguing us. The effects of stress on our bodies differ greatly from person to person, largely dependent on the amount of stress we are under and how we handle it. It can manifest in any number of insidious and vague symptoms that may build up over time if ignored, leading to more serious health conditions. Often felt largely as a consequence of modern life, we are all subjected to increasing amounts of stress on a daily basis. We feel it as we are caught up in the daily grind of work, family, school, and routine.

Stress can trigger two types of hair loss: telogen effluvium and alopecia areata. Telogen effluvium is a type of hair loss that causes large numbers of hairs to stop their growing phase and shift into a resting phase, eventually falling out as a result. Once the stress is eased or eliminated, the hair eventually grows back within six to nine months.

Alopecia areata is a type of hair loss wherein the body's white blood cells attack the hair follicle, which stops hair growth. It is often starts as a small round patch but may eventually spread to the whole scalp and may even affect body hair. Although in most cases the hair does grow back, some sufferers may require treatment.

Before the hair loss worsens, it is important to seek medical advice immediately. A doctor will be able to determine whether the cause of the hair loss is because of stress, heredity, or other physical or psychological conditions. By determining the cause, an appropriate treatment will be prescribed. In cases where stress is the culprit behind the hair loss, a lifestyle change may be needed to reduce the levels of stress we are subjected to. A healthy diet, adequate amounts of sleep, regular exercise, and relaxation can go a long way in ensuring that our stress levels are within manageable amounts.

BONUS : Title:
Losing Your Memory to Stress

Word Count:
520

Summary:
This article talks about how people normally experience stress and anxiety in their everyday activities. Feelings of stress can cause a number of ill effects such as poor decision-making, irritability, and even memory loss. Prolonged exposure to these stressful situations can cause more permanent and psychological problems to occur.


Keywords:
stress, stress and anxiety, anxiety, depression, relaxation


Article Body:
It is normal for anyone to be exposed to situations and events that causes stress and anxiety. From work-related circumstances to schoolwork, these are unavoidable events that could make the person feel more tired and uptight. Stress can come from any thought or situation that would make a person feel frustrated, angry, or anxious. Anxiety on the other hand is a feeling of apprehension and fear. However, a little dose of stress can make a person more aware and alert of his surroundings, and this, in turn, could make a person more motivated and productive. It actually depends on how a person perceives the stress that they experience, if it is panic or somewhat a challenge. Normal stress can give protection from threatening situations, but prolonged stress can have the potential to damage a person's health, including the brain.

Usually, when a stressful situation happens, our body reacts by releasing hormones such as adrenaline, cortisol, and norepinephrine. These specific hormones increase the heart rate and respiration, send out more blood to the skeletal muscles, dull pain, stimulate the immune system, and turn sugar and fat into energy. This reaction of the body to the stress and anxiety that we encounter is considered as a normal mechanism for both the body and mind. Most of the time, the response happens for a limited time to help a person deal with a stressful scenario. After that, our body returns to its normal, non-stressed state. But sometimes, people deal with such stress and anxiety in a constant condition that can have ill effects on both their body and brain. Sustained abuse, combat, illness, pressures and anger-producing situations can damage and shrink certain brain areas, specifically in the hippocampus.

The major role of the hippocampus in the brain is for memory. People with prolonged stress often experience forgetfulness and difficulty in learning. Today, scientific studies claim that certain portions of this part in our brain such as the hippocampus can recover once the stress response is reversed. Such information is important for those people who are exposed to stress and anxiety in their line of work, school, and other activities.


In order to prevent such stress and anxiety from ruining one's life and memory, it is crucial for people to undertake ways to cope with these that could also help a person's health. Through exercise, the body is strengthened and the reduction of stress, depression, and anxiety becomes possible. A lot of scientific studies have proven the relationship between mood and exercise. Since exercise promotes fitness and relaxation, the body's immune system is also strengthened and makes people respond better to different stress responses. By practising relaxation through biofeedback, meditation, along with other techniques, the patient can experience a lowering of the blood pressure, a slow down in respiration and reduction in metabolism and muscle tension --- all of which counteracts the effects of stress. Social contacts with friends and family members also provide significant emotional comfort that can help reduce stress. By having a good attitude towards life, with confidence and optimism, people can now stop the harmful cycle of stress in their lives.