Have you ever been in a situation where you get up in the morning, look in the mirror, and realize that your hair is a mess, which makes you very unhappy. You might think it’s because you didn’t sleep well last night, or because you’re using the wrong shampoo. In fact, your hair may have another secret that tells you how high your stress levels are.
Hair can detect drugs and stress
As you probably know, hair can be used to detect whether a person is using drugs. This is because when a person takes drugs, the ingredients of the drug enter the bloodstream and are then absorbed into the hair. The growth rate of hair is about 1 centimeter per month, so by analyzing different parts of the hair, you can know what drugs a person has taken and how much they have taken in the past period of time.
But, what you might not know is that hair can also detect a person’s stress levels. This is because when a person is stressed, the body secretes a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol also enters the bloodstream and is absorbed into the hair. Therefore, by analyzing the cortisol content of hair, you can know how much stress a person has endured in the past period of time.
Hair cortisol reflects chronic stress
You may ask, why use hair to detect stress instead of saliva or blood? This is because saliva or blood can only reflect a person’s stress level at a certain moment, but not a person’s long-term stress level. For example, if you do not do well in the exam today, your stress level will increase. However, if you forget about it tomorrow, your stress level will decrease. This kind of short-term stress is called acute stress. Acute stress can sometimes be beneficial, making you more motivated, focused, and creative.
However, if you encounter stress frequently, or your stress lasts for a long time, your stress level will remain high. This long-term stress is called chronic stress. Chronic stress is harmful and can lead to problems with your physical and mental health, such as insomnia, anxiety, depression, reduced immunity, heart disease, and more. Therefore, it is very important to understand your own chronic stress level. It can help you adjust your lifestyle in time, reduce stress, and protect your health.
Hair cortisol is one way this reflects chronic stress. Because the growth rate of hair is fixed, different parts of the hair are equivalent to different time periods. For example, if your hair is 6 centimeters long, then the 1 centimeter closest to your scalp is equivalent to your stress level in the last month, and the second closest 1 centimeter is equivalent to your stress level in the previous month. analogy. This way, you can see how your stress levels have changed over the past few months, whether they’ve increased, decreased, or remained stable.
Hair Cortisol Can Reveal Your Stressors
You may also ask, can hair cortisol tell me how stressed I am, but can it tell me why I am stressed? The answer is, sometimes, it can. This is because different stressors cause different changes in hair cortisol. For example, one study analyzed hair cortisol levels in children who were just starting elementary school. They found that the stress of going to elementary school increased hair cortisol levels, and that this increase lasted for two months. So, if your hair cortisol levels suddenly rise, you can think back on whether you have experienced any major changes recently, such as changing schools, changing jobs, changing environments, etc. These changes may be your source of stress.
Of course, not all stressors can be detected by hair cortisol. Some stressors may be relatively hidden, such as your interpersonal relationships, your psychological state, your values, etc. These stress sources may require you to discover and resolve them yourself. Therefore, hair cortisol can only be used as a reference, not a decisive indicator.
How to do a hair cortisol test
You might be thinking, a hair cortisol test sounds interesting and something I’d like to try. So, what should you do? First, you need to find a professional laboratory or a qualified doctor who can provide you with hair cortisol testing services. Secondly, you need to prepare some hair samples. Generally speaking, you need about 3 cm long hair and about 30 hairs, preferably cut from the center of the head. You will then need to send the hair sample to the lab or drop it off in person. Finally, you need to wait a while, generally anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, for you to receive your hair cortisol test results.
The results of hair cortisol testing are generally expressed by a numerical value. This value is called the hair cortisol concentration, and the unit is pg/mg, which is how much cortisol is present in each milligram of hair. This value will vary depending on the different parts of your hair. You can draw these values into a curve graph to see the changing trend of your stress level. Generally speaking, the normal range of hair cortisol concentration is between 5-50 pg/mg. If it exceeds this range, it means that your stress level is too high or too low, and you need to pay attention.
How to reduce stress levels
What should you do if your hair cortisol test shows your stress levels are too high? In fact, there are many ways to reduce stress levels, such as:
- Identify your stressors and try to change or avoid them. For example, if your stress comes from work, you can communicate with your boss or colleagues to adjust your work plan or tasks. If your stress comes from your family, you can talk to your family and seek their understanding or support.
- Learn to relax and do things that make you feel happy. For example, you can listen to music, watch movies, do exercise, do yoga, meditate, etc. These activities can help you release stress, improve your mood, and boost your confidence.
- Establish a good living habit and maintain good health. For example, you can go to bed at a regular time to ensure adequate sleep. You can eat wisely, eat more foods rich in vitamins and minerals, and eat less foods containing sugar and caffeine. You can appropriately supplement some nutrients that can reduce cortisol, such as vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, etc.
- Seek help from others and don’t isolate yourself. For example, you can share your stress with your friends, family, colleagues, or a professional counselor, listen to their advice, or just seek some comfort. You can also join some interest groups to make some like-minded friends, increase your social activities and reduce your loneliness.
In short, hair cortisol testing is a method that can reflect your chronic stress level. It can help you understand your stress status and take timely measures to protect your physical and mental health. If you are interested in this topic, you can search for more relevant information online, or consult your doctor to see if you are suitable for this test. I hope you can have a relaxed and happy life!
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