Sudden Hair Loss: The Stress Factor Part I
By Marvin Perry

Many people fail to realize how greatly stress affects one’s physical health. In some cases, stress is beneficial, because it encourages some people to remain focused, motivated to complete task and fulfill goals. Some individuals need stress in order to function at maximum efficiency. However, there are also negative sides of stress that can not only be harmful but lead you down a destructive path physically and emotionally. Stress, if not dealt with properly, could eventually lead to sudden mental and physical illnesses and conditions. Often, our hair is one of the first places affected when dealing with stress.

Sudden hair loss due to stress is called Telogen Effluvium. Telogen Effluvium occurs when sudden or severe stress causes an increase in the shedding of hair thus causing the hair follicles to be pushed prematurely into the resting phase. Sudden hair loss can be noticed 2 to 3 months after a stressful event has occurred. While it is normal to lose up to 100 hairs per day, stress related hair loss can increase hair shedding to as much as 300 - 400 strands of hair per day and one can lose up to 70% of scalp hairs. In most cases the sudden hair loss is temporary and the hair recovers quickly. However, in some cases the sudden hair loss continues until the underlying cause of the stress is fixed.

Identifying the cause of one’s sudden hair loss and treating it naturally, is the best way to recover from stress related hair loss; but it is not always the easiest thing to do. In some cases, stress has become such a major and vital part of one’s daily routine that it can be very difficult to separate oneself from the need for it. Statistics show that over 80% of people are overstressed, in some capacity, and may be suffering from some health condition because of it. Most Americans live such busy lives and suffer from the weight of responsibilities with jobs and family that we allow our health habits to fall. Sudden hair loss is not a direct side effect of stress, but it comes as a result of an unhealthy diet and lifestyle caused by the reality of stressful conditions in our lives. Therefore, it is very important for every individual suffering from sudden hair loss to understand what causes stress, how it affects one’s health, and how to either get rid of or cope with one’s stress.

The following is a list of things one can do to cope with stress. In order to completely get rid of your stress and cure it, one has to devise a list of all of your problems and deal with them head on. Ignoring your problems and disassociating yourself from stressful events only serves to bring temporary relief but not a permanent cure. The following list are ways one can cope with stress.

EXERCISE
Researchers have discovered that regular exercise decreases the production of adrenaline and will counteract the stress response. Physical activity of any kind is an effective way to relieve stress and will usually leave you feeling relaxed and rational about your problems. Researchers have also found that those who exercise regularly sleep and relax better.

SLEEP \ RELAXATION
Having healthy sleep habits and relaxation rituals are a very important part of eliminating stress. If you set aside at least 20 minutes each day in a quiet room to relax your mind and focus on good thoughts, you will notice a change in one’s attitude toward stress. You can also use this time to pray and meditate on bible scriptures. Finding some time during your day to quiet oneself can be very therapeutic in producing an effective and appropriate response in stressful conditions. Proper sleep is also important in coping with stress. Everyone knows how much sleep they need, but too much or too little sleep can affect one’s health in different ways. An abnormal sleep pattern can cause skin deterioration and sudden hair loss.

DIET
Stress at home and at the workplace can have a drastic effect on one’s eating habits. The abuse of alcohol, drinking coffee, and smoking are all effects that stress can have in improper nutrition and diet. Lack of certain vitamins and minerals in your diet can lead to iron deficiency or anemia that can contribute to sudden hair loss. A fundamental principal in natural hair loss treatment is that the same foods that are good for your health, are good for your hair. Although sudden hair loss can be caused by many other variables, lack of proper nutrition will cause hair loss in most people. Foods that are high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and have reduced fat content can help in maintaining healthier hair and preventing sudden hair loss.

The list above is only a means to stress relief, and not a cure for stress related hair loss, or Telogen Effluvium. The best possible way to treat one’s sudden hair loss is by dealing with the root problem behind the stress. Exercise, diet and sleep can never eliminate the problem but can only help you cope with it in a positive and healthy manner. As a society, we blame stress on everyone and everything except ourselves and the fact is the only person responsible for your stress is you. Having the wrong attitudes, and our fears\ phobias contribute to creating more stress in our lives. Dealing with fears and anxiety with a positive attitude can help you overcome the stress in your life. The good news is, that one’s sudden diffuse hair loss can be dealt with and there are easy and effective ways to deal with stress and thus prevent sudden hair loss.

Marvin Perry is the author of "Sudden Hair Loss: The Stress Factor Part I" and is offering a hair loss guide to inform others about sudden hair loss and natural forms of hair loss treatment. To receive this guide, go to Marvin's Natural Hair Loss Treatment website.

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