Just when you thought balding and greying men didn’t already have enough to lament over, there’s new claims from scientists that they may also be at greater risk of heart disease.
The findings specifically target those men who suffer from premature balding and greying, with the study highlighting a five-fold increase in the risk of heart disease before the age of 40.
This sensational claim would make balding and greying an even bigger risk factor than obesity which currently warrants early heart disease by four times.
The study’s head researcher Dr Sachin Patil of the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre in India said that the increase of heart disease in young men is evident.
“The incidence of coronary artery disease in young men is increasing but cannot be explained by traditional risk factors,” he said.
“Premature greying and androgenic alopecia (male-pattern baldness) correlate well with vascular age irrespective of chronological age and are plausible risk factors for coronary artery disease.”
To arrive at this conclusion, the study took on board 790 men currently suffering from heart disease under the age of 40. An additional 1,270 healthy men of the same age bracket were called upon.
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These men were given scores based on the increasing levels of male pattern baldness and hair discolouration in the form of greying.
From here the researchers determined that the young men suffering from heart conditions were more likely to be those with greying or balding hair.
The study’s co-author Dr. Kamal Sharma of the same institute explained that, “baldness and premature greying should be considered risk factors for coronary artery disease”.
“These factors may indicate biological, rather than chronological, age which may be important in determining total cardiovascular risk.”
“Currently physicians use common sense to estimate biological age but a validated scale is needed.”
Whilst it may seem a little far-fetched, the results were still legitimate enough to be presented at the 69th Annual Conference of the Cardiological Society of India.
The real question here is: Have you ever seen a greying and balding man who’s still ridiculously fit? Let us know below.