Mental or Physical Stress*

For many women, trying to manage the stress of a career, motherhood and everyday living can be mentally or physically challenging. Stress from these and other events can take a toll on our hair growth cycle, sending our hair into a resting stage that results in shedding and thinning. The disorder is known as telogen effluvium, and may involve hair thinning over the scalp or other areas of the body. Telogen effluvium may also be caused by physical stress to the body, such as poor nutrition, injury, or surgery.

Stress is the most common health problem reported among women, followed by fatigue, and lack of energy**. More than 50 percent of women say they are personally affected by stress. Depression is diagnosed on average in two women for every man, and anxiety is the most frequently reported complaint among the general population -- affecting approximately 10% of the population.***

Today, managing stress levels in women may include the use of medications; this is often the case with stress-related disorders like hypertension (high-blood pressure), chronic fatigue syndrome, and depression. Since there are a host of medications associated with hair loss as a side effect, it's best to consult with a physician before starting any medical treatment.

*Medical information provided is based on reference from the WebMD Health website (www.webmd.com). It is not meant to replace the diagnosis of a qualified physician, and further research of any information provided is encouraged.

** According to a survey conducted by HeathFocus Inc., a consumer research firm based in Des Moines, Iowa. From WebMD Medical News Archive, "More than Half of All Women Report: 'We're Stressed!'".

*** According to Tori Hudson, ND, author of The Women’s Encyclopedia of
Natural Medicine, quoted in WEBMD medical news archive, “More than Half
of All Women Report: ‘We’re Stressed!’

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