Divorce Could Cause Hair Loss for Women, Study Says
Divorce can wreak havoc on the mind and spirit. However, a new study discovered that marital breakups can also cause severe hair loss in women.
Research teams at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine found that women who lost a partner through divorce or death were far more likely to have thinning hair than women who were happily married or single.
Medical experts say age and genetics are the two most common causes of hair loss in men and women. But Dr. Bahman Guyuron, chairman of the department of plastic surgery at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, says hair loss in divorced women can be caused by the enormous amount of stress they experience.
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Current divorce statistics in America is estimated at an astounding 50 percent. The Americans for Divorce Reform estimates that "probably, 40 or possibly even 50 percent of marriages will end in divorce if current trends continue."
The Reverends Mike and Trisha Fox of Marriage for Today say divorce is an ugly word.
They told The Christian Post on Sunday that divorce has far reaching implications of devastation that reach virtually every part of the lives of those involved.
"The emotional toll of divorce often brings about a lingering emotional stain of low self-worth, guilt and abandonment, especially in children," they said.
What is interesting to note is the "aftermath" of divorce. Divorce affects all areas, including financial, emotional, spiritual and the overall well-being of an individual.
“A lack of belief that love is real and that God won't abandon us is often hidden under the layers of life. This stands for both men and women alike," the Foxes told The Christian Post.
"But what is often overlooked, is that women rather than men are specifically designed by God to function in a much higher emotional capacity than do men. And, as a result, they are much more affected emotionally than men, especially in the short term."
According to a Journal of Health and Social Behavior study, the immediate time period after divorce brings about significantly higher levels of distress and anxiety.
“There is still a high number of women that have either secondary or little, if any, income, often depending on the husband for primary income,” Trisha Fox said.
“So in large, when divorce occurs, a large ratio of women suffer instant economic crisis and loss, and are forced to subsidize their income in ways they have not had to, and in some cases, never before had to.”
More often than not, family courts side with the mother to retain the children, which also creates heavier financial strain on women than men.
Studies over the years have actually concluded that the women's health after divorce greatly declines and is at risk. Even after a re-shifting of life, career, income and even remarriage, the effects of a divorce continue to affect a woman’s health.
"Basically, every part of the body, soul and spirit as a whole are affected during and after a divorce," Mike Fox said.
He said the Apostle Paul was wise when he prayed the prayer in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, "May the God of peace himself make you holy in every way. And may your whole being – spirit, soul, and body – remain blameless when our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, appears."
"He too, knew that our entire nature is affected and connected in every way. So let us take care, precautions and a double-dose of an ‘ounce of prevention’ to avoid this catastrophe and live a well and healthy life. Be full of life."
Researchers at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine also discovered that apart from genetics and stress, excessive drinking and smoking could contribute to women losing their hair.
Their conclusions were reached after studying 84 female identical twins who completed lifestyle questionnaires, had hormone blood level testing and extensive photo analysis of their hair.
The researchers also found that women who drank coffee, used sun protection and were happily married had a lower overall risk of any hair loss. But researchers say divorce didn’t affect men’s hair the same way. However, both genders are more at risk if they smoke or drink excessively.
