Whether your hair is short, long, buzzed or psychedlic researchers are now saying that our stress level can be measured through our hair.

According to a new study, a stress hormone that's captured in the hair may act as a biological marker for chronic stress, which researchers suggest may serve as a predictor of heart attacks.

"Acute stress is relatively simple," said Dr. Gideon Koren, who holds the Richard Ivey Chair in Molecular Toxicology at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Western Ontario.

"You can talk to people, there are psychological ways to ask them (about) their stress ... and you can measure blood, urine to look at how much cortisol they secrete - cortisol, of course, being the stress hormone."

"Much less is known about chronic events."

Researchers say cortisol captured in the hair shaft remains stable within locks for months, even years. In fact, they point to a recent study that revealed the presence of cortisol in the hair of ancient Peruvian mummies dating back to AD 550-1000.

Koren said this was a "conceptual paper" and they plan to do more work in the area, including testing that includes women. Still, he said he has no doubt that this is an "avid marker."

"Indeed, we do not think this will solve the whole issue of heart attacks - clearly not," Koren said. "But if somebody has for example, other risk factors, like hypertension and diabetes, a certain amount of stress can be very detrimental for them."

It's amazing to see how research has progressed concerning cardiac interventions. Once again, stress plays a huge part in our lives. No matter what your ailment, stress can have negative outcomes that makes an illness so much worse. Watch those stress levels, friends. You only have one heart. Treat it kindly...

For more information on heart health here in Palm Beach, from the American Heart Association, the following link will give you all the resources you'll need: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/

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