A Hairy Problem: Health Conditions That Can Make You Lose Your Locks

You've seen cartoon characters tear their hair out in frustration, and you probably lose a hair or two every time you brush through your hair – but if you've found that you have to rescue a handful of hair from the drain every time you shower, or you notice your brush seems to collect more and more hair every time you use it, then you may have a health problem that you need to deal with ASAP. So if you're concerned about your hair loss and want to know what conditions could cause it, then here's what you need to know.

Anemia

Anemia is a common enough condition, especially among women who are of menstruating age and don't bolster their iron consumption during and after their periods, where they lose a lot of iron. Anemia is basically when you don't have enough iron in your blood, which can result in fatigue, bouts of fainting, and hair loss. Going in for a regular checkup and asking your doctor to check your hemoglobin count is probably the best way to know for sure whether you're suffering from anemia, but if you can't get in to see the doctor for a week or two, try upping your consumption of iron-rich foods (red meat, spinach, beans, etc.) and seeing if your hair slows its loss.

Vitamin Deficiency

Similarly to anemia above, your body undergoes a lot of stress when it's not getting the nutrients it needs to survive, and that kind of stress can easily lead to your hair starting to fall out faster than before (along with dry skin and a feeling of lethargy). To solve this problem, just stop by your local supermarket or drug store and pick up a bottle of adult multivitamins. Their traditional form is just a capsule that you'll swallow once a day, but you can also get multivitamins in a chewable form, or even as a gummy candy-type vitamin.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is the most intimidating word on this list, but it basically just means that your thyroid gland – that butterfly-shaped gland that rests at the front of your throat – isn't producing the amount of hormones that it needs to, which can leave you pale, unable to lose weight, and losing significant amounts of hair as your body undergoes the toll that functioning on low amounts of hormones can take. Your doctor is definitely the person you'll want to confirm this diagnosis, so schedule an appointment and ask about getting your thyroid function tested (especially if you're female, as hypothyroidism is more common in women than it is in men).

For more information, contact local professionals like Burnsville Family Physicians.