Shaving linked to stroke and heart risk (Increased risk for those who do NOT shave daily)

Health News, UK ^ | Feb. 7, 2003 | Health Newswire reporters

[FairOpinion]

The frequency of shaving among men is an indicator of mortality risk, new UK research suggests.

Neglecting to shave associated with disease

Researchers found that men who do not shave on a daily basis are more likely to suffer from heart disease and have a 70 per cent higher risk of stroke. In addition, there is a greater chance that men who shave less regularly will smoke, be single and experience a lower frequency of orgasm than daily shavers.

In a joint study between the University of Bristol and Belfast’s Queens University, experts tracked a group of more than 2,400 men between the ages of 45 and 59 living in Caerphilly, South Wales.

The subjects were followed over a 20-year period. Their mortality rates varied significantly, with 45.1 per cent of infrequent shavers dying, compared with 31.3 per cent of those who shaved on at least a daily basis.

Professor Shah Ebrahim – of the University of Bristol’s department of social medicine – and colleagues consulted the men every four to five years to discuss their experience of chest pain and heart attack, stroke and transient ischaemic attack.

More than 21 per cent of the men shaved less than once a day and this group reported higher levels of smoking, working in manual occupations and having sexual intercourse less often than their peers who were daily shavers. They were also more likely to be shorter and unmarried.

Prof Ebrahim says, “The association between infrequent shaving and death is probably due to underlying smoking and social factors, but a small hormonal effect may also exist.

“However, the relation with stroke events remains unexplained by smoking or social factors.”

Source: American Journal of Epidemiology

© HMG Worldwide 2003 http://www.health-news.co.uk/

[FairOpinion]

Well, this should be an incentive for all men to shave regularly. ;)

It seems that it's not that shaving makes men healthier, but that those who shave regularly tend to have healthier lifestyles, taking better care of themselves.

[mhking]

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[Rebelbase]

I only shave 1/2 my face daily. Should I be concerned?

[krb]

I think that the higher death rate comes from the mites and other creatures that thrive in the forested faces of non-shaving men.

[battlegearboat]

Al Gore is a believer.

[AntiGuv]

I read this article the other day, and promptly sheared by 3 day old shadow!! I can deal with the elevated stroke risk but something needs to be done about this orgasm frequency thing.. ;)

[Movemout]

The risk of death from various ailments are directly correlated with the decrease in Burma Shave messages along majot highways. What a bunch of hooey!

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Ive had a beard and mustache since i was 16 im healthy i like my beard .

Me thinks schick has someone in their pocket

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

"They were also more likely to be shorter and unmarried."

Now that's a toss up for most guys. Shaving makes you taller, but then you get saddled with a wife. I think I'll pick the 'shorter, unmaried' course. What's a stroke now and then compared to being Al Bundy?

[dts32041]

According to all the statistics I have read I should have died about 25 years ago.

[The Real Deal]

Give me a break.

[and the horse you rode in on]

This was previously posted by MadIvan

Failure to shave regularly also corelates to more tattoos and scars, and less teeth, and a generaly longer "Rap Sheet"

[cynicom]

Upper or middle class vs lower class. Shaving is barometer of nothing.

[jimtorr]

I only shave 1/2 my face daily. Should I be concerned?

Well, that depends. How do you divide your face into halves? With a vertical line running from nose to chin to adam's apple, perhaps, or face one day, and neck the next? Or perhaps you divide your face into quadrants: left cheek and right side of neck one day, and right cheek and left side of neck the next.

If your scheme is too complex, that might perhaps be cause for concern.

[auboy]

Where's the study on women shaving versus not shaving?;-)

[SamAdams76]

I wonder if they also did a study of women who don't shave their legs or armpits.

[KnutCase]

Just what is it that's likely to be shorter? Any connection to the orgasm thing?

[fnord]

According to all the statistics I have read I should have died about 25 years ago.

I hear ya.. It is a sobering fact to realize that when Mozart was my age he had been dead for 10 years ...

[11B3]

That's where the study on males comes into it. No pun intended.

[LisaAnne]

Well.... If you got a shave you might not have to be feeling around in your own pocket like that. ;o)