關於人類頭髮的四大驚人事實

Throughout history, human hair has been the subject of much vanity, research, and stereotyping. Hair traits and associated Medical and social implications influence our perceptions of each other and ourselves. In this sometimes hair-raising account, we explore some of the most fascinating facts in the study of human hair.

縱觀歷史，人類的頭髮一直是虛榮心、科學研究和刻板印象的主題。頭髮的特徵和它在醫學及社會交際上的隱含意義影響着我們對他人和自我的認知。在這份有點令人恐懼的報告中，我們探究了一些關於人的頭髮最令人感興趣的事實。

de Women Have More Estrogen

1.金髮女郎體內有更多的雌激素

Hair color might not instinctively seem applicable as an indicator of human traits. However, hair color is an outward indicator and genetic phenotype component that means different things according to the gender of the person bearing it. For example, blondes are sometimes perceived as especially feminine. In fact, scientific investigation indicates that blondes have higher levels of estrogen than other des may thus have finer features and a more "youthful" personality than darker-haired women. Surprisingly, blond hair does not seem to relate as much, if at all, to male hormone levels, although more research could always uncover surprises. Both male and female blonds have more hair, with an average of 130,000 hairs, compared to 100,000 for brunettes and 80,000 for redheads.

頭髮的顏色通常不會被當做人類特徵的表現。但其實，頭髮的顏色既是一種外在的展現，也是基因顯性成分的表現，並且根據攜帶者的性別不同，會有不同的表現。例如，金髮美女通常被認爲是極具女人味的。事實上，科學研究發現，金髮美女比一般女性擁有更多的雌激素。因此，金髮美女可能比那些深色頭髮的女性具有更出衆的外表和更“朝氣蓬勃”的個性。令人吃驚的是，金髮似乎與男性荷爾蒙水平的聯繫並不很大，如果有的話，儘管更多的研究總是能有令人驚喜的發現。金髮的男性和女性平均有130,000根頭髮，明顯多於深色頭髮人的100,000根和紅頭髮人的80,000根。

eads Get Hurt Easily

2.紅頭髮的人更容易受傷

Redheads are often stereotyped as hot-tempered. While the jury may still be out on that particular personality trait, the science is fairly strong on the fact that redheads are definitely prone to getting sore—referring, of course, to how they perceive pain. Dentists and scientific researchers have noted that natural redheads are in fact more sensitive to pain than blonds or the same time, redheads are hit with an unfair and ironic combination—they are less sensitive to the effects of painkillers than blonds or brunettes. Redheads often avoid going to the dentist, and it turns out that a dose of painkillers 20 percent higher than the norm may be needed to properly inhibit their pain reception, according to a study recently published in the British Medical Journal. Redheads are also more susceptible to skin cancer, and, oddly, never develop gray hair. Redheads may eventually turn blondish, and then pure white.

紅頭髮的人經常被認爲脾氣火爆，這應該是大衆長久以來對這種類型的人的特點所持有的判斷。科學也清楚有力地證明了這一點：紅頭髮的人更容易發怒，當然這涉及到他們如何看待痛苦。牙醫和科學研究者已經注意到，事實上紅頭髮的人比金髮或者深色頭髮的人對痛苦更敏感。同時，紅頭髮的人是一個飽受不公平待遇和諷刺的集合體——比起金髮或者深色頭髮的人，他們對止痛藥比較不敏感。據一個近期發表在《英國醫學雜誌》（the British Medical Journal）的研究表明，紅頭髮的人通常逃避去看牙醫，這樣造成的結果是，他們要用比普通人多20%劑量的止痛藥才能止住疼痛。另外，紅頭髮的人更容易患上皮膚癌，而且他們從來不長灰色的頭髮。他們最終可能變成金髮，然後再變成滿頭白髮。

ning Disabilities And Hair Color

3.學習障礙症和頭髮顏色

Blond hair and blue eyes might be seen as a striking combination, but they could also be correlated with an increased incidence of certain medical conditions. In a study of 50 learning disabled children, 20 percent were blond. However, only 11 percent of non-disabled children were blond. The blond hair and blue eyes combination is also often seen in patients affected by phenylketonuria, where phenylalanine builds up in the body. Behan et al. (1985) suggest a higher rate of blue-eyed blonds in the dyslexic population (they were also more likely to be left-handed). Another study noted a slightly increased incidence of learning disabilities reported by blond professionals. It is believed that melanin may play a role in the development of neural circuits, and some blonds may be more subject to certain conditions as a result of their reduced melanin levels.

金髮和碧眼也許看起來是最美妙的結合，但是它們也和特定的醫療條件下增加的發病率有關。在一項研究中，50個有學習障礙的孩子中，20%的是金髮。相反，在沒有學習障礙的孩子中僅僅有11%的是金髮。金髮和碧眼的組合在苯丙酮酸尿症患者中是常見的，這些患者體內的苯基丙氨酸積累過多。Behan等人（1985）認爲大部分金髮碧眼的人有誦讀困難症（他們很多是左撇子）。另一項研究顯示，金髮研究專家認爲學習障礙症的發病率在金髮碧眼的人中有輕微的增長。衆所周知，黑色素在神經迴路的發展中起着重要作用，一些金髮的人由於缺少黑色素，會對某些特定條件更加抗拒。

ness Is Linked To Heart Disease

4.頭頂脫髮和心臟病有關

The loss of hair, whether as a result of a medical condition or aging, is often a great source of concern. It is usually males who go bald, while women almost always keep their hair, a fact related to testosterone levels. Baldness might seem cosmetic, but a recent medical study of 40,000 men has linked balding to a much greater risk of coronary heart disease. The risk of heart disease in men with male pattern baldness was found to be 70 percent greater than in non-balding males. Different levels of baldness carried differing risk levels, from 18 percent at mild to 48 percent for serious balding. The correlation between top of the head baldness and heart disease is believed to relate to multiple factors, potentially including insulin and hormone-related variables. Interestingly, a receding hairline and hair-loss away from the top of the head was not associated with heart disease.

脫髮，不管是藥物還是年齡原因造成，都是人們憂慮的一大根源。最近一項醫學研究調查了4萬名頭頂脫髮的男性，結果表明禿頂的人有很大可能患上冠心病。禿頂男性比正常男性患心臟病的風險高70%。另外，禿頂的程度不同，患病的風險也不同，輕微禿頂的男性患病機率爲18%，而嚴重禿頂的男性患病機率則高達48%。這種頭部禿頂和心臟病的聯繫和許多因素有關，包括體內胰島素和雌激素相關含量的變化。有趣的是，逐漸後退的髮際線和頭頂部分以外的脫髮和心臟病沒多大關係。

翻譯:王珊 來源:listverse