Stress can be measured in the ear bristles

Earwax can help psychiatrists measure the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the body. The conclusion is from a study that involved 37 participants and was conducted by doctor Andres Herane-Vives, who guarantees that this discovery can allow us to learn about new ways of diagnosing disorders such as depression or anxiety.

In the statements a BBC, this doctor and psychiatrist from the University of London’s Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, confessed that this method, which uses a new type of tampon – developed by him – that does not damage the eardrum, can become an objective biological measure.

At stake is the ability to measure the cortisol level through the oily secretions around the ear canal. Cortisol, known as the stress hormone, can affect almost every system in the body, from the immune system to the digestive system.

For Herane-Vives, a good diagnosis “is the only way to provide the right treatment” for these types of conditions and this discovery can help get a much more complete diagnosis.

Remember that cortisol can also be measured in blood, but because taking a blood sample can itself be a stress-triggering process, the risk of “false positives” can increase.