Most people are quite familiar with male pattern baldness or hair loss in men. Some women lose their hair too. Certainly, there are other factors that come to play concerning hair loss. For example, heritage and background are factors relating to hair loss and hair growth. Here is something to note. The average person loses about 250 hairs a day through brushing, combing, and shampooing. Excessive hair loss over that rate is a good sign that the hair is thinning. This might be due to a natural process or something more complicated. Here are a few surprising health issues that might trigger hair loss. 

Iron Deficient Diet
Surprisingly, an iron deficient diet is responsible for hair loss in some people. The body requires iron to circulate blood through the body. The red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen through the body and to hair follicles. The oxygen deprived hair follicles do not receive the required nutrients to grow and flourish.

Zinc Deficiency
People on very restricted diets might lack zinc. The fact is that zinc is a mineral that the body requires for cell reproduction and hair growth. Zinc is also responsible for regulating oil secretion glands that nourish hair follicles in the body. It is also important to note that low zinc levels are associated with hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid. 

Underactive Thyroid
The thyroid gland secretes a hormone that is responsible for triggering growth in the body. The lack of this hormone strongly affects hair growth and the condition of the scalp. Other typical signs that point to an under-active thyroid include weight gain, fatigue, constipation, and depression.

Alopecia Areata
Alopecia Areata is classified as an autoimmune disease. In other words, the immune system in the body is attacking the individual's hair follicles. This causes bald spots and patches across the scalp. It is thought that stress triggers this disease. 

Lupus
Lupus is another autoimmune disease that is associated with hair loss. The body attacks the hair follicles, stopping growth. Lupus is a chronic disease that might also attack other parts of the body too. For example, the skin, bones, organs.

Protein Deficient Diet
Hair is composed of keratin, which is a protein. A serious lack of protein in the diet is directly correlated to hair loss. Generally, the average person consumes the required amount of protein to produce healthy hair. However, other underlying medical conditions might affect the absorption of protein into the body.