Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome- Taking Control
" It is a very positive path ahead. I will not tell you that it will be an easy journey, but it is not uncurable. The prognosis is quite good. You still have good chances of a healthy pregnancy if you follow the regime of meds, exercise & diet seriously. I will be calling you on timely follow ups, to keep your progress in check" Dr Z, patted Sarah's hand in reassurance.
Sarah smiled after what felt like a really long time. She recalled her previous visit and the circumstances she had to come to the hospital, where she learnt that she just suffered with a miscarriage. She felt so lost. She always had irregular periods and didn't pay much attention to her having a missed cycle.Sin her teenge years she had a substantial weight gain, acne and a tad bit of excessive facial hair, but that was all thought of and dismissed as her symptoms of 'growing-up'.
She was then diagnosed with PCOS; and when doctor Z discussed symptoms with her, was when she realized it was all there but still, she had never heard of PCOS in her life. She was married at 21, and now here she was, at 23, with possibly promising treatment.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that is common among women of reproductive age.PCOS affects a woman’s ovaries, the reproductive organs that produce estrogen and progesterone — hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. Androgens- which are technically male hormones are also released from ovaries in a small quantity.
The ovaries release eggs to be fertilized by a male sperm. Each month, an egg is released- the process known as ovulation.
2 hormones, Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are incharge of controlling and regulating ovulation. FSH stimulates the ovary to produce a follicle, which is a sac like structure containing an egg
then comes LH, which triggers the ovary to release a mature egg.
PCOS is a “syndrome,” or group of symptoms that directly affects the ovaries and process of ovulation. Its three main features are:
➢cysts in the ovaries
➢high levels of male hormones
➢irregular or skipped periods
The word “polycystic” means “many cysts.” Tiny, fluid filled sacs or follicles grow inside the ovaries.Each of thse follicles contain an immature egg, but the eggs never mature enough to trigger ovulation. The absence of ovulation alters levels of estrogen, progesterone, FSH, and LH. Estrogen and progesterone levels are lower than usual, while androgen levels are higher than usual.
With the extra male hormones disrupting the menstrual cycle, women suffering from PCOS get fewer periods than usual.
Signs and symptoms of PCOS often develop during puberty, around the time of the first menstrual period . In some cases, PCOS development is seen later, for example, in response to substantial weight gain. W
▮Genes
Studies show that PCOS is genetically inherited.It’s likely that many genes — not just one — contribute to the condition.
▮Insulin resistance
Up to 70 percent% of women with PCOS have insulin resistance, which means that their cells can’t use insulin properly.Insulin is a hormone the pancreas produces to help the body use sugar from foods for energy.
With cells not able to use insulin properly, the body’s demand for insulin increases. The pancreas makes more insulin to compensate which inturn triggers the ovaries to produce more male hormones.
Obesity is a major cause of insulin resistance. Both obesity and insulin resistance can increase risk for type 2 diabetes .
▮Inflammation
Women with PCOS often have increased levels of inflammation in their body.Excess inflammation is linked to higher androgen levels .
Being overweight can also contribute to inflammation.
Signs and symptoms of PCOS vary. A PCOS diagnosis is made on experienceing at least two of these signs:
✱Irregular periods. Infrequent or prolonged menstrual cycles are the most common sign of PCOS. For example, a person suffering fro PCOS might have fewer than nine periods a year, more than 35 days between periods and abnormally heavy periods.
✱Excess androgen. Elevated levels of male hormone may result in excess facial and body hair (hirsutism), and occasionally severe acne and male-pattern baldness.
Weight gain, Infertility and miscarriage, Acne, Facial hair are some of the more common complications of PCOS
Complications of PCOS can include:
✤Diabetes. More than half of women with PCOS encounter diabetes or prediabetes (glucose intolerance) before the age of 40.
✤Women with PCOS are at greater risk of having high blood pressure which is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke.
Women with PCOS often have higher levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
✤Sleep apnea is the momentary and repeated stops in breathing, interruptting sleep. Many women with PCOS are overweight , which can cause sleep apnea that increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
✤Depression and anxiety. Depression and anxiety are common among women with PCOS.
Endometrial cancer. Problems with ovulation, obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes (all common in women with PCOS) increase the risk of developing cancer of the endometrium (lining of the uterus or womb).
✤Gestational diabetes or pregnancy-induced high blood pressure
✤Miscarriage or premature birth
✤Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis — a severe liver inflammation caused by fat accumulation in the liver
Metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels that significantly increase your risk of cardiovascular disease
✤Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
✤Depression, anxiety and eating disorders
✤Abnormal uterine bleeding
✤Cancer of the uterine lining (endometrial cancer)
How to take control?
PCOS patients need to include less carbohydrates than normal people in their diet.
Diet and nutrition adviser Manal Aly Khan says PCOS patients need to eat foods with a low glycaemic index (GI), which is a measure of how quickly blood sugar levels rise after certain foods. “Low GI food items include vegetables, fruits and nuts,” says Khan. “Go for brown sugar, brown rice, lean proteins and low-fat dairy products. It’s important that coffee and tea intake is also in moderation.”
Say ‘no’ to white stuff
Whether it’s sugary desserts, breads, rice or pasta — reduce, if not eliminate them out of your diet completely. Carbohydrates need to be limited and replaced by foods that will help end PCOS. Eat smart, eliminate saturated and trans fats, and choose smaller amounts of healthy unsaturated fats. “Avoid all products made with refined sugar,” says Khan.
Eat more fibre to maintain blood sugar levels and cholesterol. Your best options are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.
Protein helps you feel full for longer which is great for controlling weight. This includes meat, chicken, turkey, fish, legumes, soy and nuts.
Get off that chair!
Exercising is crucial! You can only break the cycle of insulin resistance by regular workouts. So you must get serious about physical activity and work out like it’s medicine.
Sleep
If you’re not getting enough sleep, your body will release hydrocortisone (cortisol), which increases blood sugar and suppresses the immune system, affecting your overall metabolism.
Data sources- Mayoclinic
Healthline
https://tribune.com.pk/story/551515/battling-the-incurable-pcos/
Comments
Post a Comment