Link Between Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Heart Disease

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and abnormal periods put women at greater risk of developing heart problems, reveals a new study.

The study was led by an Indian-American researcher at Harvard University in collaboration with tech giant Apple.

Androgen Levels During Pregnancy Related to PCOS Risk
Daughters of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) are at more risk of developing PCOS when they become adults, say researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.

‘Use Cycle Tracking app to track your periods and symptoms. This can help your doctor make an early diagnosis and implement changes to your daily life for better health.’

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PCOS is characterized by long menstrual cycles, heavy periods as well as high hormonal imbalances that cause acne, excess facial or body hair, or scalp hair loss.

While often PCOS is known to just impact periods and menstruation, it is also closely linked to heart and circulatory health.

The study showed that PCOS may increase the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity — all conditions that can negatively affect heart health.

PCOS Linked to Poor Health
In women, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is linked to poor health and quality of life into their late forties, stated study.

"Despite the association between PCOS and heart-related conditions, historically, research studies about heart health have not included information about menstrual cycles. More broadly speaking, menstrual health is also significantly under-represented in the research space," said Shruthi Mahalingaiah, assistant professor of environmental, reproductive, and women’s health at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

"Our study is filling a research gap by diving deeper into understanding how periods and menstrual cycles can be a window into overall health," she added.

Teens With Obesity and PCOS Have More 'Unhealthy' Bacteria: Study
Teens with obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have more unhealthy gut bacteria, suggesting the microbiome may play a role in the disorder.

The study was based on a survey of more than 37,000 participants who answered questions about gynecological conditions, family medical history, and heart health. Of these, approximately 30,000 also answered questions about their menstrual cycle over time on the Apple Health app.

The results showed that in comparison to participants without PCOS, participants with PCOS were almost four times more likely to have pre-diabetic conditions and three times more likely to have Type 2 diabetes.

Pregnancy Complications may Lead to Later Heart Problem in Adult Children
Pregnancy complications like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may lead to heart trouble in adult children, reveals a new study.

In people with diabetes, chronic elevations in glucose may damage blood vessels in the heart.

The prevalence of high blood pressure and high cholesterol were 1.7 times higher for participants with PCOS than participants without PCOS.

A majority, 61 percent, of participants with PCOS reported obesity, known to impact cholesterol levels, affect blood pressure, and increase risk of conditions like diabetes.

Irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, was also more common among participants with PCOS (5.6 percent) than participants without PCOS (3.7 percent).

The study recommended lifestyle changes are to promote menstrual regularity and improve heart health, including changing exercise routine, eating more nutritious food, getting better sleep, staying hydrated, and taking care of your mental health.

Cycle Tracking app on iPhone and Apple Watch accurately tracks periods and symptoms that may help your doctor make important diagnoses, which is critical in risk assessment, prevention of some unwanted effects of the disease, and implementation of changes in your routine for better health.

Cycle Tracking is available on every iPhone globally in the Health app, and on Apple Watch. Like all health data, Cycle Tracking data is encrypted and only accessible with the user’s passcode, Touch ID, or Face ID.

Source-IANS