Women who are in their 30s to 40s are at a higher risk of heart diseases and this risk increase if they are diagnosed with a polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS. This new link between PCOS and heart diseases is revealed through a study published in the journal European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. It is the official publication by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
Dr. Clare Oliver-Williams from the University of Cambridge is the first author of this study. She says that PCOS is a threatening condition for heart health but there are many ways to make your heart healthy. For example, changing dietary patterns and taking out time for exercise reduces the risk.
Between 6% to 20% of women who are in their fertile years fall for the polycystic ovary syndrome. In this condition, the body makes numerous cysts that are filled with fluid inside the ovaries. The symptoms show up as irregular periods, excessive body hair, or an unusual loss of hair, etc. This is because the male-hormones are excessively made inside the body which changes the typical outlook and functioning of a female body. The biggest risk with PCOS is difficult to conceive or infertility, in the worst cases.
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PCOS often results in unexplained weight gain and even obesity. It invites a number of other associated medical conditions i.e. diabetes, hypertension, etc. All these diseases become a collective risk for heart diseases as well as stroke.
The new study has tried to examine the risk profiling explaining what increases the risk of heart diseases in women. For some reason, this risk persists throughout life. But some of the symptoms appear during the most fertile days in a woman’s life. So there is a high chance that these heart diseases risk might end in later years of life, on its own.
Data from approximately 60,574 women was analyzed as a part of this study. All of these women were seeking treatment for fertility for example during the years 1994 to 2015.
Among these participants, 6,149 (10.2%) were diagnosed with PCOS. The research team followed all medical records for the next nine years during which, 4.8% (2,925) were identified with a heart condition. Conclusively, these women were at 19% more risk of cardiovascular diseases than non-PCOS patients.
Based on the age-based evaluation, women who were above 50 years of age didn’t show much risk of heart problems which shows that the risk may dissolve after 50. The most critical age group was between the 30s and 40s during which the risk of heart diseases was highest in PCOS patients.
There were no clear findings or women below 30 years of age because there were fewer participants in their 30’s in this study’s database.
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Heart problems are most common in people who are overweight, diabetic, or hypertensive. Unfortunately, these conditions are common in any PCOS patient which puts them at a higher risk of heart conditions. there are a number of studies in the past that suggest that these symptoms reduce with age, especially when these women are over their fertility period.
The younger patients of PCOS should not lose hope as it is not compulsory for all PCOS patients to share the same fate. The personal efforts, the right type of medication, and regular medical care can change this future. It is also possible to lose weight despite being PCOS patients and lower these risks naturally.
