Ovarian health may have heart health implications.
Women with PCOS have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and four times higher risk of stroke.
Women worry about infertility, acne and weight gain but might not be thinking of high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes . It’s important to know that if you have PCOS there you have an increased risk and it is essential that you understand just how important diet and exercise is for your overall health.
Many women with PCOS are insulin resistant, meaning that insulin can build up in the body, making it difficult to maintain normal blood glucose levels. This is a risk factor for diabetes, so women with PCOS are especially at risk for developing diabetes as well. In fact, 35 percent of women with PCOS have prediabetes and 10 percent go on to develop diabetes by age 40. Higher androgen levels also increase the risk of diabetes.
Because excess insulin can cause weight gain, women with PCOS also tend to be overweight or obese, particularly in the abdomen area. This belly fat, called visceral fat, can lead to higher triglycerides and lower levels of HDL, or “good” cholesterol.
The connection between PCOS and diabetes is not fully understood, but women with PCOS are more likely to develop diabetes if they have these risk factors:
A family history of diabetes
Higher blood pressure
Obesity
African-American or Hispanic heritage
It is time to get moving, even if a little until this becomes a lifestyle habit. You will quickly reap the rewards.
#PCOS #HDL
