Women
with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) have a greater chance of developing Metabolic Syndrome (Syndrome X) - a
cluster of increased risk factors for cardiovascular disease which raise
the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke. Metabolic Syndrome also increases
the chance of developing Pre-Diabetes, a reversible condition, which if
neglected, may become Type 2 Diabetes. This latter condition can only be managed in the majority of cases and may require daily injections of insulin.
According to the American Heart Association, between 20-25% of the adult
population of the United States suffer from Metabolic Syndrome.
That's somewhere between 58 and 73 million men and women.
People with this disorder are four times more likely to have
a heart attack or stroke than those free of the condition. And that's only
the beginning. Women with Metabolic Syndrome are also more prone to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome also known as Polycystic Ovarian
Disease which causes the ovaries to secrete abnormally high levels of
male hormones. PCOS can cause a variety of symptoms, ranging from infertility
and excessive facial and body hair growth to acne, menstrual irregularities
and male pattern baldness in women, as well as depression and anxiety, sleep apnea (trouble breathing during sleeping) and thyroid disorders.
The bad news doesn't end there, either. PCOS sufferers with Metabolic Syndrome
are also at greater risk of developing Gestational Diabetes, which can
develop during pregnancy, as well as having higher rates of liver, breast
and colon cancer.
Only
in recent years has Metabolic Syndrome undergone extensive scientific investigation.
The medical community has made a dramatic change in the way it views and
treats this condition after a growing body of evidence pointed to Insulin
Resistance as an underlying cause of Metabolic Syndrome.
Inflammation - the body's defense system against harmful stimuli - may also play a role in the onset of cardiovascular disease. To learn more, see Inflammation, Insulin Resistance and PCOS.
Insulin Resistance is caused by unbalanced glucose and insulin levels resulting
from cells that have been desensitized to insulin. This insensitivity to
insulin prevents the efficient conversion of glucose, or blood sugar, through
the cell wall into energy. Instead, free-floating glucose remains in the
blood stream where it causes elevated blood sugar levels. The sugar is
sent to the liver where it is converted into fat and then stored throughout
the body. The end result can be weight gain and obesity.
In addition, the imbalance in glucose and insulin levels has been proven
to cause damage to the lining of the arteries, as well as changes in the
kidneys' ability to remove salt and an increased risk of blood clot formation,
all of which are key factors in developing Cardiovascular Disease, heart
attacks and stroke.
Excess glucose also lays the foundation for Type 2 Diabetes by raising
blood sugar to dangerous levels. In addition, excess glucose sometimes prompts abnormal cell
growth, implicating it as a cause of certain cancers as well as PCOS
and Metabolic Syndrome.
At the present time, there is no single pill that will cure Metabolic Syndrome,
just as there are no pharmaceutical drugs that will heal Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. But there
are ways to address Insulin Resistance, an underlying cause of these conditions
and PCOS symptoms.
You must also combine nutraceuticals (vitamins, herbs and minerals that
are disease specific) with a realistic exercise program, nutritional guidance
and a support system that can help you change unhealthy lifestyle choices
if you wish to return to optimum health.
Click here to
read about the unique, new Insulite PCOS System which is scientifically-designed
to help reverse the condition called Insulin Resistance that can underlie both Polycystic
Ovarian Syndrome and Metabolic Syndrome. The
Insulite System includes several formulations such as InsulX, which, among
other ingredients, features vanadium - a nutrient that helps restore
blood glucose levels, lowers cholesterol, decreases body fat and reduces
appetite naturally.
You may be interested in some of our Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs) about PCOS and the Insulite PCOS System.
Click
here to read about What Causes Insulin Resistance
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