March 31st, 2010
If you suffer from PCOS and feel exhausted all the time, you may also have auto-immune thyroiditis.
Some 40% of women with PCOS also have auto-immune thyroiditis and are six and a half times more likely to have auto-immune thyroid damage than women without PCOS, according to a study in the European Journal of Endocrinology.
The increased risk may be linked to low progesterone levels, leading to over-stimulation of the immune system. It may also explain the increased risk of inflammation and other examples of auto-immune disease in women with PCOS.
Thyroid hormones are important to almost every major function in your body. They impact your cardiovascular system, metabolism, fertility and energy levels.
Make sure your doctor does a complete thyroid test along with your PCOS tests. Be sure he or she tests your thyroid antibodies as well as your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) levels.
Also ensure your doctor is using the new TSH standards. Many women have been told they don’t have a thyroid problem when in fact they DO under the new guidelines.
March 30th, 2010
Those of us with PCOS can be prone to an under-active thyroid gland – a condition also called hypothyroidism.
This disorder may lead to an increase in free testosterone, the latter being one of the factors contributing to PCOS symptoms such as infertility, polycystic ovaries, excess facial and body hair, male pattern hair loss and acne. Women with hypothyroidism are also more likely to have the classic PCOS symptom of velvety, hyper pigmented skin folds called acanthosis nigrans.
The thyroid gland is located at the base of the neck in front of the windpipe. It makes, stores and releases two hormones – T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine). Thyroid hormones set your metabolic “thermostat.” If hypothyroidism has switched that thermostat to “low”, it can be very difficult to lose or control weight for better management of PCOS.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism can include fatigue or weakness, weight gain, menstrual problems, lower body temperature and cold hands and feet as well as inability to focus, constipation, depression, muscle aches, brittle nails, dry skin and hair loss.
Thyroid disease is usually diagnosed by a combination of symptoms, labs tests and a doctor’s exam to screen thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Be aware, however, that TSH doesn’t always respond correctly to low thyroid hormone levels.
Consult your doctor if you think you may have undiagnosed hypothyroidism because it could be complicating your PCOS problems, especially if you have a weight problem in spite of consistent efforts with diet and exercise.
March 29th, 2010
Reuters reports a new study that claims high-calorie foods may be as addictive as cocaine or nicotine. The study, from the journal Nature Neuroscience, notes that this type of binge eating could be the cause of compulsive eating and obesity.
Because the study subjects were rats, the findings cannot be directly related to obesity in humans but can add to our understanding of the disorders and various ways to treat it, according to the study authors.
In a laboratory setting, rats overate high calorie foods which “triggered addiction-like” brain responses, and showed that rats became compulsive eaters on high-calorie food.
To read the entire Reuters article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36081881/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/from/ET
March 29th, 2010
Many of us with PCOS know that our health can be adversely affected by other factors as well.
Asthma and allergy symptoms are just two additional disorders that may strike PCOS women. But something which can help is a healthy Mediterranean-style diet, which offers multiple benefits for those of us with PCOS.
With asthma, the airways are hyper-responsive … and anything which calms that response, such as antioxidants in the fruits, vegetables and healthy fats recommended by the Mediterranean diet, may reduce symptoms. Eating grapes and tomatoes every day can be particularly beneficial to PCOS women with asthma.
Allergies also benefit from the Mediterranean diet – especially its emphasis on healthy fats found in nuts, olive oil and wild salmon, which may, in addition, reduce the risk of inflammation that is linked to asthma and allergies. Inflammation is also a culprit in heart disease – a condition closely linked with PCOS.
And don’t forget a Mediterranean diet can help with better weight control, which leads to improved management of PCOS symptoms.
