Inositol is
a word that collectively refers to molecules with a similar structure, a
collection of nine stereoisomers. While the term 'inositol' is used commonly
with dietary supplements, it usually refers to a specific stereoisomer called
myo-inositol. Inositols are Pseudovitamin compounds that are falsely said to
belong to the B-complex family, and are found in most foods but in highest
levels in whole grains and citrus fruits.
Myo-inositol
shows the most promise as a dietary supplement for promoting female fertility,
restoring insulin sensitivity in instances of resistance (type II diabetes and
polycystic ovarian syndrome being the most well investigated), and for reducing
anxiety as well. Due to the mixed benefits to insulin resistance and fertility,
myo-inositol is considered a good treatment for PCOS in women.
It also
holds some promise as an anti-depressant (although not as impressive as its
anxiolytic and anti-panic effects) and against some other conditions associated
with anxiety such as panic disorders and binge eating. It is relatively
ineffective for schizophrenia and autism, and has failed in treating PTSD
despite its anti-panic effects.
In part
because of its benefits to fertility and PCOS, as well as the anxiolytic
effects potentially helping symptoms of PMS (dysphoria and anxiety mostly),
myo-inositol is sometimes referred to as a general female health supplement. At
times, the anti-depressant effects associated with this supplement seem to only
work in females with males having no benefit.
It is a very
safe supplement to ingest, and all side-effects associated with myo-inositol
are merely mild gastrointestinal distress from high doses. High doses (usually
in the 12-18g range) are required for any neurological effects while lower
doses (2-4g) are sufficient for fertility and insulin sensitizing effects. it's avaible in amazon now with discount you can get now.
PCOS and
thyroid disease are two diseases that are often considered when a woman goes to
her doctor with missing periods and abnormal hair growth. Hypothyroidism and
hyperthyroidism are the two types of thyroid disease which doctors will test
for when deciding between thyroid disease and PCOS.
Hyperthyroidism
Pathophysiology
The
pituitary gland in the brain produces a hormone called Thyroid Stimulating
Hormone (TSH), which goes to the thyroid and stimulates it to secrete Thyroid
Hormones (known as T3 and T4).
On the
thyroid are proteins called receptors, which actually receive TSH and allow it
to stimulate production of T3 and T4. Graves Disease, one cause of
hyperthyroidism, occurs when antibodies are produced against those receptors,
increasing the amount of T3 and T4 produced. Other causes of hyperthyroidism
include thyroid cancer and increased secretion of TSH from the pituitary gland.
Symptoms
Because
thyroid hormones are instrumental in many aspects of metabolism, many symptoms
are characteristic of hyperthyroidism. Here are the most common:
1-Enlarged
thyroid gland
2-Amenorrhea
3-Weight
loss/increase in appetite
4-Excessive
sweating
5-Heat
intolerance
6-Temporary
hair loss/ hair that is soft and fine
7-Pincreased
heart rate and blood pressure
8-Insomnia
Diagnosis:
The doctor
will ask you questions about your symptoms and do a physical exam. He will also
run blood work to test levels of TSH, T3, T4, and antithyroid antibodies.
Typically,
TSH is lower than normal, while T3 and T4 may be elevated.
Treatment:
Today, there
are many options for treatment of hyperthyroidism. Speak with your doctor to
determine which is most appropriate given your age, and diagnosis. Here are the
most common approaches.
Medications:
Anti-thyroid medications including propylthiouricil and methimazole, reduce the
amount of thyroid hormone that your thyroid gland produces.
You may need
to be on this medication for a while, even if symptoms begin to clear up.
Radioactive
iodine: Also a pill, this altered form of iodine is absorbed into your thyroid
gland and begins to shrink the tissue. This can help reduce the symptoms that
you experience. Because it can be difficult to control exactly how much tissue
is reduced, you may need to take replacement thyroid hormone (usually
Synthroid) to supplement.
Surgery: If
you are not a candidate for medication or radioactive iodine, surgery can be
performed to remove the thyroid gland. Special care is taken to preserve the pararthyroid
glands, small glands on the thyroid which regulate calcium metabolism. You will
need replacement thyroid hormone (usually Synthroid) for the rest of your life.
Hypothyroidism
Pathophysiology
This results
when inadequate amounts of thyroid hormone (T3 and T4) is produced. In primary
hypothyroidism, the loss of thyroid tissue typically causes the lack of hormone
production. This occurs when the thyroid is removed usually due to cancer.
If the
pituitary gland fails to produce enough TSH, due to a pituitary insufficiency
or tumor, this is called secondary hypothyroidism.
In addition
to removal of the thyroid as in cancer, hypothyroidism may develop for a number
of reasons. The most common cause is a deficiency of iodine, as iodine is
necessary for the production of thyroid hormone. If there is not enough iodine
present in the body, the thyroid gland enlarges as it works harder to get the
necessary iodine. Hashimoto's disease is an immune disease where the body
produces antibodies against the cells and tissue of the thyroid gland. This
leads to a diminished amount of thyroid hormone production. Certain medications
such as lithium can affect thyroid function as well. If you are concerned about
any of the medications you are taking, consult your doctor for more
information.
Symptoms
Symptoms of
hypothyroidism include the following:
1-Cold
intolerance
2-Fatigue and
lethargy
3-Anovulation,
which can cause irregular or infrequent periods
4-Heavy or
prolonged bleeding, which can also be caused by anovulation
5-Decreased
libido
6-Weight gain
despite decreased appetite
7-Constipation
8-Coarse, dry
skin
Diagnosis
When
diagnosing hypothyroidism, your physician or primary healthcare provider will
most likely run a panel of thyroid hormones, including TSH, T3 and T4. In
hypothyroidism, TSH is typically elevated, while blood concentrations of T4 may
be decreased. A thorough history must also be considered when evaluating the
results of your lab work.
Treatment:
Hormone
replacement therapy is usually the first line of treatment. By replacing the
deficient hormones, the disease can be managed, and symptoms reversed. The drug
most commonly prescribed is Synthroid (Levothyroxine). Dosages are prescribed
according to lab work results, though doses of 50mcg through 200mcg is typical.
Your doctor may want to routinely check your blood work to ensure that your
dose does not need to be changed.
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Endometrial
cancer is the form of uterine cancer that's most commonly diagnosed. Women can
be at higher risk for endometrial cancer for several reasons, including health
conditions and lifestyle factors that can boost their estrogen levels.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, is one of those health conditions known
to increase a woman’s chances of developing endometrial cancer.
Ovaries
produce the hormone estrogen and the egg that is released monthly — a process
called ovulation — during a woman's reproductive years. PCOS is a condition of
the female reproductive system that causes a bunch of small cysts, which are
tiny sacs of fluid, to form on the ovaries. Women with PCOS typically don't
ovulate and have abnormally high levels of androgen hormones, often called
"male" hormones.
Women with
PCOS also have increased levels of estrogen and abnormally low levels of
progesterone, another hormone.
Hormone
levels play a big role when it comes to cancer risk — particularly types of
uterine cancer like endometrial cancer. Women with PCOS and other factors that
increase estrogen levels — including obesity, diabetes, or taking medications
like tamoxifen (Nolvadex, Tamosin, Tamofen, Tamoxen) or estrogen replacement
therapy — are more likely to develop endometrial cancer than those without
these factors. The abnormal amounts of estrogen are particularly risky when not
balanced by sufficient progesterone levels in the blood. This is why
post-menopausal women who have not had a hysterectomy and who need treatment
for severe menopausal symptoms will be prescribed both estrogen and
progesterone, instead of estrogen alone.
Progesterone
is the hormone responsible for the monthly "shedding" process of the
endometrium — or the lining of the uterus. This process results in monthly
menstruation, which many women with PCOS don't have because of insufficient
progesterone levels. Without progesterone and monthly periods, the endometrium
becomes thick and the cells may become altered, leading to a precancerous
condition called endometrial hyperplasia. Eventually, endometrial cancer may
develop if PCOS is left untreated.
Reducing
Your Endometrial Cancer Risk
While you
can't prevent PCOS, it's important to know your risk for endometrial cancer and
figure out what you can do to protect your health and minimize that risk.
If you have
PCOS, do what you can to keep other risk factors for endometrial cancer in
check:
Treat your
PCOS. If left untreated, hormone levels will remain abnormal and affect your
whole body and your cancer risk. Seek treatment for PCOS early and regulate
hormone levels. You can do this with oral contraceptives — progesterone-only
pills are best to reduce endometrial cancer risk — or metformin (Glucophage,
Glucophage XR, Glumetza, Fortamet, Riomet), the diabetes medication, to manage
hormone production. Surgery may also be an option.
Reach and
maintain a healthy body weight. Most often, women with PCOS are obese or
overweight. And obesity is a known risk factor for endometrial cancer because
it also increases estrogen levels. By getting regular exercise and sticking to
a healthy diet, you can lose excess pounds and minimize your endometrial cancer
risk, even if you have PCOS.
Avoid fat in
your diet. Besides helping avoid unwanted pounds, trimming the fat from your
diet can reduce endometrial cancer risk. It's thought that fat affects the way
that estrogen is metabolized and used by the body, which can also raise the
chances of developing endometrial cancer.
Get regular
Pap smears and pelvic exams. If you already know you're at a greater risk for
endometrial cancer because of your PCOS, it's important to keep an eye out for
early signs of cancer. Having a regular pelvic exam done by your gynecologist
can help to identify endometrial cancer and begin treatment.
Having PCOS
doesn't mean you're destined to develop endometrial cancer, but it does mean
that you're at an increased risk for the disease. So take good care of yourself
by focusing on preventive care, maintaining a fit body, and living a healthy
lifestyle to reduce your endometrial cancer risk. Share it with your freinds if you like it !
Being tired is the worst. In fact, the only thing that is worse than being tired is when you realize you are tired of feeling tired all the time.
Fatigue is a vague symptom and therefore, it does not get much attention from PCOS experts. But if you ask one of the many women living with PCOS (including me) -fatigue is one of the most troubling symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
The fatigue I am talking about is different from boredom or being sleepy after a night of Netflix binging. It is a truly physical sense of exhaustion, where you might want to do something, but you just feel too worn out to make it happen. I’ve turned down wine nights with the girls and procrastinated on writing a blog post because fatigue has reared its ugly head.
Today I am going to give you a practical approach to managing fatigue. But first I want to tell you to go to your doctor and get a check-up. In case my Lululemon crop pants did not tip you off- I’m a personal trainer and not a physician.
Chronic Fatigue could indicate that you have another medical condition. Some the conditions common to PCOS women include:
Thyroid Disease
Auto Immune Conditions
Sleep Apnea
Diabetes
B-12 deficiences (linked to long-term metformin and birth control pill use)
So go to your doctor and rule out all of this stuff.
My perspective on PCOS and Fatigue
At the center of PCOS is a hormonal imbalance. Our bodies are already dealing with some level of hormonal dysfunction. Therefore, we’re probably more vulnerable to other environmental stressors like a poor diet, sleep deprivation, and unmanaged stress. I believe that fatigue is one way that your body communicates to you that something in your environment is not good for you.
Better nutrition, good sleep hygiene, and stress management can reduce PCOS fatigue. Yep, I know this is not novel or cutting-edge information. But the truth is that if you manage these areas of your life better, you will feel like the energizer bunny.
Blood Sugar Imbalances
Spiking and plummeting blood sugar levels will make you feel fatigued.
This might be the cause of fatigue if:
Your fatigue seems to come and go in waves and can be remedied by eating or if you feel especially low after eating.
Action Steps:
Eat balanced meals. Eat healthy sources of proteins, fats and carbohydrates with every meal. Do not get caught up in the exact gram amounts of each macronutrient. Instead, use this simple diagram to plan meals:
Eat breakfast within 90-minutes of waking up. Not eating until lunch may seem like a good way to cut back on calories, but it could negatively impact blood sugar regulation. Researchers at Tel Aviv University found that skipping breakfast triggers major blood sugar spikes and impairs the insulin responses of type-2 diabetics. Much like type-2 diabetics, women with PCOS have impaired insulin response so eating breakfast is probably in our best interest too.
Eat about every four hours. I do not believe that constantly snacking throughout the day is a good way to balance blood sugar. However, you should eat at regular intervals. About every four hours over the course of the day. This means that you will probably need a small balanced snack between lunch and dinner.
Supplements that can help:
Inositol and cinnamon have been shown to help with blood sugar imbalances. Talk to your healthcare practitioner about finding the right dose for you.
Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is associated with a laundry list of health problems including insulin resistance, being overweight and feeling fatigued.
This might be the cause of fatigue if:
You get less than 8 hours of sleep each night, you have trouble staying asleep, or you wake up tired after a full night of sleep.
Action Steps
Ruthlessly prioritize sleep. There are few things in life more important than getting enough sleep. Sleep is not a luxury- say that again out loud- sleep is not a luxury. If you have over-scheduled yourself to the point that you can’t get into bed 8 1/2 hours before you need to wake up, it is time to start saying no to unnecessary commitments. If you are living with an infant- hang in there! But the rest of you need a reality check if you don’t have enough time to sleep something is wrong with your priorities.
Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. If you want to recover from sleep deprivation, you will need to get on a sleep schedule. For the time being, skip late nights out with friends and sleeping in on Saturday. In the future, you may be able to get away with the occasional deviation from your sleep schedule but until you’re fully recovered it is best to go to bed around 10 pm and wake after 6 am. According to Nutritionist Chris Sandel, the phase of sleep where your body repairs itself occurs between 10 pm and 2 am so you do not want to miss out on that restorative process by being awake late into the night.
Manage your light exposure. Natural sunlight exposure helps humans sleep well. One way to improve your chances of getting a good night’s rest is to go outside a few times a day and enjoy the sunlight. Plus sunlight helps you make vitamin D. Note: Some research has found the women with PCOS are low in this important vitamin.
On the other hand exposure to the blue light emitted by electronics can cause sleep disruptions. In fact, the American Medical Association states that exposure to excessive light at night, including extended use of various electronic media, can disrupt sleep or exacerbate sleep disorders. One way to lessen the effect of blue light on sleep is to download a program called F.lux. F.lux is a software program that changes the light admitted by your electronics so that it mimics natural light.
Do not consume any caffeine after 2 pm. You may not feel like that 4 pm caffeine boost affects your sleep, but it might be reducing the quality of your sleep without you even knowing it. For example, one study found that test subjects who consumed caffeine 6 hours before sleep experienced a less restful night without even knowing it. The caffeinated subjects reported that they slept well but electronic sleep monitors told a different story: total sleep time, and sleep efficiency significantly deteriorated when they consumed caffeine 6 hours before bed.
Give your bedroom a makeover. Make sure your bedroom is a hospitable sleep environment. High-quality mattresses, pillows, and linens are a wise investment. Hang up blackout curtains if your windows let in a lot of artificial light at night. Keep the room cool and free of distractions like televisions and computers.
Supplements that can help:
Melatonin has been shown to help with insomnia and improve sleep quality. Talk to your healthcare practitioner about finding the right dose for you.
Stress overload
I know we would like to avoid stress altogether, but that is simply an unrealistic expectation. Stress is part of life and stress only becomes detrimental to our health when we let it consume us.
This might be the cause of fatigue if:
You feel tired but wired. You have trouble relaxing or have unexplained body aches.
Action steps
Evaluate your commitments. Ok superwoman, take a look at your day planner. Have you set aside time for self-care? If not, that is a warning sign. Living well with PCOS requires that you set aside time for exercise, sleep, meal prep, and restorative activities like seeing a therapist, getting a massage, or just watching the grass grow.
If you have not left space in your life for well, you then it is time to gracefully turn down obligations or responsibilities that are a choice. You do not have to be PTA president and the chairwoman of a local charity- you want to be all of these things. But if you’re feeling fatigued enough to read a blog post about fatigue it is time to reevaluate your commitments.
Practice Mindfulness. Do you have racing thoughts or strong emotional responses to stress? Your reaction to a stressful situation may not just be mentally uncomfortable; it might be physically exhausting too. Simply put- “feeling stressed-out” can stimulate a hormonal response in your body. If you are chronically saturating your body in stress hormones, you could start to experience fatigue.
Mindfulness practices like meditation, mindful walking, and breathing exercises can help you improve your reaction to stressful situations. Just 10-minutes a day of mindfulness practice can make a dent in your stress levels. To get started try these yoga breathing exercises from yoga instructor Caren Baginski:
Include parasympathetic exercise in your program. Short high-intensity exercise is ideal for addressing the metabolic aspects of PCOS. Ideally, you should balance out these intense workouts with exercise that stimulates your parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system is the division of your nervous system that shuts down your “fight or flight” responses to stress and allows you to rest and recover.
Walking, gentle yoga and Tai Chi are just a few forms of exercise that fall into this category. I recommend you get in 2-3 sessions of parasympathetic exercise every week. To recover from chronic stress, you may even need to cut down on intense exercises in favor of parasympathetic exercise.Please Share This article with your freinds in facebook if you like it !
Supplements that can help:
Ashwagandha has been shown to reduce symptoms of stress. Talk to your healthcare practitioner about finding the right dose for you.
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Because estrogen dominance is very often associated
with PCOS, it’s best to stick with organic animal products as conventional
animals are often given hormone shots and the excess estrogens are stored in
the fat and meat. Ingesting hormones is causing major issues with our bodies,
whether it be PMS, infertility, or menopause. The more organic/grass-fed meat
we can buy the better of we’ll be. Organic isn’t always the answer as many
large organic farms just feed organic grain instead of allowing them to eat their
natural diet, but if that’s all you can find – it’s better than conventional!
2-AVOID REFINED SUGARS AND GRAINS
Sugars are the thorn in the side of any woman who is
dealing with PCOS. It’s basically a double whammy – it depletes the body of
nutrients and it causes insulin resistance which causes unbalanced hormones.
Cutting out all refined sugars and flours is extremely important!! Cutting back
on your consumption of even unrefined (or natural) sugars is also important as
any type of sugar affects the body’s insulin production. Some women, especially
those with moderate to severe PCOS find that eating a primal diet is needed to
reduce and even eliminate symptoms.
3. CHOOSE NATURAL WOMEN’S PRODUCTS
Used by women every month, conventional pads and
tampons are actually not great for the body. Tampons contain something known as
dioxin which is both carcinogenic (causing cancer) and inhibiting to fertility.
Disposable pads prohibit air flow and can cause the area to be a breeding
ground for bacteria, though they are better than using tampons. The best options
for menstrual products are going to be reusable, fabric pads*, natural tampons,
or something like the Diva* or Moon cup*.
4- BE AWARE OF XENO-HORMONES
Mimicking estrogen in our bodies, xeno-estrogens are
found in plastics, many beauty supplies, cleaning products, and pesticides.
Once in the body they disrupt the hormone balance causing our bodies to be
confused on how many natural hormones to make. And the higher the estrogen in
the body, the lower the progesterone, causing major problems with fertility.
Choosing organic produce, making your own cleaners and beauty supplies, and
using glass instead of plastic will go a long way in reducing your exposure to
these chemical hormones.
5-AVOID SOY
While the jury is still out on how soy affects
hormones production due to the phyto-estrogens in it, it’s still on my do not
eat list. What happens in the body is this: your natural estrogens go floating
around the body, produced by organs and fat cells. Once they come across an
estrogen receptor, they fit into it like a specific key fits into a lock – no
other hormone will fit in that receptor. Plant based estrogens are basically
the same shape as natural estrogens and they fit in these receptors. Some
people/nutritionists/doctors say that these plant-based estrogens cause excess
estrogen in the body since they take up the space the natural estrogens should,
causing the natural ones to move around the body looking for a place to go.
others say that plant-based estrogens can reduce the amount of estrogen your body
produces over time as the body gets signaled that there is enough.
But most holistic health professionals I’ve spoken
with say that the plant-based estrogen particles in soy (isoflavones) are
different from other plant-based estrogens and they recommend no one consume
unfermented soy. I’ve also heard way to many stories of damage caused to
people’s health from moderate soy consumption, infertility being one of them.
6-TAKE CARE OF YOUR LIVER
Your liver is responsible for taking excess and old
hormones out of the body. If its overworked because of over consumption of
processed and sugary foods, it won’t be able to keep up and do all of it’s work
– so the excess and old hormones stay. taking time a few times a year to gently
cleanse the body is very beneficial as well as increasing your consumption of
liver friendly foods like lemon, beets, and garlic. You could also prepare a
liver cleanse tincture* to help boost liver function and get rid of toxins.
7-AVOID FOOD PRESERVATIVES
Chemicals placed in food to preserve or enhance
flavor are harmful to anyone, but especially those who deal with some sort of
health issue. They cause issue with insulin production and also slow down the
liver, giving it more to do. Cutting out processed foods is the easiest way to
lower consumption of chemicals like MSG, Aspartame, and the multitude of
colorings and chemical flavorings used.
Metformin is safe to take during pregnancy. In fact, Metformin is an extremely useful treatment for women who are diabetic or become diabetic during pregnancy.
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Should every woman with PCOS take Metformin?
Metformin is a safe, worthwhile treatment option for women who have PCOS and insulin resistance. If you do not have insulin resistance, Metformin will not be of much use to you.
That being said, many women with PCOS do have insulin resistance, even some lean women. You and your physician should thoroughly evaluate you insulin sensitivity, and use that information to create a treatment plan. Dr. Kalan suggests PCOS patients get Hemoglobin A1c, fasting blood sugar, fasting insulin levels and 2-hour glucose tolerance tests to evaluate their insulin sensitivity.
Will the long-term use of birth control pills damage your fertility?
Dr. Kalan explained that birth control pills will not diminish your fertility. However, time will. All women experience a decrease in fertility as they age. If you come off birth control pills after several years and have a difficulty conceiving, age is the likely culprit.
Dr. Kalan says that birth control pills can be a safe and effective part of a larger PCOS treatment plan. They can help women with PCOS manage their symptoms and regulate their cycles. Dr. Kalan recommends that women periodically go off birth control pills so that they can evaluate their natural cycles. In some cases, PCOS symptoms can decline as a woman ages and birth control may no longer be necessary to control her cycles and symptoms.
If you smoke, you should talk to your doctor about possible health risks associated with smoking and the use of birth control pills.
Evaluate your commitments.
