Is PCOS Dangerous or Even Deadly?

I remember when I was first diagnosed with PCOS. I had no idea what the condition was all about or how it would affect my life going forward. I was scared. Speaking to my friends and family didn’t exactly help. Is it dangerous? Will it be ok? Is it like cancer? Frankly in the beginning I didn’t have the answers and they questions made me worry even more. I know their concern came from a place of love, but it made me insecure and I remember wondering: Is PCOS dangerous? Or maybe even deadly? Was I missing something? If you’re in the same position I was in a couple of years back, this blogpost is for you! Not only will I try to answer the dreaded question: “Is PCOS dangerous or deadly?”, I will also try to share my best tips with you on how you can thrive and live a fulfilled life as a PCOS fighter.

PCOS 101

PCOS affects one in ten women. As you may or may not know, the condition affects the hormone levels in women. Women who suffer from PCOS produce more male hormones than usual. This leads to irregular menstrual cycles and even results in issues with conception. PCOS also causes women to grow coarse hair in areas where there usually is no hair. There is no cure for the condition but there are methods to curb its symptoms.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no link between PCOS and early death. However, it can lead to life threatening conditions if you do not address the symptoms in time. Therefore, it is important to understand what PCOS is and how you can curb the symptoms.

PCOS and Your Hormones

There is no known cause for PCOS. However, experts believe that multiple factors play a role in women developing PCOS, including genetics. If someone in your family has PCOS, you are at risk of developing the condition as well.

Excess Androgen Production

Androgens are the male hormone. All women produce moderate levels of androgens. The production of this hormone in moderate levels is responsible for controlling male traits. However, PCOS causes your body to produce excess amounts of androgens. This results in the following symptoms:

• Deepening of voice
• Excess amounts of coarse hair on the face and chest
• Baldness
• Irregular menstrual cycle
• Acne

High levels of the androgen hormone in women prevent the release of eggs during the menstrual cycle.

Rise in Insulin Level

Women with PCOS develop a resistance to insulin. Insulin is responsible for controlling the manner in which the body converts food into energy. When the body develops a resistance to insulin, the levels of this hormone rise. This results in the following symptoms:

• Excessive weight gain
• Type-2 Diabetes

If someone in your family suffers from diabetes, you are more susceptible to it. Therefore, you should keep an eye on your weight if you have PCOS.

Is PCOS Deadly or Dangerous?

Women with PCOS tend to feel stressed and assume that they cannot live a normal life. So, is PCOS dangerous? If not, how can you live with this condition? Women with PCOS are at a higher risk of experiencing a stroke. However, there is no evidence of a relationship between PCOS and early death. Furthermore, if you manage your PCOS symptoms, you can live a long and healthy life. Of course, you will need to make changes to your lifestyle and adopt healthy habits.

How Can You Curb PCOS Symptoms?

One of the most common symptoms of PCOS is weight gain due to a rise in insulin levels. If you do not take care of the symptoms and ignore them, it can be dangerous. Therefore, you will need to make lifestyle changes. Here are a few things you can do to curb PCOS symptoms:

Avoid Eating Excessive Sugars

PCOS results in your body developing a resistance to insulin. Therefore, your body will not be able to process sugars the way it should. Therefore, if you have a sweet tooth; that is one habit you will need to get rid of. Of course, you can have sweets every occasionally. However, excess consumption of sweets, especially processed sugars, can elevate the symptoms of PCOS. You can still consume natural sweets. You can curb your sweet tooth by eating fruits in a moderate amount. The point is to avoid processed sugar.

Hit the Gym

Since weight gain is one of the most common symptoms of PCOS, you have to adapt to an active lifestyle. PCOS does tend to cause fatigue and sleep issues. However, the best way to curb these symptoms and weight gain is to exercise. If you do not have time to go to the gym, you can simply work out at home. Alternatively, you can just go out for a jog. Exercising will boost your metabolism and will help you control your insulin levels.

Monitor Your Cycle

Women who have PCOS have irregular menstrual cycles. However, if you skip your period entirely, be sure to consult with a doctor immediately. Therefore, it is important to keep track of your cycle. If you miss your period by more than 50 days, it is time to see the doctor. Irregular cycles are not dangerous, but if you skip your period, you are at a risk of developing endometrial cancer. Doctors often prescribe medication to help induce ovulation. So, maintain a log of when you had your last period.

Eat Healthy

A rule of thumb for women suffering from PCOS is to avoid eating processed foods. In addition, you need to avoid fad diets altogether. These diets may work for everyone else, but may do more harm than good if you have PCOS. However, there are certain types of foods that will really help in curbing the PCOS symptoms:

Omega 3

One of the best ways to curb PCOS symptoms is to consume Omega 3 fatty acids. They are essential for balancing out hormone levels as well as curbing excess insulin production. Foods that you may consume for Omega 3 include:

• Fish
• Avocadoes
• Olive Oil
• Nuts (unsalted)
• Seeds

Stick to Lean Protein

You should consume lots of lean protein. High carbohydrate levels in certain types of meat can cause insulin levels to rise further. However, protein limits the production of insulin. Foods you can consume for a healthy protein intake are:

• Lean meat
• Eggs
• Beans
• Organic Dairy Products

Magnesium Rich Foods

Women with PCOS have magnesium deficiency. Therefore, you should increase the intake of magnesium rich foods. Magnesium helps curb the following PCOS symptoms:

• Anxiety
• Insulin resistance
• High blood pressure

Here are a few magnesium rich foods you should include in your diet:

• Leafy greens
• Nuts
• Beans
• Whole grains
• Moderate amounts of dark chocolate

So, do you still think PCOS is dangerous? Overall, PCOS is not deadly at all. All you need to do is take care of yourself and make a few changes to your lifestyle. Without proper care, almost any medical condition can be deadly. Nevertheless, take care and control PCOS symptoms. There is no reason why you cannot live a normal and healthy life.