September 2nd, 2010
Addictive behavior like eating high carb food can “hijack” your brain’s reward system. And it could explain why you find it difficult to control your weight for better management of your PCOS symptoms.
In your brain, dopaminergic pathways linked to pleasure connect your limbic system, which is responsible for emotion, with your hippocampus, which is responsible for memory.
The combination etches rewarding behaviors into the brain with strong, even seductive, memories. This is as true of food as it is of addictive drugs like nicotine and cocaine. The problem arises when memories of pleasure and cravings for a repeat of the experience take over your life.
More tomorrow on new insights into food addiction.
September 1st, 2010
High blood pressure is a classic symptom of heart-damaging metabolic syndrome, which is closely linked with PCOS. And those with occasional high blood pressure spikes are more at risk of stroke than consistently high readings, a new study suggests.
The findings are of particular importance to women, who become more vulnerable than men to stroke as they get older Current guidelines focus on measuring average blood pressure levels to spot and prevent the chance of a stroke. But new research says doctors should no longer ignore variations in test results and advises focusing on prescribing drugs that produce the steadiest blood pressure levels.
It is not clear why occasional spikes would increase a person’s risk of stroke. But the spikes might put undue stress on the cardiovascular system.
Those with high blood pressure who test themselves at home should mention variations in the results to their doctor. Experts stress that those already prescribed medication for high blood pressure should not worry or stop taking their pills. But the new findings might add a new measure to help doctors make decisions about whom to treat for hypertension and which drug to use.
The symptoms of both metabolic syndrome and PCOS can be better managed or even reversed with weight loss via a balanced, nutritious diet and regular exercise.
August 31st, 2010
Regular exercise is crucial for losing weight or gaining better control of it to improve your PCOS symptoms. But finding the time to devote to exercise can be difficult if you lead a busy life.
So try scheduling “exercise appointments” as you would important meetings. Enlisting a friend or family member as your workout buddy is a good way to increase the chances of keeping those appointments in a healthy exercise regime which can include everything from swimming and tennis to aerobics and even gardening.
If possible, turn your daily commute into a fitness program by walking or cycling at least some of the way to work. You can often store bikes on trains or buses for part of the journey.
August 30th, 2010
Major weight problems are often caused by PCOS and women who are obese run nearly five times the risk of being hospitalized for asthma, according to a new study.
Researchers at Kaiser Permanente discovered the increased risk after focusing on 1,113 people aged 35 or older with persistent asthma in Oregon, Washington and Colorado. The study also found:
- Obese people with asthma had significantly worse asthma control and lower asthma-related quality of life.
- Obese people with asthma had a higher incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disorder.
The study concluded that if you are merely overweight, you should consider the increased risk of severe asthma attacks to be another good reason for getting your weight down to a healthy level.
