May 14, 2008
by Dr. Sari Cohen
from PCOSA Today, April 2008
Before a woman assumes she has PCOS, it is important to rule out other diseases that cause similar symptoms. PCOS is notoriously difficult to diagnose; it is a diagnosis of exclusion. In other words, other diseases such as Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) and Cushing’s syndrome must be ruled out. Below is an outline of these two disorders that can present like PCOS.
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH):
CAH is a genetic disease that results in under-production of the hormones cortisol and/or aldosterone. Cortisol, released by the adrenal gland, has many functions in the body. It is primarily known as a “stress hormone.” Aldosterone, also produced by the adrenal gland, increases blood pressure by regulating sodium and potassium levels.
Some types of CAH present in infancy while others manifest in adolescence. The symptoms of CAH depend on the degree of genetic mutation and the accumulation of hormones that are precursors to cortisol and aldosterone. Sometimes females with CAH are born with ambiguous genitalia due to excess androgen (male hormone) output from the adrenal glands.
The most common type of CAH is a deficiency of the enzyme 21-Hydroxylase. Girls with mild forms of 21-Hydroxylase deficiency may not develop symptoms until late childhood: early pubic hair growth, enlarged clitoris, and accelerated growth. Milder forms of CAH may not present until adolescence or adulthood showing infrequent or irregular periods, excess hair growth (hirsutism), and infertility.
Male infants with CAH may present with failure to thrive, vomiting, dehydration, low blood pressure, abnormal levels of sodium and potassium, and shock. Males with milder cases of CAH can present in childhood with early pubic hair growth, enlarged penis, and accelerated growth.
High or low blood pressure may be evident in people with CAH, depending on the type. In addition, patients with decreased aldosterone levels will show signs of dehydration, low sodium levels in the blood (hyponatremia) and high potassium levels in the blood (hyperkalemia).
To diagnose CAH, doctors consider clinical symptoms along with laboratory measures like 17-hydroxyprogesterone, cortisol, aldosterone, sodium and potassium levels, and perhaps a corticotropin stimulation test to demonstrate accumulation of precursor hormones.
Cushing’s syndrome:
Cushing’s syndrome is characterized by excess levels of cortisol. Many factors can cause this hormone imbalance. When the excess cortisol is caused by a pituitary tumor that secretes ACTH, this is known as “Cushing’s disease.” ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), released by the pituitary gland, boosts the production of corticosteroids, of which cortisol is one. Sometimes tumors in the lung, pancreas, or other organs can release excess ACTH causing Cushing’s disease.
To continue reading:
http://www.pcosupport.org/newsletter/articles/article033108-2.php
PCOSA Today is the newsletter of the PCOS Association www.pcossupport.org
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About the author
Dr. Sari Cohen received her doctorate in naturopathic medicine with High Honors from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, and graduated cum laude from Dartmouth College. A clinical practitioner in New Hampshire, where she sponsors a PCOS support group, Dr. Cohen is the author of the prize-winning article “Melatonin, Menstruation and the Moon” published in The Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients. A contributing author of the Board Review Study Materials for the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination, she is also a member of Insulite Laboratories’ Medical & Advisory team where she undertakes research and provides professional guidance to individuals with insulin-related disorders. Dr. Cohen has developed the company’s 52-week Customer Protocol and has co-authored The Insulite Guide to Reversing Insulin Resistance and its Related Conditions.
May 12, 2008
By Judy Fortin
CNN Medical Correspondent
CNN.com/health
May 12, 2008
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) — Maggie O’Connor minces garlic for a Mexican lasagna while across the kitchen Melissa Thornton chops basil for a turkey wrap.
These aren’t professional chefs. They’re 10- and 11-year-old girls getting a lesson in cooking and healthy eating. They’re also learning how to have a positive image of their bodies.
“I think you need to balance things,” said Thornton, a fourth-grader from Atlanta, Georgia.
Not only is her mother peeking over Melissa’s shoulder as she works, but so is clinical psychologist Dina Zeckhausen, founder of the Eating Disorders Information Network.
She gathered eight moms and their daughters on a recent Sunday afternoon at The Cook’s Warehouse in Atlanta.
Zeckhausen’s goal is to help the mothers be effective role models, especially when it comes to eating.
These are just ordinary moms,” Zeckhausen said. “A lot of ordinary moms these days have struggled with their own body image. They want to raise healthy daughters. They don’t want to pass their own anxieties down to their girls.”
The National Eating Disorders Association notes there has been unprecedented growth of eating disorders in the past two decades.
The group estimates up to 10 million Americans suffer from the condition. Ninety percent of those who battle anorexia and bulimia are female.
Zeckhausen urged the moms gathered in the kitchen to eliminate what she called “negative body talk.”
It’s important that you don’t put yourself down in front of your daughter,” explained Zeckhausen. “She has an adult woman’s body in her future and she’s looking to you in terms of how to feel about that body. She’s taking notes whether you know it or not.”
Vicki Bratton knows that firsthand. She attended the class with her 8-year-old. “I realized so many things come out of my mouth that I don’t expect. Everything we say, their ears are hearing and they are processing it.”
Bratton said she was surprised she needed to start worrying about her daughter being at risk for eating disorders at such a young age.
“I hear stories of first-graders who are already afraid of eating cookies because they think they are bad,” Zeckhausen said. “I heard of a 5-year-old who wouldn’t put on her winter coat because she was afraid it made her look fat.”
Zeckhausen put part of the blame on the media and pop culture. “Our daughters are comparing their bodies on the outside to what the girls look like on the Disney Channel and in the magazines. We want to help our daughters base their body image more on what their bodies do for them and how they feel, rather than how they look.”
Zeckhausen urged the girls to resist peer pressure, particularly in the lunchroom where she noted some kids push away healthy food in favor of crackers and ice chips.
“If your stomach is hungry and the girl next to you is not eating, what should you listen to?” asked Zeckhausen. “We want to teach the girls to listen to their own bodies.”
Kelly O’Connor stood behind Maggie as she chopped the rest of the garlic. As the mother of 8- and 10-year-old girls, she conceded, “I’m already trying to teach them about the dangers of being afraid to eat and making sure when they’re hungry it’s OK to eat and when they’re not hungry just say ‘no thank you.’ ”
“One cooking class may not make a difference, but if we are teaching moms a way of thinking about food and bodies which will help them negotiate what their daughters are going through … then we are doing something really important.”
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/diet.fitness/05/12/hm.body.image/index.html
May 8, 2008
Hirsutism simply means excessive hair growth in females where hair is normally absent or minimal. While it’s certainly troubling and can cause self-consciousness and emotional distress, hirsutism can also indicate a more serious condition, like Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).
Excessive hair growth is a common symptom of PCOS. This is due to the relatively high levels of testosterone found in women suffering from PCOS. It is normal for all women to have some amount of testosterone, but those with PCOS have excessive levels, causing unwanted hair growth. Some of the most common areas affected are the chin, cheeks, neck, and chest. Masculine hair on the arms and legs is also possible.
In addition to hirsutism, symptoms of PCOS can vary widely from woman to woman and may include: irregular or completely absent periods, ovarian cysts, male-pattern hair loss, obesity, acne, skin tags, dark skin patches, high cholesterol levels, exhaustion or lack of mental alertness, decreased sex drive, excess male hormones and infertility. If you feel you may be suffering from PCOS try this self-test available at Insulitelabs.com.
Too much hair in the wrong places can be embarrassing and emotionally painful. While treatments like waxing, bleaching, tweezing, laser hair removal and electrolysis provide relief from symptoms, they do not treat the underlying cause of PCOS – a hormonal imbalance brought on by insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance is a hormonal imbalance linked to the way the body processes insulin, ultimately affecting blood sugar levels and the way the body processes food and stores fat. Women who are insulin resistant typically carry excess weight in the abdominal area, causing an “apple” shape, rather than a “pear” shape, where excess weight is carried in the hips and buttocks. While many women who suffer from insulin resistance and PCOS are overweight, this is not always the case. Women of a normal weight may also be affected.
Typically, harsh pharmaceuticals, like Metformin (also known as glucophage), are prescribed by doctors to treat PCOS and insulin resistance. While these drugs can be effective, they also carry the risk of side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Metformin may also increase the risk of heart attack. [1]
If your unwanted hair growth is caused by PCOS, correcting insulin resistance is likely to alleviate your symptoms because you are addressing the underlying cause. Many women successfully reverse their insulin resistance and PCOS symptoms naturally with proper nutrition, exercise, nutraceuticals, and support. To learn more visit: http://pcos.insulitelabs.com
1. Patent Information for Glucophage®
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Princeton, NJ 08543 USA
Revised June 2006
http://packageinserts.bms.com/pi/pi_glucophage.pdf
May 7, 2008
The Helfgott Research Institute at the National College for Natural Medicine needs women who have PCOS to volunteer for a ground-breaking study.
The study will investigate how effective the herb “Gymnema sylvestre” is for naturally treating PCOS.
Gymnema shows promise as a natural way to treat diabetes but until now there has been no research on this herb for helping PCOS.
We recommend that you enroll in this study if you live anywhere near Portland, Oregon, or the surrounding region. If you don’t live in this region, we hope you’ll pass this newsletter along to a friend in that region.
If you qualify for this study, you will be advancing research for the benefit of every woman who suffers from PCOS. You will also obtain some very useful laboratory test data for yourself.
This is a great opportunity to help yourself as well as all women who have PCOS!
Click this link to find out if you qualify for this study and to get the phone number to call.
www.ovarian-cysts-pcos.com/gymnemastudy
Read the full article here.
www.ovarian-cysts-pcos.com/news57.html
Learn about Gymnema here:
www.ovarian-cysts-pcos.com/gymnema.html
(copy and paste the link into your browser if link is
not clickable)
newsletter@ovarian-cysts-pcos.com
