According to the
PCOS Awareness Association, it was found that out of 10,000,000 people that have it, half of them are unaware or haven't even been diagnosed yet! Well, we believe more awareness needs to be brought about, so here's everything you need to know about this condition:
WELLNESS
7th of August 2020
How PCOS Can Affect A Woman’s Quality Of Life And Self-Esteem
Did You Know: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a female’s hormonal condition that is becoming more apparent day by day, with a global prevalence of 10 - 26%, affecting more than 116 million women of reproductive age between 15 to 45 years old, worldwide!
What Is PCOS, Exactly?
PCOS is a complex women's endocrine condition caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones, which significantly affects the ovaries. As the word may suggest, "polycystic" also means "many cysts". In PCOS, multiple fluid-filled, bag-like sacs grow inside the enlarged ovaries, called follicles. Each one contains an immature egg. However, it is essential to note that not all women with PCOS experience multiple cysts in the ovaries.
But when they do, these eggs are usually not mature enough to trigger ovulation, due to high levels of male hormones, androgen. This sometimes leads to difficulty in getting pregnant as well. Additionally, the extra male hormones, coupled with lower levels of estrogen and progesterone, are also what disrupts the normal menstruation cycle and cause other physical male-traits as well as hormonal imbalance. This is also why women with PCOS might have excess facial hair that is more coarse in texture, specifically on the upper lip, chin, and sideburn areas - which is a condition called
Hirsutism.
What Is The Classification Of PCOS?
PCOS can be different from person to person, in terms of its phenotype, which refers to its development. However, it is important to note that depending on its severity, there will be overlap of similar symptoms, as mentioned above, between the different types of PCOS.
There is no specific cause found at present, but many research done over the years has seen the link between PCOS and these major factors playing together:
Excess Insulin
Insulin is the hormone responsible for controlling the glucose level in our body. Excess insulin can lead to insulin resistance, whereby your blood sugar level and androgen production increases, leading to hormonal imbalances.
It was
shown that as many as 70% of women with PCOS also have insulin resistance.
Excess Androgen
Women with PCOS have higher levels of androgen, which enhances the development of male traits, such as extra hair growth, oily skin, and acne.
Excess androgen is also related to many metabolic syndromes, which will be addressed more below.
Low-Grade Inflammation
Women with PCOS have a higher level of
C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood, which is an indicator of low-grade inflammation and this constant
inflammation in the body also leads to increased risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.
Hereditary
Genetics plays a crucial role in
hereditary PCOS, although it is established that environmental factors have a considerable impact on gene expression as well.
Metabolic Syndrome And Weight Gain
Unfortunately, up to
80% of women with PCOS tend to develop problems concerning weight sometime in their lives, which means that it is a common effect. Being overweight or obese, combined with PCOS, can significantly increase the risk of metabolic syndromes, such as high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and high LDL-Cholesterol. Consequently, this leads to an elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack, Type 2 diabetes, and stroke.
This shows that PCOS is not just an endocrine disorder, but a combination of metabolic and psychological detriments. It can take a significant toll on someone’s physical and mental health altogether while dealing with the consequences. Therefore, do remember that if you know someone with PCOS, it is important to show your support and understanding. And if you are someone struggling with PCOS yourself, chin up as there are ways to combat this!
Lifestyle changes such as physical exercise and a
balanced diet to increase the rate of weight loss can improve metabolic syndrome. A particular
study has shown that losing just 5 - 10% of your overall body weight can improve PCOS symptoms, such as improving cholesterol levels, reducing insulin resistance, and regulating the menstrual cycle.
Other than exercising and a balanced diet, here’s another way to look after your weight and hormonal health - check out this convenient multitasker,
CelloFIT™.
Just 2-capsules daily is needed to help improve the overall metabolic health markers and address hormonal obesity. The ingredients in CelloFIT™ are scientifically proven to help:
1. Regulate hormonal production
2. Reduce inflammation
3. Lower LDL-Cholesterol level
4. Balance blood sugar level
5. Banish excess visceral fat
It works by stimulating the breakdown of lipids in the white adipose tissue, also known as the ‘bad’ fat, and significantly increasing the energy utilization of the brown adipose tissue, the ‘good fat’. This helps to regulate the lipid score and lower the level of LDL-Cholesterol. Besides that, it also increases the uptake of glucose to improve the insulin sensitivity. Ultimately,
CelloFIT™ is effective in combating hormonal obesity by improving the body’s overall metabolic processes, and is definitely the holy grail for achieving optimum health!
Hormonal Imbalances And Acne
Besides weight gain, one of the most noticeable but controllable symptoms of PCOS is acne. One of the main differences between "normal" and PCOS-related acne is seen in the areas affected, whereby PCOS-related acne tends to flare around the hormonally sensitive areas, which include the lower cheeks, chin, jawline, and upper neck.
These areas are more prone to acne as they have overly-active pores that stimulate the excretion of excess oil sebum, leading to clogged pores, build-up of bacteria, and dead skin cells.
Acnes due to PCOS are usually cystic, painful, and persistent. For most, it is difficult to combat the acne even with all the skincare and acne medication in the world, unfortunately. What's worse, most acne treatment may also damage the kidneys and liver when consumed in the long run. Besides that, antibiotics prescribed as acne treatment are also known for their numerous
side effects and are not long-term solutions.
Wondering how you can curb this, the natural and healthy way? Ditch those harmful antibiotics and take the Flawless Twin Set instead!
AG-FACTOR™ contains a powerful amino acid, Cysteine Peptide, which triggers the body to intelligently self-produce Glutathione, the master of antioxidants.
This antioxidant detoxifies the liver and balances hormonal production to reduce acne breakouts. Additionally, Glutathione works to effectively cool down the internal organs to reduce chronic inflammation due to PCOS and eventually also helps combat redness of acnes! At the same time, it helps improve your skin’s immunity, brighten your skin complexion, and improve uneven skin tone to reveal a smoother skin appearance.
Living up to its reputation, AG-FACTOR™ goes even further and does more than combating hormonal acne. Just 2-capsules daily, before bedtime, can also firm up the skin and shrink skin pores, restoring that youthful skin from within. It’s time to say BYE-BYE to hormonal acne and HELLO to healthy, clear skin!
PRAVENTAC™, on the other hand, is the acne fighter that helps eliminate acne-causing bacteria and reduce oil production to prevent acne breakouts. PRAVENTAC™ contains Lactoferrin, Galactorin, and LumiCell - which works hand in hand to lighten acne scars, repair damaged skin cells, and reduce the production of IGF1, an acne-triggering hormone.
Talk about a holistic skin solution - by combining
AG-FACTOR™ and
PRAVENTAC™; you'll ultimately have the perfect duo that helps combat the acne-associated symptoms.
Simultaneously, practicing good habits, such as taking care of
skin hygiene, keeping yourself hydrated, and getting enough sleep consistently, is also essential to gain the best outcome. While natural supplements help internally, all these external factors play a considerable part in speeding up the nutrient
absorption rate and maintaining the result if taken care of more appropriately.
Last but not least, to all women who are battling PCOS, we are here to remind you to stay healthy and not give up because, with the right natural supplements and positive mindset, there is always a chance to fight it by controlling the symptoms from early on!
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By Tammy
