Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS, is a painful and vastly common hormonal condition in women, in which the ovaries produce a greater-then-normal amount of a male hormone called androgen. Due to the overproduction of this male hormone, the woman has to suffer from symptoms such as thick hair growth, weight gain, hair thinning, acne... and these are just physical. PCOS can wreak havoc on a woman's health on multiple levels, in the form of increased risk of diabetes, heart ailments, infertility, depression, irregular and painful periods, etc. While PCOS can be a taxing affliction, there are ways to manage its effects and symptoms more efficiently. If you have PCOS, make sure you follow these six pieces of advice.
Don't smoke
While the decision to quit smoking is one of the best lifestyle choices you can make for your health in general, quitting the habit is even more important for women with PCOS. Smoking increases the risk for cardiovascular issues, diabetes and difficulty in conceiving, all of which are problems that women with PCOS are anyway more susceptible to.
Keep a track of your periods
One of the most common symptoms and the way PCOS manifests itself is by irregular or missed periods, which is why it becomes just that much more important to keep tabs on number of days, dates and flow to report to your gynaec. Although it doesn't happen often, irregular and frequently missed periods can also increase the risk of endometriosis or endometrial cancer. Besides, you don't want to miss the signs of an unplanned pregnancy by chalking it down to irregular periods.
Exercise
Weight gain and PCOS are caught up in a vicious cycle, the only way out of which is through exercise. One of the commonest effects of PCOS is weight gain, which in turn makes PCOS harder to manage. In order to keep your weight under control, make sure you get about 30 minutes of exercise at least five times a week. It will also help your heart health and bring stress levels down.
Regulate your sweet intake
Women with PCOS have higher-than-normal levels of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas to regulate the blood glucose level and help in effectively converting glucose into energy for the body to use. Over a period of time, PCOS can lead to insulin resistance, which can drastically increase the chances of diabetes. It will also make it that much more difficult to lose weight. The answer? Cut down on sweet foods.
Visit the gynaecologist regularly
This is a no-brainer, but make sure you regularly visit your gynaecologists to effectively monitor and manage your symptoms. They will be able to screen you for other potential health problems, suggest relevant lifestyle changes and start you off on medication, if need be.
Be strict about your medication
Birth control pills are often used to manage PCOS. These pills work best when taken on a schedule, without too much variation in when it is taken daily. Follow the schedule and dosage prescribed by your doctor meticulously, informing them of any drastic changes-like fasting. Some medicines, when taken on an empty stomach, can do more harm than good, so they might ask you to skip a dose, etc.
How do you manage PCOS? Tell us in the comments below.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
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