PCOS—Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
There have been studies that show that PCOS, or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, can trigger Hashimoto’s Disease (autoimmune thyroid). PCOS is a common female hormone disorder. It affects 5-10 percent of menstruating women, and it is one of the most common causes of infertility. PCOS symptoms include the inability to lose weight, hair loss, fatigue after meals, hormone imbalances, and sugar cravings. Do these symptoms sound familiar? They sound like a fibromyalgia patient, don’t they?
Using blood chemistry tests, PCOS can be identified by insulin resistance. Again, insulin resistance (pre-diabetes) is a blood glucose level from 100-126. This is a fasting blood glucose level. PCOS is also indicated by elevated triglycerides and cholesterol, especially IF THE TRIGLYCERIDES ARE HIGHER THAN THE CHOLESTROL LEVELS.
Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body cells become resistant to insulin due to a high-carbohydrate diet, which leads to excess testosterone production, and this leads to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. As testosterone levels rise, the cells become further resistant to insulin, and it’s a slow downward spiral. Cell resistance to insulin in turn promotes testosterone elevation, which continues that downward spiral.
Insulin resistance also promotes inflammation and immune system problems, which predispose the person to an autoimmune disease. You factor in all of this with Hashimoto’s, and, now, can you see why it’s important to address Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) when addressing fibromyalgia?
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