Polycystic Ovary Syndrome PCOS: All About Ensuring Wellness in Women
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome PCOS: All About Ensuring Wellness in Women
A fast-paced lifestyle may lead women to neglect their physical and mental health. A woman’s body goes through a lot throughout a lifetime, from puberty to menopause, which may cause health issues if not actively maintained and vigilant. Being laden by responsibilities, women tend to overlook their basic needs. Everyday wellness hurdles faced by women include:
- Bloating, which is swelling up of the abdomen. If accompanied by sharp pain, it might prove to be a serious issue. It is caused due to something as basic as indigestion and gas build-up, or something as alarming as an underlying disease or infection and fluid retention.
- Skin issues, including dullness, acne, excess oil, or extremely dehydrated skin. All these occur due to an imbalance in the balance of hormones—estrogen and progesterone—lack of sleep, and lack of certain minerals and vitamins.
- PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is a condition that affects women, wherein androgens, which when produced in large quantities may cause cysts in the ovaries and irregular periods.
- Unbalanced body cycles lead to irregular periods, disturbed sleep schedules, and unhealthy eating habits, which are caused mainly due to excess or deficient excretion of chemicals present in our body—hormones.
- Extreme menstrual cramps are the pain that is experienced during periods when the uterine wall contracts and expands to push blood out. They may be caused due to high sugar intake, unhealthy diet, dehydrated body, and even too much physical activity.
These are issues of concern and can be prevented by a healthy and balanced diet, vitamin supplements, exercise, hydration, getting enough sleep, managing stress, and timely checkups.
Promoting Wellness in Women
Bloating
Bloating is experienced by almost every woman at some point in their life. In this condition, the abdomen feels tight and full, making the belly look larger and painful.
Common triggers of bloating include :
- Ingestion: Intake of something you are allergic to or which causes constipation might lead to gas formation followed by bloating.
- Hormonal Changes: During the menstrual cycle, there are certain stages when hormones go through a roller-coaster, especially during the first week, leading to water retention and hence, bloating.
- Diet: Fizzy drinks, lack of fiber intake, and too much sugar or salt intake, and more can cause bloating.
Bloating can be eased through various home remedies which are as follows:
- Going for a walk allows regular and smooth bowel movements, which may help in releasing gas. A walk around the block will help with constipation and reduce bloating.
- Peppermint oil capsules work well by relaxing the intestinal muscles, allowing gas and stool to move along more effectively. However, anyone prone to heartburn may avoid peppermint.
- Abdominal massage is another method to relieve bloating. It is done in a set of instructions that work towards relaxing the muscles and facilitating the passing of gas. Do note that if it causes pain, it must be stopped immediately.
- Long-term remedies of bloating include an increased fiber diet, proper hydration, regular exercise, eating at regular intervals, trying probiotic supplements and cutting down on salt and sugar.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Women may suffer from PCOS due to the higher-than-normal production of male hormones called androgens. It causes hormonal imbalance, hair growth on the face and body, baldness, and may also accord to long-term health problems like diabetes and heart disease. It causes cysts in the ovary, irregular menstrual cycle, and increased levels of inflammation in the body.
PCOS can be treated by bringing about some lifestyle changes such as:
- Weight Loss: Your menstrual cycle can be better regulated by losing just 5 to 10 percent of body weight. Weight loss can also lower insulin, improve cholesterol, and reduce heart disease and diabetes risk.
- Exercise may help you lose weight and along with a healthy diet, will lower the risk of it getting worse.
- Birth control can restore hormonal balance. It can regulate ovulation and relieve symptoms like excess hair growth. The hormone ingested is called progestin and it comes in pill, patch, or vaginal ring.
Unhealthy Skin
A woman’s skin changes in response to hormones called progesterone and estrogen.
An imbalance in hormones will cause irregular skin changes that may cause excess oiliness, dryness, under-eye dark circles, paleness, and even acne.
The sebaceous glands are affected by androgens and may produce excessive sebum during puberty, leading to oilier skin and painful acne.
Estrogen controls the collagen production, hydration, and healing of a woman’s skin.
There are various treatments for improving your skin. These include:
- Oral contraceptives are considered to be an effective treatment for hormonal imbalance. It is mainly used to treat acne as it contains ethinylestradiol, which is an estrogen medication.
- Anti-androgen drugs reduce the production of androgen, thereby reducing sebum production and acne.
- Lifestyle changes: Having a balanced diet, regular exercise, staying hydrated, sufficient sleep, reducing alcohol consumption, trying a skincare routine, managing your stress levels, and meditating, all contribute towards improving your skin.
Intake Of Vitamins
Vitamins have numerous functions in a woman's body. Essential vitamins like B2, B12, D2, K1, Biotin, and Folic Acid keep you safe from oxidative damage and improve your immunity.
Vitamin D, along with vitamin K, C, and E, helps in the reduction of dark spots, redness, wrinkles, rough patches, and excessive dryness. All kinds of Vitamin B are essential for producing the energy required for women to keep up with their fast-paced lifestyles and ensure their wellness.
Unbalanced Body Cycle
Women’s bodies contain chemicals called hormones which regulate women’s body cycles. An imbalance in these hormones can cause significant effects on them. These hormones can fluctuate during puberty, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause.
Symptoms can vary depending on which hormones are imbalanced. They include:
- Irregular, light, or very heavy periods
- Acne
- Weight gain
- Veginal dryness or pain with the intercourse
- Growth of facial hair
- Hot flashes or night sweats
There are lifestyle choices that can regulate your hormones but do consider consulting a doctor in case of severe problems. Depending on the cause of hormonal imbalance, there are various treatments that can be opted for.
- Hormone therapy is often used to help with body cycle balance. This can be done with oral contraceptives, birth control patches, birth control shots, vaginal rings, and IUD.
- Anti-androgen medicines block the effects of male hormones, hence controlling excess androgen production.
- Weight loss can also regulate hormones since fat cells produce estrogen.
- Diet and lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, getting proper sleep, self-care days, meditation, and every habit that makes you the priority must be adopted.
In this fast-paced world, women are having a tough time paying heed to their wellness, which calls for the brewing of products that allow them to stay healthy without undergoing the hassle of having a routine of cream application or popping of pills.
Auric Women Wellness beverage is made using Ayurvedic principles and tackles numerous potential issues for women, such as bloating, unhealthy skin, PCOS, unbalanced body cycles, and more.
Grab a bottle a day, gulp down the natural-flavoured drink, and witness it promoting your wellness with every passing day!
Authored By: Bhavishya Pahwa
About the Author : Bhavishya Pahwa is a budding writer who has always confided in a pen. He believes that art is a cure-all and that introspection followed by writing can add to the sanity of the world.
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