Inflammatory PCOS- What is it, Causes, symptoms, blood tests, treatment

Many studies have displayed a strong correlation between PCOS and chronic, low-grade inflammation. But what is inflammation? Inflammation is the body's immune system's response to an irritant.

While short-term inflammation is good for your body, chronic inflammation is not. It happens when the inflammatory response continues even though you’re no longer sick or injured. Here your body’s immune system mistakes its own tissues for a foreign threat.

While experts can’t point out what exactly causes PCOS, they have inferred that it is a combination of genetics and other factors, including: High androgen levels, high levels of insulin, and high levels of inflammation. To summarise, in inflammatory PCOS, chronic inflammation causes the ovaries to make excess testosterone, resulting in physical symptoms and issues with ovulation

The sex & the city lifestyle

Causes of Inflammatory PCOS

While scientists don’t know why chronic inflammation happens, researchers have identified common causes of chronic systemic inflammation. Most of these are closely associated with modern living and ageing.

• Physical inactivity
• Obesity
• Diet in saturated fat, trans fat, and refined sugar
• Smoking
• Low sex hormones
• Stress
• Sleep disorders
• Age
  

The ugly truth

Symptoms of Inflammatory PCOS

Chronic aka low-grade inflammation that’s associated with PCOS can lead to several health complications such as

• Infertility
  

  As inflammation may affect the normal functioning of your ovaries, lower the chances of your ovaries releasing a healthy egg. It may also interfere with implantation i.e. the process where a fertilised embryo burrows into the walls of the uterus and begins to grow.

• Type 2 diabetes
  

  According to the CDC, over half of the women with PCOS develop type 2 diabetes before they turn 40. Chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and excess weight all play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes.

• Heart disease
  

  Oxidative stress, which is related to inflammation, can impact your heart over time. High blood pressure and stroke are also more common for people who have PCOS(Title:- PCOS).
  

Blood tests and fears

Detecting Inflammatory PCOS

• High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein (hs-CRP)

  C-reactive protein (CRP), a protein that increases when there is inflammation and infection in the body. Highly-sensitive CRP (hs-CRP) is a test that is able to measure CRP levels below < 10 mg/L, which a regular CRP test is unable to do. This makes it a great test to determine if you have chronic inflammation

• Ferritin

  Ferritin is an iron-storing protein needed to make red blood cells, and also helps produce energy. When there is an infection, ferritin levels will often rise to prevent pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc. from using iron When cells are damaged, ferritin can leak out into the bloodstream, causing levels to rise. Ferritin levels are also closely correlated with CRP and are elevated in many chronic inflammatory diseases. This test checks for iron deficiency or overload. High levels without iron overload may inadvertently point to chronic inflammation.
  

Inside out

Treating inflammatory PCOS

• Anti-inflammatory diet for PCOS
  

  A diet rich in vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants. Try to avoid refined carbohydrates (white bread, pastries, donuts, cakes), dairy products, sugary snacks and beverages, processed meats, alcohol and foods with preservatives

• 120 minutes of vigorous exercise per week
  

  Studies suggest a minimum of 120 minutes of vigorous exercise per week. You can try running, swimming, HIIT, spinning or kickboxing

• Holistic methods
  

  Nutritional supplements like vitamin D, fish oil, spirulina, and ginger. Try acupuncture treatment, meditation and reduce your exposure to chemicals, endocrine disruptors, air pollution, and other environmental toxins.