Monthly Pain Affecting Millions of Women Tied to Higher Heart Attack and Stroke Risk

• LEARN MORE: A cardiologist who experienced a heart attack reveals an unusual symptom

A significant research indicates that millions of women experiencing a serious type of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) face an increased likelihood of facing a life-threatening stroke.

Although many women experience premenstrual syndrome, which may lead to uncomfortable physical and emotional symptoms during the week prior to menstruation, approximately one-third might encounter a more intense version requiring medical intervention.

Currently, Swedish scientists have discovered that women who received a PMS diagnosis were generally 10 percent more prone to experience cardiovascular illness compared to those who did not receive such a diagnosis.

When analyzing cardiovascular diseases based on particular health issues, the research group discovered that these women faced a 27 percent higher likelihood of experiencing a stroke and a 31 percent increased chance of developing an irregular heartbeat.

A cardiac arrhythmia refers to an issue where the heartbeat is either too slow, too rapid, or irregular, which may increase the risk of heart attacks.

In research conducted by specialists at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, they analyzed 22 years of health information from nearly 100,000 women who had received a diagnosis of PMS.

They examined cardiovascular health indicators such as strokes and irregular heartbeat conditions against prevalence levels in the broader population, along with those observed in the women’s siblings who had not received a PMS diagnosis.

Writing in the journal Nature Cardiovascular Research The team stated that even after considering factors that are known to elevate the risk of cardiovascular diseases—such as obesity and smoking—the association between health issues and premenstrual syndrome persisted.

Yihui Yang, an authority in environmental medicine and the lead researcher of the study, stated that the likelihood of these heart-related issues was notably elevated among specific categories of women.

"The higher risk became especially evident among women diagnosed under the age of 25 and those who had also suffered from postpartum depression, a disorder that may also result from changes in hormone levels," she stated.

Researchers noted that the precise mechanism through which PMS contributes to a higher likelihood of heart-related issues remains unknown.

They proposed that the increased hormonal changes experienced by women with PMS might interfere with additional physiological processes responsible for regulating things such as blood pressure, boosting inflammation, or converting nutrients into energy, which may be contributing elements.

Nevertheless, the group mentioned that this remained an area requiring additional study.

Calculations regarding the number of women who experience clinically relevant symptoms—that is, those needing medical intervention—differ depending on the standards applied.

Certain research suggests a rate of one in 20, whereas other estimates indicate around 30 percent, approximately one out of every three people.

Health professionals claim that when premenstrual syndrome leads to problems impacting a woman's physical, mental, social, and financial health, it justifies a formal diagnosis along with appropriate care and therapy.

Nevertheless, British specialists believe that just between 25% and 50% of women experiencing notably severe premenstrual syndrome consult physicians for assistance.

PMs refers to a general category of various physical and psychological signs that usually appear one to two weeks prior to a woman's menstrual cycle.

This is referred to as the luteal phase within a woman’s monthly cycle, representing the time interval following ovulation—which occurs when an egg is discharged from the ovary—until menstruation takes place, which involves the removal of the uterine lining leading to vaginal blood loss.

Common signs of PMS are emotional fluctuations, feelings of sadness, anger, nervousness, difficulty sleeping, swelling and pain in the abdomen, migraines, sensitivity in the breasts, acne breakouts, oily hair, and shifts in hunger levels.

Certain women may encounter a greater number of these symptoms compared to others, with both the quantity and intensity varying throughout different stages of a woman’s life.

Females experiencing problems due to premenstrual syndrome are first recommended by the NHS to adopt measures such as increasing physical activity, practicing yoga and mindfulness, and reducing tobacco and alcohol consumption to ease their discomforts.

If these adjustments prove ineffective, women should consult their general practitioner for guidance on additional therapies.

This may involve cognitive behavioral therapy, hormonal drugs such as birth control pills, or anti-depressant medication.

Occasionally, females may suffer from a very intense type of PMS called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Women with PMDD may experience severe physical and psychological issues, which can involve complete psychotic breakdowns and thoughts of suicide.

It is estimated that approximately 824,000 women in the United Kingdom and 4.2 million in the United States are affected by this condition.

A recent study highlights that heart attacks and strokes, especially among younger individuals, are increasing in the United Kingdom.

Experts have attributed causes such as increasing rates of obesity along with smoking and drinking habits to increase in heart-related crises among younger individuals .

Another indication suggests an increasing number of strokes among younger individuals — approximately one-quarter of all strokes in the UK, about 20,000 instances, affect those who are of working age. as stated by the Stroke Association .

Although the number of stroke cases reported each year has decreased among older adults over the past 10 to 20 years, It has increased by two times among those younger than 55. According to University of Oxford researchers who conducted a study aimed at understanding the causes of this increase.

A stroke happens when the flow of blood to the brain is blocked, typically due to a clot in an important artery.

A medical crisis impacts over 100,000 people from Britain each year—an occurrence every five minutes—with a toll of 38,000 fatalities.

Residents are reminded of the four-letter abbreviation, FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time), which indicates possible signs of a stroke.

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