Four Must-Know Risk Factors Associated With PCOS + What To Do About It

Are you wondering if your symptoms are PCOS-related? Well, today I’m chatting about 4 risk factors associated with PCOS that could put you at an increased risk of struggling with additional conditions or health issues. However, that’s not the entire story.

You can take control of your health. Your risk factors don’t determine your destiny. In fact, I’m not here to scare you. I’m here to educate you so you know your risk factors, empowering you so you can take the necessary steps to keep your body healthy and avoid health complications in the future.

Here are the most common risk factors associated with PCOS and what you can do to support your body.

REDUCED CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

Studies show that women with PCOS are more likely to have increased heart issues. PCOS was associated with higher coronary artery calcium scores (the higher your score is, the higher your risk of heart disease) and increased carotid intima-media thickness (showing the plaque buildup in your artery walls).

So what does this information mean to you? It simply means to take extra precautions and give your heart health extra love.

Action Steps: 

• Eat an anti-inflammatory diet: Avoid inflammatory oils (canola, rapeseed oil, corn, safflower, sunflower, soy and vegetable), heavily processed foods and sugar, alcohol, and fried and processed foods. Focus on wild caught fish, grass-fed meats, organic vegetables, dark berries, nuts and seeds and high quality oils like cold-pressed olive and avocado oil and organic coconut oil. One of my favorite cookbooks is this Mediterranean Paleo Cookbook.

• Prioritize daily exercise. Even a 30-minute walk with your pup is beneficial!

• Take Daily Omegas: Grab our super omega with a high potency omega-3 product, providing 1600 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)/docosahexapantaenoic acid (DHA) per 2-soft gel serving.

POOR MENTAL HEALTH

I know from experience that struggling with PCOS can have its extremely hard moments. To make matters worse, it can get even more frustrating when your conventional provider’s treatment plan doesn’t give relief, and you’re stuck, suffering from PCOS symptoms.

If you have PCOS, you’re more likely to struggle with mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and binge eating disorder.

Action Steps: 

• Keep a journal to express your thought + feeling. When you release your emotions, you can feel relieved, rather than bottling them up.

• Work with a holistic provider who gets to the ROOT of your PCOS. When you start experiencing even slight relief in your PCOS symptoms, it can help improve your mental health because it shows that there are lasting solutions available.

EXCESS WEIGHT GAIN

Weight is a tricky thing with women with PCOS. While dysregulated blood sugar and insulin is a main contributor to PCOS, weight gain can also be a consequence of this - and a VERY common one. This is why I am so adamant about educating women on blood sugar management. If you are struggling with weight gain, more intense exercise may not be the answer (it actually may make matters worse). Instead, here’s what you can do to achieve a healthy weight, that makes you feel healthy and confident.

Action Steps: 

• Get your hormones checked: imbalanced hormones may be slowing down your metabolism. Schedule a discovery call with one of the PCOS Doc team providers to get set up for a thorough work up!

• Choose low-intensity workouts: try yoga, pick up hiking, go for evening walks, or slow bike rides with your partner or friends.

• Educate yourself: PCOS Education is a powerful tool to manage PCOS naturally. Join my self-study program, The PCOS Collective, and start empowering yourself with knowledge today! If you join the self-study program, you can upgrade to one of our live groups at any time for a discounted rate! Just send us an email at support@pcosdoc.com to do so.

CHRONIC STRESS

Life these days are stressful to begin with. But dealing with PCOS symptoms can put the cherry on top. The painful period cramps, the embarrassing hair growth, the unknown of your fertility status…it’s a lot. I get it. Unfortunately, this chronic stress can lead to inflammation within the body, causing chronic inflammatory conditions and even worsening PCOS symptoms.

Action Steps: 

• Prioritize Stress Management: commit to a weekly restorative yoga sesh, take time for yourself to be present in the quietness, and talk to a therapist or even a close loved one.

• Eat an anti-inflammatory diet: Consume healthy fats, dark leafy greens, chia + flax seeds and berries. These are packed with antioxidants and omegas, to reduce inflammation caused by stress.

• Restore nutrients: Stress can majorly use up vital minerals and vitamins in an attempt to respond to your perceived stress. Under stress, your body uses up more B vitamins, and magnesium, so it’s critical to replace them to avoid further nutrient deficiencies and issues. Grab our adrenal support bundle today if you’re guilty of being stressed out all the dang time. Your body will thank you for it!

BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL

Feeling lost on where to start to take control of your PCOS? Book a discovery call with a member of our team to discover how you can eliminate your symptoms for good and take back your life.