Women today frequently suffer from PCOD/PCOS, which affects the female's fertility. The synthesis of the male hormone androgen leads to a hormonal imbalance and irregular menstruation.
Worldwide, 10% and 22% of women are affected by PCOS/PCOD. PCOS or PCOD affects one in ten women when they reach childbearing age.
Most females with PCOD/PCOS are between 12-45. Along with the reproductive issue, it impacts other health conditions, which we will address in more detail, as well as how PCOD/PCOS is brought on by growing urbanisation.
This blog will discuss PCOD/PCOS and how urbanisation affects it.
What Is PCOD?
PCOD (Polycystic Ovarian Disease) causes the ovaries to generate immature eggs. They eventually develop into cysts, which cause the ovaries to grow in size and release an overabundance of male hormones that lead to weight gain, acne, facial hair, chest hair, irregular periods, hair loss, and other problems.
What Is PCOS?
Women between the ages of 12-51 who have PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) are affected during their reproductive years. Male hormones are secreted excessively in PCOS, which can lead to irregular periods. Most women skip their cycles, which makes it challenging to fall pregnant.
PCOS can trigger diabetes and cardiac problems. It requires expert medical care. If it becomes serious, surgery is also used to treat it.
How Does Urban Living Contribute To PCOD/PCOS?
The younger age is seeing an increase in PCOD and PCOS cases. According to the latest data, sedentary lifestyles in urban areas contribute to PCOD and PCOS because of the foods we eat and the way of life we lead, which includes eating processed and junk food. The likelihood of these illnesses increases with fried foods and sedentary lifestyles.
Rural or village residents lead healthier lives than city dwellers, including eating only wholesome, freshly grown produce from their gardens, avoiding junk food, and engaging in more physical activity like walking and physical exercise.
Urban residents' unhealthy lifestyles encourage the development of these ailments, which in turn encourages the occurrence of other illnesses like depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, and infertility.
These illnesses are more common in metropolitan areas because of the overconsumption of low-immunity foods and dietary deficits.
According to research from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, women with the polycystic ovarian syndrome had a ten times higher chance of acquiring type 2 diabetes.
The prevalence of PCOS varies from 2.2 to 26% globally. According to reports, Indian women have higher rates of a polycystic ovarian syndrome than their Caucasian counterparts, with an estimated prevalence of 9.13% in Indian teenagers.
PCOD/PCOS Symptoms And Causes
Here are a few of the main causes of PCOD/PCOS.
- Family History- If your mother has a history of PCOD or PCOS, you have a 50% probability of developing the condition. Additionally, as you mature, PCOD/PCOS might result in type 2 diabetes.
- Lifestyle And Insulin Resistance- When people eat too much junk food and baked goods, their blood sugar levels rise, and their bodies produce too little insulin. This prevents blood sugar from entering cells, requiring extra insulin, which might result in weight gain and, ultimately, PCOD/PCOS.
- Overweight- Since many women are at their ideal weight, they do not exhibit any PCOD or PCOS symptoms. Nevertheless, gaining weight can make PCOD/PCOS symptoms worse. Being overweight induces inflammation, which raises testosterone levels and leads to PCOD/PCOS.
Things To Remember
Here are some things to remember if you have PCOD or PCOS.
- Get a good night's sleep every night because sleep deprivation can cause various health issues.
- Refuse all packaged, processed, and junk food.
- Consuming foods high in sugar aggravates Kapha, which blocks body pathways and results in disease. So choose honey rather than sugar.
- Steer clear of sweet potatoes and potatoes because they contribute to weight gain, one of PCOD's main issues.
- Milk products, except buttermilk, should be avoided or consumed in moderation.
- Avoid abusing contraceptives excessively because this can lead to hormonal imbalance.
- Give up drinking, smoking, and drug use because they interfere with the menstrual cycle and can cause various gynaecological illnesses.
- Work out for 30 minutes every day because a patient's lack of activity and increasing weight can result in insulin resistance and diabetes.
- It is advised to stay away from deep-fried foods, red meat, and eggs. However, fish can occasionally be consumed in small amounts.
- Avoid overloading oneself with tasks above your strength and capacity.
The Bottom Line
Big centres have a higher prevalence of PCOD/PCOS compared to rural areas. The lifestyle in the city is considerably different from that in the countryside, where most of the food consumed is processed, fried, and fatty, which contributes to several health issues like PCOD/PCOS.
Infertility, hair loss, unnatural facial hair, and pigmentation might result from it. However, this discrepancy can be lessened by adopting a healthy lifestyle, a diet that promotes weight loss, and regular exercise.
