Endometriosis Increases Risk of Heart Disease in Women
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Endometriosis is a chronic, painful condition that affects women’s reproductive organs. According to the Mayo Clinic, endometriosis is a pain disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus or endometrium, grows outside your uterus. It commonly involves the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the tissue lining the pelvis. Endometrial tissue rarely may spread beyond pelvic organs. Displaced endometrial tissue continues to act as it normally would. It thickens and breaks down and bleeds with each menstrual cycle. Surrounding tissue can become irritated, developing scar tissue and adhesions that cause pelvic tissues and organ to stick together.
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http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases- conditions/endometriosis/home/ovc-20236421
A study published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association Journal, found that women 40 years or younger were three times as likely to develop heart attack and chest pain compared to women without endometriosis. Compared to women without endometriosis, women with endometriosis experienced a 52% increased risk of heart attack, 91% increased risk of developing chest pain, and 35% increased risk of needing surgery or stinting to open blocked arteries. According to Dr. Stacey Missmer, director of epidemiologic research and reproductive medicine at Brigham’s Women’s Hospital, co-author of the study, stated that, “we know that women with endometriosis have systemic inflammation, they have a poor oxidative stress profile, they also may have a difference in their lipid profile and their cholesterol levels, for example, all of which can increase their risk for cardiovascular disease.”
10% of women of reproductive age suffer from endometriosis, which can cause infertility and inability to participate in work or daily activities due to extreme pain. Endometriosis can be hard to diagnose since its symptoms may be similar to stomach and bowel conditions. A surgical diagnosis is needed to definitely determine if a woman has the condition. Dr. Missmer recommends women to listen to their bodies. If you experience pain or discomfort beyond what is normal, it should be discussed with your doctor. She also advises women to watch their diet, stay active, maintain a healthy weight, quit or don’t start smoking, and recognize common heart attack symptoms such as pain in the upper back, indigestion, nausea, palpitation, and a sense of dread.
References
Jarrett, T. (2016). Endometriosis Increases Risk of Heart Disease in Young Women. NBC News. Retrieved from: http://www.nbcnews.com/health/womens-health/endometriosis-increases-risk-heart-disease-young-women-n547381
Mayo Clinic Staff. (Aug. 16, 2016) Endometriosis. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/endometriosis/home/ovc-20236421
Mu, F., Rich-Edwards, J., Rimm, E., Spiegelman, D., & Missmer, S. (2016). Endometriosis and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality And Outcomes, 9(3), 257-264. http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/circoutcomes.115.002224