Is endometriosis crippling your quality of life?
Women who suffer from this condition are usually curled up in bed due to excruciating painful periods during their menstrual cycle. Endometriosis symptoms can severely limit your ability to function and therefore impact the quality of your life. Endometriosis does not only cause physical pain, but can significantly affect your mental well being, resulting in stress, anxiety or depression.
Endometriosis affects millions of women between the age of 25 to 40 or the childbearing years. Endometriosis comes from the word “endometrium,” which is the tissue that lines the uterus. Women with endometriosis have endometrial-type tissues that grow outside of the uterus and commonly on the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining your pelvis. These excess tissues act just like the tissues in the walls of the uterine. Once you get your period, these tissues thicken, break down and shed. However, unlike the tissues in the uterine lining, they do not have a way to be released from the body and therefore get trapped. Over time, these excess tissues result in a myriad of problems such as,
Ovarian cysts
Inflammation and irritation of normal tissues that are close
Scar tissue
Infertility
What causes endometriosis?
The cause(s) of endometriosis is debatable. Although there is association with hereditary, environmental, epigenetic and menstrual characteristics, researchers have not been able to identify a definitive cause.
Risk Factors for developing endometriosis
While you cannot control the risk factors for developing endometriosis, it is important to know what they are because they can be cluses to getting an accurate diagnosis. Risk factors include:
Family history
Start menstruation before the age of 12
Menstrual cycles less than 27 days
Periods that last more than 7 days
Heavy bleeding during your period
Common symptoms include:
Intense pain and cramping before, during and after periods
Excessive or heavy bleeding during periods
Bleeding between periods
Fatigue
Painful intercourse
Painful urination and bowel movement
Gut issues during periods (e.g., diarrhea)
Infertility
Some ways to alleviate endometriosis pain and stress
Currently, there is no known prevention or cure for this condition. However, surgical excision of endometriosis is considered the gold standard in the treatment of this condition. Surgical excision is not a popular option because most gynecologic surgeons lack the knowledge and expertise to perform this procedure as it requires superior laparoscopic skills. Other methods have been found to be ineffective in completely curing endometriosis, resulting in disease persistence and recurrence of symptoms despite surgery.
While the above is not encouraging, don’t lose hope, there are certain natural solutions that help to reduce pain and stress.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
According to a study published in the Current Drug Delivery, omega-3 fatty acids encourage soothing of the prostaglandins (lipid compounds) and reduce the production of inflammation.Another study found that women with low levels of omega-3 fatty acids were 82% more likely to develop endometriosis.
Take high quality fish oils daily to increase your omega-3 and reduce endometriosis symptoms.
Suggested high quality supplements including omega-3 fatty acids (link)
Ashwagandha
As noted above, emotional issues such as stress, anxiety and depression are some of the symptoms of endometriosis. According to research published in the Psychoneuroendocrinology, found that women with endometriosis have high cortisol (stress) hormones.
Ashwagandha, commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries to calm stress and balance hormones. Some studies have also shown that it reduces anxiety, improves sleep and decreases pain.
Curcumin
Curcumin, the main compound in turmeric has long been shown by multiple studies to reduce pain and inflammation because of its healing properties. Studies have also shown that curcumin significantly reduces endometriosis symptoms.
Its powerful anti-inflammatory properties alleviates endometriosis pain.
It provides powerful antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress that can increase the development of endometriosis.
It stops endometriosis tissue from generating its own blood supply which can stop the progression of the condition.
It is my hope that you will find some value in this blog and try one or all of the natural solutions provided. I would love to hear from you. Connect with me on any of the below.
In Good Health,
Deon
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Website: Deonhall.com
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DISCLAIMER: This information is not intended to provide medical advice. The purpose is to provide education and broader understanding to my readers. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. I do not recommend or prescribe, or recommend changing dosage or discontinuing, any prescription medications or pharmaceutical drugs.
