Endometriosis and the risk of coronary heart disease

Endometriosis is a gynaecological disease that affects many women. It is a painful disorder in which the endometrium, a tissue that usually lines the inside of the uterus, grows outside the uterus. This not only causes severe pelvic pain during periods but may also cause fertility problems and many women complain of an increase in pain over the years as well. Endometriosis may also be associated with chronic systemic inflammation, heightened oxidative stress, and atherogenic lipid profile. These conditions often increase a women’s risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). A research study, Endometriosis and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease, published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes looked at data from the Nurses Health Study which followed over 116,000 women over 20 years. Nearly 12,000 participants had endometriosis — the growth of the tissue that lines the uterus to other places in the body. The study found out that the overall rate for heart disease was 21 cases per 100,000 women under 40; however, the researchers found that for every 100,000 women with endometriosis, the heart disease rate increased to 65 cases. But authorities have raised objections to this hypothesis. Dr Stacey Missmer, director of epidemiologic research and reproductive medicine at Brigham’s Women’s Hospital, who co-authored the study said that heart disease patients often report symptoms like difficulty in breathing, chest pains, palpitations, and lightheadedness. Som...
Source: The Hysterectomy Association - Category: OBGYN Authors: Tags: Health endometriosis heart disease Source Type: news