Hypothyroidism Can Cause Pcos Fatigue
Researchers have found that up to 25% of women with PCOS have a thyroid condition.
The thyroid is often referred to as the hormone powerhouse because it releases various hormones that control the rate organs and cells turn food into energy. As well as how much oxygen the cells use. So, if the thyroid isnt running optimally, problems arise.
Now, hypothyroidism is the most common hidden cause of PCOS. It is a condition where the thyroid is underactive. Meaning the thyroid is not producing enough of the hormone.
This causes PCOS fatigue because the cells are not getting enough energy or oxygen to thrive.
The Immune System Gets Things Wrong
While the role of the immune system is to protect us, things can go wrong. It can instead attack whole organs in the body.
For example
PCOS women have a 3x greater risk of hashimotos thyroiditis. This is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the thyroid. If hashimotos thyroiditis is not treated it can lead to the destruction of the thyroid gland. This can affect the production of thyroid hormones and cause bodily functions like heart rate and metabolism to slow down. Resulting in symptoms like PCOS fatigue.
The Blood Sugar Rollercoaster
This also is linked to your stress hormones. One of the functions of your stress hormone cortisol is to help release stored blood sugar. We store glucose as glycogen in the liver, and when our blood sugar drops, cortisol is released to help release that glycogen as glucose to bring blood sugar back up to normal. But if you have inadequate cortisol, when your blood sugar drops, your body doesnt release glucose the way a normal person would, and then you are going to feel hangry, shaky and jittery and often then very fatigued. If this is the case for you, its very likely that youve got some early stage insulin resistance going on. And given that up to 70-80% of women with PCOS have some insulin resistance, this is very likely.
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Supplement That Can Help
Mighty magnesium
Our very existence relies on the biological marvels that happen in the body, and magnesium is required for more than 300 of these vital chemical reactions. Its involved in everything from energy production to nerve function, to muscle relaxation. So, if your levels are lagging, then its likely your overall well being is too! Taking a magnesium supplement can support the reduction in tiredness and helps regulate energy levels throughout the day.
Pcos And Fatigue: Whats Going On
Hormonal imbalance lies at the very heart of PCOS. It also makes you more vulnerable to physical, mental and environmental stressors like a poor diet, lack of exercise, sleep deprivation and building up stress.
Learn about the underlying causes and get a practical approach for managing PCOS fatigue. If you suffer from PCOS, neglecting your own needs can manifest itself in the form of fatigue. Thats when your afternoon slump is more than just feeling sluggish. The hormonal imbalances going on in your body, coupled with stress, cause rapid changes in blood sugar and insulin levels.
PCOS and fatigue may make you feel:
- Too tired to get out of bed in the mornings
- Extremely sleepy and tired by afternoon
- Suffer from shakes and sweating
- Have headaches, migraines, and weakness
- Experience vision changes
- Or a combination of all of the above
Studies have found that approximately 50-70% of all women with PCOS may have some degree of insulin resistance. With insulin dysfunction comes hyperinsulinemia wherein the body pumps out more and more insulin in an effort to normalize blood glucose levels. Its this hyperinsulinemia and fluctuations in blood sugar that is the primary reason behind periods of profound fatigue in women with PCOS.
What you need is a PCOS plan to beat fatigue! With a couple of minor lifestyle changes, you can boost your energy levels and start to feel more human.
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Insulin Resistance And Diabetes
If your blood glucose does not stay normal, this can lead to diabetes. One or two in every ten women with PCOS go on to develop diabetes at some point. If the diabetes is untreated, this can cause damage to organs in the body.
If you have PCOS, your risk of developing diabetes is increased further if you:
- are over 40 years of age
- have relatives with diabetes
- developed diabetes during a pregnancy
- are obese of over 30).
If you are diagnosed with diabetes, you will be given advice about your diet and may be prescribed tablets or insulin injections.
How To Diagnose Pcos
The only way to diagnose polycystic ovarian syndrome is to visit your doctor, most commonly your gynecologist. Your doctor will start out by asking about your family history and symptoms. Be honest and complete when answering. For example, you may have a higher risk of developing diabetes if you have a family history of the disease.
Explain all your symptoms to your doctor, as well. Its helpful to keep a journal of your symptoms prior to visiting your doctor, noting when your symptoms become worse. Your doctor will also want to know about your diet and how often you exercise. If you follow a diet and exercise routine and are unable to lose weight, it could be an indicator of PCOS.
Finally, to provide a diagnosis your doctor will order bloodwork. This bloodwork could be fasting or non-fasting and collects information on your insulin levels and blood sugar. Its done on the third day of your menstrual cycle to test the levels of three important fertility hormones:
- FSH , which aids in menstruation, sexual development, and fertility
- LH as higher levels can indicate PCOS
Your doctor may also test for other hormones including prolactin, TSH , testosterone, and DHEAS .
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Manage Blood Sugar Levels
To beat the PCOS fatigue you must balance your blood sugar levels. To do this:
Choose Low Glycemic Index Carbs
I recommend choosing carbs with a low Glycemic Index . Essentially, the index ranks a carbohydrate by how it will affect blood sugar levels after consumption. So a carb with a low GI value will be digested and absorbed into the body more slowly. Causing a slower rise in blood sugar levels, that will be lower overall. The opposite would be true for a carb with a high GI value.
A low GI is 55 or below, medium 56-69 and high is anything over 70. By choosing low GI carbs, you are better able to balance your blood sugar levels.
Combine carbohydrates with protein and/or fat
Avoid eating a high carb meal. Instead prepare balanced meals which contain all three macronutrients, protein, carbs and fat.
Buy a Glucometer
We all have a unique tolerance to carbs. So to find out how a certain amount of carbs affects your blood sugar I recommend buying a glucometer. The normal response after eating a high carb meal is a rise in blood sugar and then a decrease back to a healthy level in a few hours. However, some people will find their blood sugar levels rise way above normal and return back to a healthy range very slowly.
A healthy blood sugar range is between 72-99mg/dL. If your blood sugar levels rise above 180mg/dL it is an indication you have eaten too many carbs and your body isnt using the sugar.
Eat Fiber
Avoid Skipping Meals
Causes Of Fatigue In Pcos
1. Insulin and Glucose Balance
One of the major metabolic disruptions in PCOS is due to insulin and glucose. For example, insulin resistance can result in higher insulin levels. This in turn can disrupt the glucose balance. Specifically, glucose cannot get inside a cell to help create energy. We know that when blood sugar isnt balanced, it can cause fatigue, mood changes, and increased hunger.
Additionally, women who are considered lean are more prone to hypoglycemia . This can also lead to fatigue. Other signs of hypoglycemia include muscle fatigue, nervousness, sweating, shakes, headaches, and vision changes.
2. Thyroid health
It is very important to assess the thyroid when dealing with PCOS. For one reason, hypothyroidism can look very similar to PCOS symptoms. These can include fatigue, weight gain, irregular cycles, hair loss, depression, and low libido. Additionally, research suggests that women with PCOS are at a higher risk of developing hypothyroidism. One of the explanations is that the diabetes and insulin resistance commonly seen in PCOS, can Free T3 production. This can cause many hypothyroidism symptoms and eventually increase TSH.
3. Vitamin or Mineral Deficiencies
4. Sleep
One of the causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea is insulin resistance. As we know, insulin resistance can lead to increased weight gain. Furthermore, obesity has been shown to be one of the strongest risk factors for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
References:
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What Can Cause Fatigue In Pcos
Even though there is no clear answer yet on what exactly causes fatigue in PCOS, there are several likely causes that are contributing to it:
Take A Break From The Hard Core Hiit Or Endurance Exercise For A While
While exercise is great, if your stress hormones arent working properly then the intensity HIIT exercise, or even running can be too much for those fragile adrenals. When you do this kind of exercise, it not only produces stress hormone during exercise but up to 48 hours after exercise.
So my recommendation is to drop this back to lots of walking and standing, and strength training- but focus on lifting heavier, rather than getting your heart rate up. This doesnt have to be forever, you can get back to this when your stress response has improved. For me this took about 6 months, but some people can be longer or shorter.
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Hypothlamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis Dysfunction Can Cause Pcos Fatigue
Firstly, the HPA axis is a set of interactions between the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenals. Its role in the body is to regulate stress.
Heres how it works.
The hypothalamus releases a hormone called corticotrophin-releasing hormone . This sends a signal to the pituitary gland to produce the adrenocorticotropic hormone .
ACTH then triggers the adrenal glands to release cortisol. The increase in cortisol allows the body to respond to the stressor through an increase in glucose .
The increase in cortisol stops the production of both CRH from the hypothalamus and ACTH from the pituitary gland. As a result, ACTH decreases causing a drop in cortisol levels and this then brings balance back to the central nervous system.
Unfortunately, the constant release of cortisol eventually causes the body to become desensitized. As a result, balance to the axis cannot be restored like it used to. So the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and adrenal glands stay chronically stressed.
Women Suffering From Pcos Fatigue Not Getting The Medical Attention They Need
The male hormones are found in women but in small amounts. In the case of PCOS, they are present in amounts higher than normal. This excess amount of male hormones in the female body leads to the formation of fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries. There are a number of long term health complications caused by PCOS including endometrial diseases, heart disease, mental health struggles, type 2 diabetes, and infertility.
PCOS is definitely a serious health condition but it is still surrounded by a lack of awareness of its symptoms and treatment methods. The most common symptoms for those suffering from PCOS are irregular periods then excessive hair growth on the face, back, chest, and stomach. Other common symptoms include hair loss, depression, anxiety, weight gain, low self-esteem, and more. But the major symptom we are addressing in this article is fatigue.
PCOS fatigue has a huge impact on our day-to-day life. It is so draining that it can really zap the life out of your day. PCOS also causes weight gain for most people which can also add to the feelings of fatigue. Another reason for fatigue is insulin resistance which affects the breakdown of glucose in the body.
Food intolerances, iron deficiency, Vitamin B12 deficiency, and clinical depression can also play a role in the chronic fatigue that causes suffering for many women diagnosed with PCOS.
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Why Is Fatigue In Pcos So Common
With so many women with PCOS suffering from this fatigue, you might think that its something about the hormonal imbalance or the ovarian cysts that causes the fatigue. But actually its likely to be the other way around: the mechanism thats causing the fatigue i.e. high stress hormones, blood sugar rollercoaster and vitamin and mineral deficiencies, is likely also causing the hormonal imbalance. The good news here is that if we treat the underlying issue we fix both. Two birds, one stone. Boom.
Address The Root Cause Of Your Pcos Fatigue
If PCOS fatigue is a result of insulin resistance, working on balancing blood sugar levels is key. This can be achieved by choosing low GI carbs, combining your carbs with a protein and/or fat. As well as eating more fiber and every 3-4 hours.
PCOS fatigue caused by HPA Axis Dysfunction requires a focus on balancing the HPA Axis. To restore balance stop high intensity and endurance workouts, avoid caffeine and make sleep a priority. Vitamins b6, b12 and C, as well as an adaptogen can help.
While PCOS women also suffering from hypothyroidism must support their thyroid. To do this add probiotics, eat more protein, be aware of goitrogens and supplement with selenium and iodine.
If your PCOS fatigue is caused as a result of inflammation in the body, these dietary changes may help. Avoid inflammatory foods like sugar and seed oils, eat more fibre and stop over-exercising.
Before changing anything in your diet and lifestyle always consult a medical professional.
Hey there! I am Despina Pavlou, founder of PCOS Oracle, certified personal trainer and corrective exercise specialist. I want to share with you the diet and lifestyle changes I made to naturally reverse my PCOS and achieve hormonal balance. I believe using my holistic approach you too can take back control from PCOS.
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Ask Yourself These Questions:
- Am I getting 7-9 hours of sleep consistently at night?
- Have I adequately dealt with areas of stress in my life?
- Am I NOT eating any refined sugars/grains in my diet + getting adequate complex carbohydrates to fuel my body throughout the day?
- Am I drinking 8 glasses of water a day?
- Am I living an active lifestyle with moderate exercise on most days of the week?
If you are doing PICTURE PERFECT :), consult your doctor. Some of the things they might look for are:
Interactive Health Literacy In Pcos
Interactive health literacy describes the ability to apply the knowledge through supportive relationships, which could include accessing health services and support, the ability to engage healthcare professionals to manage health and having social support for health . In terms of their interaction with health professionals, women with PCOS often report challenges and frustration around delayed diagnosis of PCOS, inadequate and inconsistent information and poor communication between healthcare professionals and women with PCOS . This suggests poor interactive health literacy in the self-management of women with PCOS. Peer support is another important aspect of interactive health literacy, comprising an important part of supportive relationships in the management of PCOS. There is increasing recognition of the role of PCOS support groups in promoting awareness, advocacy and general support among its members . However, women with PCOS have reported a sense of isolation and lack of access to support from peers .
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What Causes Fatigue In Pcos
Home> Blogs> What Causes Fatigue in PCOS?
This blog has been compiled by Komal Adhlaka, a content writer for Proactive For Her.
PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome can be diagnosed if any menstruator is ticking off 2 out of 3 criteria –
Although diagnosing PCOS looks fairly straightforward, it comes with a myriad of physical and mental health concerns that can be difficult to cope with. Unexplained fatigue is one of them. More often than not, the causes of this fatigue are fairly easy to correct and getting your lifestyle back on track can help with resolving this symptom.
PCOS and FatigueFatigue can be more draining for women with PCOS, as it can cause poor performance at work, loss of balance between personal and professional life, and a reduced ability to fulfill desired responsibilities towards themselves and others.
Causes of fatigue in PCOSPCOS fatigue can be caused by the following reasons:
1. Adrenal fatigue
2. The blood sugar imbalance
- Insulin resistance is one of the biggest underlying causes of PCOS.
- It could be the main factor behind your fatigue if-
6. Anemia
