PCOD and its challenges

Photo credit: indiraivf dot com

By Aimun Bilal

 

“Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD), also known as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a very common condition affecting 5% to 10% of women in the age group 12–45 years. It is a problem in which a woman’s hormones are out of balance. It can cause problems with menstrual periods and make it difficult for her to conceive. The principal features include no ovulation, irregular periods, acne, and hirsutism. If not treated it can cause insulin-resistant diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol leading to heart disease.” (Ref: Columbiaindiahospitals dot com)

In current times, almost 8 out of 10 girls are diagnosed with PCOD/PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Disease /Syndrome) which is a condition that affects one’s hormonal balance. Even though it’s getting common with each passing day, yet many girls/ women are unaware of this condition. However, it becomes important to obtain an understanding of the fact that how dangerous it can get if not treated on time which can also further lead to many other health issues.

Firstly, as the citizens of this civilized world, it becomes our duty to be informed about the common health issues prevalent around us and their underlying causes. Unfortunately, most of the health concerns are ignored by us until it becomes a serious issue. We need to understand that we need to be ‘rightly positive’ regarding our health.i.e being aware of the changes that our body undergoes and seek treatment accordingly, rather than being ignorant about it.

Concerning the issue of PCOD/PCOS, this hormonal condition has become so common especially among the girls of late teens and early twenties, that it doesn’t seem an issue anymore and many have accepted living with it. Eating junk and unhealthy food plus our sedentary lifestyle become the main contributing factors. No denying the fact that this condition has no known cause and treatment as of now, however, its symptoms can be controlled. Therefore, it requires the collective effort of both an individual as well as of people around her. Although, it may seem very normal to be hearing about such issues our ignorance towards it is one of the first steps of ours that prevents us from taking it seriously as well as in seeking early treatment.

 This condition doesn’t do as much physical damage to a girl/woman as psychological and emotional. This is one of the reasons for depression that young girls usually undergo due to the changes that occur in their bodies because of this underlying condition, such as excessive facial and body hair growth, hair fall, darkening of the skin, irregular periods, depression, acne, etc. It isn’t easy to see one’s body undergoing a sudden change drastically. Therefore, it gets emotionally challenging for a female to undergo such an experience. The most challenging thoughts that haunt an individual are regarding her appearance that for a time being seem not to align with the ‘beauty standards’ of the society, her fears regarding whether she’d be able to find a suitable partner as well as a looming burden on married women who find it difficult to conceive.

Thus, the first responsible step of ours especially for the mothers and girls themselves should be that they need to be aware of the changes they experience in themselves and seek the treatment accordingly and not ignore it. Secondly, it becomes important for us to remain positive as well as create a positive atmosphere around such individuals so that they do not feel alienated by society especially the teenagers who are more likely to undergo ‘inferiority complex’ and the married women who haven’t conceived yet. Thirdly, an individual should take responsibility and have an in-depth knowledge of the condition and make the required lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, healthy food consumption, avoiding sleep deprivation, staying active, remaining stress-free, etc. Lastly, one of the most important factors to be taken into consideration is our responsibility towards our health where an individual should constantly be monitoring herself and the changes her body undergoes and accordingly seek treatment as early as possible.

Thus, we all should have a more mature attitude towards such health conditions and also make the lives of those easier undergoing it by accepting such changes and by encouraging and motivating such individuals rather than contribute to their suffering by our remarks regarding the changes that occur in them.

It is a condition that can be controlled as well as its symptoms can be reduced, however, our attitude becomes vital. Being individuals of civilized society it becomes our duty to endeavor to understand the underlying issue and help those around us undergoing any such experience as our attitude towards it plays a vital role both as a victim of this condition as well as the observer. Stay healthy and eat healthy, after all, “prevention is better than cure.”

 

The writer is currently pursuing her MA in English from Bengaluru India.

 

© kashmirwatch.com 2020

The post PCOD and its challenges appeared first on KashmirWatch.

from KashmirWatch
via Download Jk News info Android App from play store and get all updates Click below link to Download 👇 http://bit.ly/Jkninfoandriodapp .