{"id":6017,"date":"2023-09-25T05:59:10","date_gmt":"2023-09-25T05:59:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/?p=6017"},"modified":"2023-09-25T05:59:10","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T05:59:10","slug":"shorter-and-longer-menstrual-cycles-associated-with-higher-risk-of-heart-disease-study-finds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/shorter-and-longer-menstrual-cycles-associated-with-higher-risk-of-heart-disease-study-finds\/","title":{"rendered":"Shorter And Longer Menstrual Cycles Associated With Higher Risk Of Heart Disease, Study Finds"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Published on May 24 in the Journal of the American Heart Association<\/a>, a recent study<\/a> reveals a significant association between the length of a woman\u2019s menstrual cycle and her risk of cardiovascular disease<\/a> events. This includes heart attacks<\/a> and atrial fibrillation (Afib)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The findings underscore the menstrual cycle\u2019s importance as a health indicator, particularly for heart health, according to Stephanie Faubion, MD<\/a>, the director of the Center for Women\u2019s Health at Mayo Clinic<\/a> in Jacksonville, Florida.<\/p>\n

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Irregular Period Cycles Aren\u2019t \u2018Necessarily Benign\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n

According to Dr. Faubion, \u201cThis study adds to the accumulating literature that irregular menstrual cycles are not necessarily benign. Previous studies have linked irregular menses with multiple cardiovascular disease risk factors, including\u00a0insulin resistance<\/a>, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and chronic inflammation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Faubion also serves as the medical director for the North American Menopause Society and was not involved in the study.<\/p>\n

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What\u2019s the Length of a \u2018Regular\u2019 Menstrual Cycle?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The regularity of a menstrual cycle is typically defined as the time elapsed from the first day of one period to the first day of the next. The average menstrual cycle spans 28 days, with anything between 21 and 35 days considered regular. Deviations from this range are deemed regular, a condition affecting approximately one in five women, as per the Merck Manual<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A regular menstrual cycle length reflects the healthy functioning of interconnected hormone systems involving the hypothalamus, pituitary gland<\/a>, and ovaries, serving as a crucial indicator of overall health, as explained by the study\u2019s authors.<\/p>\n

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40 Percent Higher Risk of Afib Associated with Irregular Cycle Length<\/strong><\/h3>\n

To investigate the link between menstrual cycle length, heart disease, and specific cardiovascular events in women, researchers analyzed data from nearly 60,000 women enrolled in the UK Biobank. A regular cycle was defined as lasting between 22 and 34 days.<\/p>\n

At the beginning of the study, participants had an average age of 46, were 92 percent white, were free of heart disease, and had not yet experienced menopause. Health data was collected through four follow-up visits conducted from 2006 to 2010, 2012 to 2013, and in 2014 and 2019.<\/p>\n

Over a median follow-up period of 12 years, 1,623 cardiovascular events occurred, including heart disease, heart attacks, atrial fibrillation<\/a>, stroke and heart failure.<\/p>\n

According to the researchers, these were the key findings of the study:<\/p>\n

\u00a0A menstrual cycle shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days was associated with a 19 percent higher\u00a0risk of heart disease<\/a>\u00a0and a 40 percent higher\u00a0risk of atrial fibrillation\u00a0than a regular menstrual cycle length.<\/p>\n