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Cardiovascular diseases are the predominant cause of death in women. Researchers find a worrying link to endometriosis.
The importance of cardiovascular diseases in women is often underestimated. This is concerning because this diseases according to the German Heart Foundation were the leading cause of death in women, with over 180,000 deaths in 2021. In addition, more and more young women are affected by heart disease. This is often due to an unhealthy lifestyle or risk factors such as lack of exercise, smoking and high blood pressure. But other factors can also play a role. A study from Denmark, for example, shows that women with endometriosis have an increased risk of a heart attack.
Endometriosis increases the risk of a heart attack in women
Endometriosis is a benign but chronic disease of the uterus. In those affected, tissue that resembles the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus and settles, for example, in the abdomen and pelvis, on the ovaries, on the peritoneum or intestines. In Germany, around 40,000 women are diagnosed with endometriosis every year. The disease can go unnoticed for a long time or cause severe pain, especially during menstruation. According to researchers, women with endometriosis have a significantly higher risk of a heart attack or stroke than those who do not have it.
Women with endometriosis not only have a generally higher risk of cardiovascular disease. The risk of specific risks such as cardiac arrhythmias also increases. © AntonioGuillem/IMAGO
In theirs in the specialist journal European Heart Journal published Study The scientists examined around 300,000 participants from Denmark. Of these, more than 60,508 suffered from endometriosis, while the remaining 242,032 participants healthy were. The researchers observed the test subjects over a period of up to 45 years. The average age at the start of the study was 37 years. It turned out that women with endometriosis have an approximately 20 percent higher risk of an acute heart attack or an ischemic stroke, according to study leader Dr. Eva Havers-Borgersen from Rigshospitalet at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). For some people, the risk of an acute heart attack even increased to around 35 percent.
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What is an Ischemic Stroke?
A so-called ischemic stroke is usually caused by a blockage in an artery that supplies blood to the brain. As a result, the brain cells are no longer supplied with blood. Ischemia (ischein, ancient Greek = to hold back; aima, Greek = blood) is therefore a reduced or missing blood flow to tissue.
Endometriosis: Those affected also have a higher risk of cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure
The study also found that not only is the general risk of cardiovascular disease increased: women with endometriosis also appear to have a higher risk of developing specific diseases such as cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure. Due to the high prevalence of endometriosis in the population, the long-term effects on heart health cannot be ignored, says Dr. Havers-Borgersen. She therefore recommends that the risk of cardiovascular disease in women with endometriosis be routinely taken into account. However, further research is needed to confirm the research team’s findings. Meanwhile, in another study, chronic constipation was linked to an increased risk of heart attack.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.
