According to international research, women who have long or irregular menstrual cycles may be at greater risk of heart disease.
Collecting data from 80,000 women about their menstrual cycle over an average of nearly 40 years, the researchers found that of these women 1800 developed heart disease by the end of the study.
The researchers say there was a higher risk of heart disease among those who reported irregular cycles or no periods. The risk was seen to be higher for those women who reported irregular cycles/no periods later in life.
Similarly, women with cycles of 40 days or longer also had a higher risk of heart disease.
While this type of study (an Observational study) is unable to establish with absolute certainty that menstrual cycle irregularities actually cause an increased risk of heart disease, the researchers say it could help to identify women at risk of the chronic health condition sooner.
To read the study, visit: jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2797622
