Premenstrual Symptoms & Heart Disease Risk
Premenstrual Disorders Linked to Increased Cardiovascular Disease Risk
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New research highlights a meaningful connection between premenstrual symptoms, including Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), adn a heightened risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
A thorough study involving over 99,000 women has revealed a concerning link between experiencing premenstrual symptoms and an increased likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease. The findings, which tracked women for up to 22 years, suggest that these cyclical hormonal fluctuations may have long-term health implications beyond their immediate impact on daily life.
The research compared the health outcomes of women wiht premenstrual symptoms to those without, considering both the general population and familial factors like genetics and upbringing by analyzing data from sisters. The results indicated that women experiencing premenstrual symptoms had approximately a ten percent higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Specific Cardiovascular Risks Identified
Delving deeper into the types of cardiovascular conditions, the study identified notably strong associations with specific disorders. Women with premenstrual symptoms faced a 31 percent higher risk of heart rhythm disorders, also known as arrhythmias. Moreover, the risk of stroke caused by a blood clot was found to be 27 percent higher in this group. Crucially, these links persisted even after researchers accounted for other known risk factors such as smoking, body mass index (BMI), and existing mental health conditions.
Early Diagnosis and Postnatal Depression as Indicators
The increased risk was found to be particularly pronounced in women diagnosed with premenstrual disorders before the age of 25.Additionally, those who had also experienced postnatal depression, a condition also influenced by hormonal changes, showed a more significant association with long-term cardiovascular risks.
“We hope that our findings will contribute to greater awareness that premenstrual disorders not only affect daily life but can also have consequences for long-term health,” stated Yihui Yang, a PhD student at the Institute of Environmental Medicine at Karolinska institutet and the study’s first author.
Potential explanations for the Link
while the exact mechanisms behind this association are still under investigation, the researchers have proposed three primary hypotheses:
Disrupted Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) Regulation: One possibility is that women with premenstrual symptoms may experience a disruption in the regulation of the RAAS. This system plays a critical role in managing blood pressure and maintaining fluid balance within the body. Increased Inflammation: another proposed clarification is that these women may have elevated levels of inflammation throughout their bodies. Chronic inflammation is a well-established risk factor for atherosclerosis (the hardening of arteries) and various other heart-related conditions.
metabolic Abnormalities: the researchers suggest that premenstrual symptoms could be linked to underlying metabolic abnormalities.These abnormalities are known to increase the risk of both stroke and heart attack.
“The increased risk was particularly clear in women who were diagnosed before the age of 25 and in those who had also experienced postnatal depression, a condition that can also be caused by hormonal fluctuations,” added Donghao Lu, associate professor at the same department and the study’s last author.This research underscores the importance of recognizing and managing premenstrual disorders not just for immediate well-being but also for safeguarding long-term cardiovascular health.
Source:
Yang, Y., et al. (2025). Premenstrual disorders and risk of cardiovascular diseases. Nature Cardiovascular Research*. doi.org/10.1038/s44161-025-00684-4.