Yoga & PCOS

• Yoga is a holistic approach employed to gain harmony between mind and body. 

• Previous studies have reported that yoga therapy reconciles the hormonal balance like free testosterone, DHEA, and DHEA-sulfate.

• Improves the metabolic profile like fasting glucose and insulin

• It produces endorphins and decreases irritability by increasing the tranquillity of the mind & attention. 

• Yoga also provides psychic and somatic treatment, ultimately stabilizing the normal function of the hypothalamo- pituitary ovarian axis

• There was parasympathetic dominance and improvement in cardiac autonomic activity which can be helpful to modulate the ANS imbalance among PCOS females.

• It also helps to enhance the vagal activity that would decrease the stress hormone like cortisol. 

• Also helps in alleviating mood and regulating cycles.

• Therefore, it is recommended that people with PCOS practice yoga on a regular basis.

• Several studies have proven that the hyperactivity of the sympathetic system contribute to metabolic syndromes and mental distress in PCOS females. 

• Sympathoexcitation involves signs like elevated heart rate, cardiac autonomic activity and sleep apnea.

• Glucose transportation is also inhibited by free fatty acids which are circulating as a result of lipolysis due to increase in sympathetic activity leading to genesis of insulin resistance.

• This viscous cycle created by insulin resistance, hyper activity of sympathetic system and hyperandrogenism can be pathogenesis of PCOS. 

• Hence the management should be focused on sympathoinhibition approach.