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Dear PCOS Challenger,
Worry, anxiety, health issues, hormones, long work hours and nutrition are on the long list of factors that influence quantity and quality of sleep. Most of us have heard of the saying: "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a [wo]man healthy, wealthy and wise." Unfortunately for many women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, getting a full night's sleep and waking up rested and energetic seems to be an elusive dream.
Research has shown that women with PCOS are more likely to experience obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and excessive daytime sleepiness than women without PCOS. Many women with PCOS report that they constantly feel tired and sleepy during the day and have impaired concentration and focus. This is because there are vicious cycles going on in the body that cause sleep disturbances and hormone imbalance. There is a connection between OSA, PCOS and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance leads to diabetes, infertility, cardiovascular diseases including stroke and many more maladies.
The more we learn about polycystic ovarian syndrome, the more we will realize that this syndrome has the potential to affect every organ system of the body. Many of us would never think to link sleep patterns (or the lack thereof) to PCOS, but this certainly puts a new focus on the importance of adequate sleep and reminds us that a whole body approach to this inappropriately named syndrome is the key to unraveling some of the mysteries that are associated with PCOS.
Listen to today's PCOS Challenge radio show about Sleep, PCOS and Infertility and read more in the articles below.
Thank you for reading and stay encouraged!
In good health,
Sasha Ottey
Executive Director
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| PCOS Challenge Hits Major Milestone |
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We are happy to report that PCOS Challenge has hit yet another major milestone this month, welcoming its fifteen thousandth member.
Thank you to everyone for your support in making this possible through your donations and "word of mouth" promotions. Please continue to help us make a difference in the fight against PCOS!
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| Sponsor Spotlight |
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NVN Therapeutics (PCOS Challenge Radio Show Sponsor)
 Susan Derence
PCOS Patient and
Director at
NVN Therapeutics
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We salute NVN Therapeutics, our new radio show sponsor, for their support and commitment to the PCOS community! As a PCOS Challenge member, you are eligible for exclusive discounts on NVN Therapeutics medical food products for dietary management of PCOS. Just enter PCOS Challenge discount code PCOSFREE at the time of check out.
To learn more about NVN Therapeutics products for women with PCOS, listen to the PCOS Challenge radio show with NVN Therapeutics Director, Susan Derence and visit PCOSFree.com.
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| PCOS Challenge Expert Series |
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You Are Not Alone. You Now Have a Team of Experts to
Help You Overcome PCOS!
As part of our continuing mission to provide women with PCOS the best information and support resources for overcoming Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, PCOS Challenge has teamed up with five renowned PCOS health and wellness experts to bring you the PCOS Challenge Expert Series™.
PCOS Expert Series Workshops (CDs Now Available)
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| New on PCOS Challenge Radio |
Today's Radio Show
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Guest
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Date/Time
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Mark Perloe, MD
Medical Director
Georgia Reproductive Specialists
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Wednesday,
April 24, 2013 at
6:30 PM, EDT
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PCOS, Sleep and Infertility
Dr. Mark Perloe, reproductive endocrinologist and Medical Director at Georgia Reproductive Specialists joins the PCOS Challenge Radio Show to answer your questions about polycystic ovarian syndrome, sleep apnea and infertility. Listen to this show to gain incite about how PCOS affects the body and get tips about how to reverse some symptoms.
Featured Past Radio Shows
Radio Show Giveaway Winner:
Congratulations to Danielle from Lansford, PA,
Winner of a 3-month supply of Glucorein PCOS from
NVN Therapeutics
Missed an episode of the PCOS Challenge radio show or want to listen to it again? Listen to it any time on PCOS.tv.
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| Featured Article: PCOS and Obstructive Sleep Apnea |
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By Dr. Mark Perloe
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a relatively common sleep disorder characterized by recurrent airway collapse that occurs while sleeping. These episodes in turn result in frequent nocturnal arousals and oxygen desaturations. Patients with OSA will frequently complain of excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue and lapses in concentration and memory. OSA is now known to be associated with, and in some instances an independent risk factor for, high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke.
It has been shown that women with PCOS have a much higher prevalence of OSA than premenopausal women without PCOS, with a ratio of approximately 30:1. Various studies have shown a percentage range of thirty to greater than fifty percent of woman with PCOS also having OSA. For this reason, it is imperative that OSA be considered in all women diagnosed with PCOS. The very high prevalence of OSA in women with PCOS may well explain, and may in some cases be the sole cause of the development of metabolic dysfunction in women with PCOS.
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| Featured Article: Melatonin and Developing Babies—Why Sleep is Essential |
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By Monika Woolsey, MS, RD
Sleep...we all know we need it, and the fact that people just don't seem to want to admit that this is true...is a huge part of their problems with weight, hormones, and mood disorders. It has to do with melatonin, the hormone that makes you sleepy. Turns out it's a huge anti-aging chemical, and if you aren't sleeping enough, it can cause a lot of serious problems. If your sleep habits are "off" now, that may have some important consequences later for you and your baby.
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| HOPE for PCOS Monthly Giving Program |
Become a Champion in the Fight Against PCOS
Watch Video
You are invited to take a leadership role in the fight against
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome by becoming a member of the
PCOS Challenge — HOPE for PCOS monthly giving program.
As a monthly giver, you provide much needed financial support to programs that women with PCOS depend on to help overcome their symptoms and reduce their increased risk for life-threatening related diseases including cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Gifts of all sizes are welcome.
Even donations as small as $10 a month can make a big difference.
93% of all donations received go directly to
support programs for women with PCOS.
All gifts are tax deductible and greatly appreciated.
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| About PCOS Challenge, Inc. |
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PCOS Challenge, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (PCOSChallenge.org). We are one of the largest and most active support organizations for women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome worldwide. We touch the lives of women with PCOS and their supporters each year through cable television and radio programming (PCOS.tv), online and offline support groups (PCOSChallenge.com), and education and awareness initiatives.
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Since our programs began in 2009, we've helped many women find answers that helped them overcome their struggles with infertility, weight gain, anxiety and depression and reduce their risk for life-threatening related conditions.
If you know other women with PCOS, encourage them to join PCOSChallenge.com to gain the information and support they need to live happier and healthier.
Help spread the word and make PCOS a public health priority!
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10 Reasons
PCOS Challenge Needs Your Donation Today |
A Cure for PCOS
Starts with You!
We need your help now to:
- Raise greater awareness about PCOS to bring in more funding for a cure and to gain more support from corporations, private foundations and the general public for research and support programs.
- Keep top quality PCOS programs free or available at the lowest possible cost.
- Create more local PCOS Challenge support programs across the country.
- Hold events to help women and teens get screened for PCOS.
- Create a referral hotline for PCOS patients to find doctors, specialists and other health care professionals.
- Expand doctor-patient outreach programs for current PCOS patients and women newly diagnosed with PCOS.
- Expand PCOS Challenge television programming into more cable markets across the U.S. and abroad.
- Increase the frequency, extend the length and enhance the overall quality of all PCOS Challenge programming.
- Help end health care disparities due to language barriers by making Spanish and other language translations of PCOS Challenge programming available.
- Provide audio descriptions, closed captioning and transcriptions for the PCOS Challenge television and radio shows to make them accessible to blind/visually impaired and deaf/hard of hearing communities.
Your support will make a difference.
PCOS Challenge receives very little government funding and relies on the support of the community in the form of volunteers, private donations and fundraising events.
Nearly two-thirds of our annual budget comes from individual donors like you. Every donation and every dollar amount makes a difference.
93% of all donations received go directly to support programs for women with PCOS.
Please donate now!
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PCOS Challenge
Online Groups |
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| Subscription Reminder |
You are receiving this email from PCOS Challenge, Inc. because you have had an existing relationship with our nonprofit organization; purchased a product or service from our company; subscribed to our newsletter; or are a member of one of our PCOS support websites.
To ensure that you continue to receive emails from PCOS Challenge, add support@pcoschallenge.com to your address book today.
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