A recent study found that premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is associated with an increased chance of developing cardiovascular diseases, including arrhythmias and ischemic strokes.

The research, published in Nature Cardiovascular Research and conducted by a team at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, analyzed data from more than 99,000 women over a follow-up of up to 22 years. The results show that women with moderate to severe premenstrual symptoms had an approximately 10% higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those without symptoms.

In addition, the risk of developing cardiac arrhythmias increased by 31%, while the likelihood of suffering an ischemic stroke was 27% higher. These findings were especially relevant in women diagnosed before age 25 or with a history of postpartum depression, suggesting a possible link to hormonal imbalances.

“This study highlights that PMS is not only a common gynecological condition, but may also be an early marker of cardiovascular risk in young women. Recognizing this connection could improve the prevention and management of heart disease in this group, said Dr. Donghao Lu, the study’s lead researcher and a women’s health specialist.”

To control for potential genetic and environmental factors, the study included a sister analysis, reinforcing the hypothesis that the observed link is independent of family history or shared environment. The cohort used covers a long period, which makes the results more robust.

The authors explain that the association could be explained by several biological pathways, including:

“These findings underline the need for healthcare professionals to consider the presence of premenstrual symptoms as an integral part of cardiovascular risk assessment in women, especially in the early stages,” said Dr. Karin Ekstrom, Associate Professor at Karolinska Institutet.

This work adds to a growing body of evidence linking various menstrual and gynecological conditions with increased cardiovascular risk. The researchers call for incorporating these considerations into clinical guidelines and developing specific strategies to monitor and reduce risk in women with PMS.

Finally, the team cautioned that although the absolute risk for individual women remains modest, the high prevalence of PMS may have a significant impact at the population level, opening new avenues for early prevention of heart disease in women.