Women who started having periods at an early age are at greater risk of cardiovascular problems later in life, according to the study conducted by the researchers from The University of Western Australia.
The study, which was published in PLOS ONE, includes more than 800 young women from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. This is one of the largest cohorts in the world following a group of young adults even before they were born and throughout their life. The Raine Study was established between 1989 and 1991, and it determines how events on pregnancy and childhood could affect health later in life.
The research team prompted to conduct the study as cardiovascular disease is one of the leading cause of deaths among women in Western countries, and believed that its origin started at an early age, MedialXpress reported.
Lead author Dr. Chi Le-Ha, who is also a Research Fellow at the UWA Medical School, said their study showed that participants who started having periods at an early age and have a higher body mass index displayed symptoms related to future metabolic problems.
Participants involved in the study were aged between 17 and 20 years, and researchers collected data from them from 8 years of age to the present. The average age of participants started having periods was 12.7 years, and researchers have found that each later year, there was a .0.75 kg/m2 reduction in their BMI.
UWA Professor Roger Hart, the lead investigator in the research from the Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, said their study highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy weight among women at an early stage to protect them from cardiovascular risk later in life.
Professor Hart suggested that those who started having periods at a young age should seek advice from general practitioners to make sure they are having a good diet and adequate exercise. But, it's important to remember that having periods at an early age is not the actual cause of heart problems in the future, but it is likely a reflection of higher body fat levels during childhood. So, it serves as a potential "wake-up call" addressing long-term health.
The team noted this research is comprehensive as most previous studies have only relied on participants by recalling the age of their first period, but this particular study gathered data on young women over their life-course which increases the reliability of the information, as well as the findings.
