Women experiencing irregular menstrual cycles face a 20–30 percent higher risk of cardiovascular disease later in life compared to those with regular cycles, health experts have cautioned. While estrogen helps by improving cholesterol, dilating blood vessels, and reducing inflammation, progesterone regulates blood pressure and water retention. Medical experts highlight overlapping risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, chronic stress, and poor sleep, which link irregular periods to silent vascular and metabolic changes. Doctors recommend early medical evaluation for underlying causes along with a four-pronged lifestyle approach — diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management. “The key takeaway is that irregular periods are not just a gynaecological concern but a warning sign of possible cardiac risks,” experts emphasised.