BHRT: More Than Just Estrogen and Progesterone

If you are one of the 30 million American women suffering from menopausal symptoms, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) may be the answer you’re looking for. However, in order for BHRT to be the most effective, you must replace the hormones that were originally produced with corresponding bio-identical hormones. We aren’t just talking about replacing estrogen and progesterone here, but also hormones such as melatonin, thyroid and adrenal hormones, which are also many times at the root of menopausal complaints. We know that adequate levels of all of the hormones are necessary to achieve optimal health and taking one hormone without another may create imbalances, fostering additional symptoms.

Your hormones function within an interconnected network of feedback between glands, organs and tissue, each hormone “talks” to and either causes the increase or decrease of the effect of other hormones. Take the relationship between the thyroid gland and melatonin production, for example. Researchers from Italy have discovered that taking melatonin at bedtime promoted thyroid hormone levels among pre- and post-menopausal women. Increasing the levels of this vital hormone with bio-identical hormones has been shown to have dramatic effects on energy, weight management, blood sugar levels, bone density and mood, to name a few.
The goal of hormone replacement therapy, when taken in proper amounts and prescribed by a qualified professional, is to provide replacement of a deficient hormone in a form the body recognizes, thereby rebalancing natural physiology. The key to effective hormone replacement therapy is individuality. Fixed doses do not allow for personalized, tailor-made treatment of hormone deficiency. Working closely with a healthcare provider trained and experienced with bio-identical hormone therapy and a compounding pharmacist is the most practical way to ensure that the hormones you take are the correct type and precisely the amount your body requires for optimal functioning. Your local compounding pharmacy will be able to work well with your healthcare provider to create and tailor your BHRT program to your needs.

Texas Star Pharmacy has some of the most knowledgeable experts on natural hormone replacement therapy in the DFW area. Visit their website at http://www.texasstarpharmacy.com/ to find a convenient location nearest you - there are two to choose from, both in the Plano area. At this very unique pharmacy, the components of your therapy are determined after an in-depth consultation, evaluation of your symptoms and laboratory testing, all of which are be shared with your healthcare provider to fine-tune your program. If you do not already have a doctor open to BHRT, the folks at Texas Star have close relationships to several doctors proficient in the use of compounded hormones and have helped both men and women to alleviate hormonal imbalances for years. They can help you find the best match for you.

 

Goals of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy include:

• Reduction in symptoms caused by decreased hormone production
• Promoting the protective benefits of hormones on organs and tissues
• Decreasing risk for diseases of aging such as cardiovascular disease, dementia and osteoporosis.
• Improving quality of life

Can Supplemental Calcium Increase Risk for Heart Attack?

Approximately 10 million Americans suffer from osteoporosis, with an additional 33.6 million suffering from low bone density and increased risk for fractures, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Osteoporosis is the most common human bone disease, with fractures of the hip and vertebrae at the top of the list for contributing to decreased mobility, overall quality of life and premature death. Now, a recent study from the British Medical Journal linking calcium supplements to an increased risk for heart attack by as much as 30% has raised some concerns about calcium supplementation. 1200mg of calcium is recommended by doctors to prevent bone fractures and osteoporosis for women over the age of 50, this study comes as quite a shock. The resulting press coverage of the issue continues to alarm and confuse the aging population with recommendations that seem to contradict what their doctors have prescribed for years.

Before you throw out that bottle of Citrical, there is more to this study than meets the eye. In the September 2010 issue, the British Medical Journal study reviewed 11 studies involving a collective of over 12,000 women taking calcium supplements and noted an increased rate of heart disease. The researchers postulated that this increased calcification of arterial blood vessels was caused by calcium intake from nutritional supplements. What the study failed to mention was that all of the 11 studies involved taking calcium supplements as elemental calcium or unopposed calcium (i.e. without vitamin D). There are many studies involving calcium together with vitamin D that have no increased risk for heart disease, suggesting that calcium taken with a cofactor such as vitamin D is better absorbed into bone; not arteries. For example, a very large randomized trial, the Women’s Health Initiative, which involved 36,000 women taking a daily supplement of 1000mg of calcium with 400 IU of vitamin D indicated no increase in risk for heart disease or stroke (also linked to calcium levels in blood vessels). What’s more is that there are no studies linking calcium from dietary sources to increased heart disease, and in fact higher intakes of nonfat and low fat dairy products are associated with lower risk for high blood pressure, heart disease and type 2 diabetes, among other conditions.

It should be noted, however, that taking more calcium than the doctor or nutritionist recommends, specifically above 2,000mg each day, can be harmful by disrupting the body’s natural balance of other bone-building and cardio-protective minerals, such as magnesium and potassium.

To view the study from the British Medical Journal in its entirety, please click on this link: http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c3691.fullgooglef38be68eb3897b1d.html

DISCLAIMER

The information presented in this publication and on this blog is solely for educational purposes and is intended to support, not replace, the relationship between a reader or patient and his/her physician.


Readers should always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions about personal health or medical conditions. Never delay or avoid obtaining medical advice from a qualified health care provider due to information read here or on any other website.

Do Cellphones Cause Brain Cancer? Probably Not...

Excessive mobile telephone usage has been blamed as a possible risk factor for intracranial tumors (brain cancer: glioma, meningioma). The Radiofrequency Electro-Magnetic Fields (RF EMF) emitted by cellphones has long been given the short end of the stick. Whether it's a way to curb your teenager's excessive minutes or an excuse to leave your cellphone in the car while you're getting a massage, you probably accept the commonly-held belief that excessive cellphone usage simply can't be healthy.

Two widely published studies point us in the opposite direction, however: In one, a german university carried out case-control studies of low level RF EMF exposure from cordless phone docking stations and cellphones kept charging during the night near participant's beds and found a decreased association of glioma and meningioma by 18% compared to controls. Another study (published recently by a conglomeration of 5 European countries) found that high cellphone use had a protective effect, rather than a risk. (The study of 1209 meningioma cases and 3299 population-based controls found a decreased risk of meningioma among regular users of mobile phones, lower than those who had never, or were irregular users ...

So, talk all you want!

"Hello Everybody, Here's My Blog!"

This is my first blog.

This is a test. Am I as self-important as other people say and think I am? One of those egomaniacs in desperate need of an audience in order to have worth and meaning in a life otherwise devoid of human contentment? How do we measure the ripple effect someone might have on the rest of the world... if no one reads their blog?

If a tree falls on you in the forest, will anyone ever discover your stinking, rotting corpse?