The new additions to the parade of
symptoms caused by hormone imbalance after 40 is the development of
chronic illnesses. These are diseases of aging. They appear because our
hormones are now dwindling and no righting mechanism for the balance of
the hormones exists any longer. Our ovaries make little or no estrogen
and progesterone regardless of how much our hypothalamus and pituitary
demand it. Aging, loss of estrogen and progesterone now turns symptoms
into illnesses. However, if we prevent the damage produced by the
permanent loss of hormones, we can prevent illnesses.
OSTEOPOROSIS
Estrogen stimulates bone production and inhibits the action of
osteoclasts, the cells that destroy bone tissue. When the levels of
estrogen diminish in later years, the positive effects of estrogen on
the bone structure dwindle. Genetic predisposition to osteoporosis,
taking anti-estrogen medications (tamoxifen) or steroids (prednisone)
for serious medical problems, eating a diet poor in calcium and vitamin
D, living sedentary lives, avoiding sun exposure, are all contributing
factors to osteoporosis. If genetic make-up and age combine to increase
the risk of osteoporosis, hormone supplementation, diet, weight bearing
and strength building exercises, will slow down the progression of this
chronic illness.
HEART DISEASE By the
age of 50, women catch up with men in the incidence of heart disease.
Estrogen depletion is one reason why. Genetics, smoking, obesity, lack
of exercise, and high animal fat diets are contributing factors as
well. Unfortunately, until ten years ago, no study was undertaken to
evaluate the effects of estrogen deficiency on the female heart and to
establish a safe and successful program for prevention of heart disease
in women. The PEPI trials, published in The Journal of the American
Medical Association in 1999 and the Archives of Medicine were the first
to look at the Post-Menopausal Estrogen/Progestin Interventions. The
results were interesting yet not reassuring. Women who had been taking
synthetic estrogen replacement therapy had a lower risk of getting
heart disease only after many years of therapy. For those women who
took HRT for only a year, the risk of heart disease was the same as for
women who did not take HRT at all. Presently, The Womens' Health
Initiative is still studying the effects of hormone replacement on the
female heart. The results are conflicting and contradictory. All we
know is that statistically women after 50 have the same incidence of
heart disease as men. We can infer that there is a correlation between
that fact and that women over 50 are in menopause and have low levels
of estrogen and progesterone. While research is being developed and
studies are created, I strongly believe that natural hormones
supplementation, heart protective diet, exercise and behavior
modification techniques are absolute musts in the fight against heart
disease regardless of age.
ALZHEIMER'S
Estrogen depletion has been directly implicated in the increased
incidence of Alzheimer's in older women. Estrogen's direct effect on
the brain is stimulatory while progesterone's is balancing and calming.
Without the proper balance between estrogen and progesterone,
deterioration of the brain can lead to Alzheimer's. Genetics,
life-style issues and diet are contributory as well. Recent studies in
the Archives of Internal Medicine have raised questions about the role
of estrogen supplementation in the progression of Alzheimer's. Designer
estrogens-raloxifene- were developed to specifically address the
beneficial effects of estrogen on the brain. To date studies have
failed to substantiate any of the claims made by these drugs.
CANCER The aging process is intertwined with
the development of chronic and often severe illnesses. Older women and
men with low sex hormone levels have higher incidences of various forms
of cancer. Before we jump to the conclusion that hormones cause cancer,
let us remember that the pregnant woman with her very high levels of
circulating hormones does not often get cancer. Actually her hormones
appear to provide her with protection from serious illnesses. Cancer's
connection to hormones is under constant scrutiny from our medical
community. The rise in cancer rates in women taking synthetic hormone
replacements is the source of heated debates. In Chapter 9, we address
the issue of cancer and its connection to synthetic hormones based on a
thorough and in-depth evaluation of the scientific literature available
to date. It is often the case that unscrupulous people use the fear
cancer elicits to force women into unfortunate choices in their health
care.
We have now established two very
important building blocks. 1. Hormone imbalances cause specific
symptoms and these symptoms are present and can be easily identified
throughout our lives. They are not limited to menopause or
premenopause. From the first three chapters, we 2. can now name these
symptoms, correctly identify them when they appear, and connect them to
specific hormones being out of balance. In the next two chapters, we
will address the kinds of treatments available to us at the present
time. I have chosen to break them down into conventional and
alternative treatments. Although I believe that you will find that
neither side offers the perfect solution, I want to give you a solid
overview to prepare you for what your physician may tell you, or what a
health food store has to offer.
Adapted
from The Hormone Solution by Erika Schwartz, M.D. Buy the complete book for $13.95 including
postage.