Wednesday Bubble: heart disease, depression and menopause

Today’s Bubble is not exactly bursting with good news. On the other hand, it more a matter of erring on the side of caution.

Depression in menopause and midlife is a common occurrence. Although researchers are not quite sure of the exact reasons for its surge during the transition,  (e.g. declining hormone, life stress, prior history), many women tend to suffer the blues during this time. In addition to physical activity or herbs, many practitioners recommend that women incorporate a low-dose antidepressant into their daily strategy. Yet, while this might help to maintain mood balance, researchers are starting to question whether or not using antidepressants may increase the risk for dying from heart disease during menopause. Yikes! So, we are given drugs to help boost our moods during menopause but they may end up killing us in the long run? Somehow the old adage, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’ doesn’t make me feel better this time.

In a study that appears in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers examined information collected from over 136,000 women who had participated in the Women’s Health Initiative Study who either were or were not taking antidepressants over a period of about 6 years. The findings? Women who used SSRI antidepressants had a 45% increased risk of stroke, and a 32% increased risk of death.  This risk remained even after researchers took other heart disease risk factors into account, such as diabetes, high cholesterol and smoking.

Here’s the rub: depression is a known risk factor for heart disease and death from heart disease, and has also been linked to an increased risk for stroke. So, researchers are not certain if it’s the chicken (depression) or the egg (antidepressants) that is accounting for these study results.

So, what can you do? Should you throw away the pills?

Not so fast. Speak to your doctor. Get tested for known heart disease risk factors, such as overweight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history, diabetes and of course, smoking. Incorporate heart healthy changes into your life, such as physical activity, a better diet, yoga, meditation and laughter. And then figure out if the benefits of antidepressants are worth the risks. These data are early and inconclusive. Just something to be mindful of if you are in menopause.

[Via http://flashfree.wordpress.com]

Menopause: Diet for Hot Flashes

Menopause: Diet for Hot Flashes

Written by Gloria Tsang, RD

Published in September 2005

Black Cohosh

Black cohosh is an herb used extensively in Europe for treating hot flashes. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports short-term use of black cohosh – up to six months – for treating symptoms of menopause. But the exact effects of longer-term use aren’t known. Studies are underway to determine the effectiveness and long-term safety of taking black cohosh supplements.

Soy

Soy contains phytoestrogens, an estrogen-like substances. In Japan, where soy foods are commonly consumed daily, women are only one-third as likely to report menopausal symptoms as in the United States or Canada. In fact, there is no word in the Japanese language for “hot flashes”. However, clinical trials have generally yielded unimpressive results. The safest approach is to incorporate whole soy products such as soy milk or tofu in you diet. Indeed, the North American Menopause Society in 2000 recommended that 40 – 80mg of isoflavones daily may help relieve menopausal symptoms – that is 1 – 2 servings of soy products.

Other common supplements for hot flashes:

-Vitamin E (400 – 800 IU)

-Dong Quai

-Wild Yam

-Evening Primose Oil

[Via http://ecofrenfood.wordpress.com]

Comparison between Oral and patch therapy for hormone replacement

There are some intriguing assessments to oral and patch (transdermal) hormone replacement therapy. The transdermal patch presents less variety in hormone levels. Another benefit to the patch versus an oral path is that there appears to be a declined risk of venous thromboembolism (blood clots), which is one of the couple of important contradictory dangers affiliated with hormone replacement therapy. Another intriguing occurrence is there appears to be a boost in thin body mass with transdermal estrogen versus a boost in fat mass and a decline in skeletal sinew with oral path of therapy.

hormone replacement

There are some theoretical and genuine improvements in cardiovascular risk components by utilising transdermal versus oral therapies; although, other than the incidence of body-fluid clots, it does not appear to change clinical outcomes. There are some potential clinical tests that have furthermore shown a decrease in the risk of postmenopausal hip fractures and the risk of vertebral deformation with the especially outstanding facts and numbers from the Women’s Health Initiative study in declining osteoporosis and fracture risk.

The last investigation considering these exact matters of hormone replacement treatment would propose important enhancement in clinical outcomes. Unless you evolve a specific infection by hormones, for example breast cancerous infection, long-term use would give you multiple benefits.

According to multiple investigations, there is a very powerful likelihood that hormone therapy, if started early on and proceeded, can have a very affirmative influence on the development of osteoporosis and has shielding advantage to a patient’s heart.

[Via http://mywikipedia.wordpress.com]

I choose...

I can’t choose whether or not I have this gene. I do. That is out of my hands. I’m not going to pretend like I’m feeling all warm and fuzzy and puppy dogs and rainbows about it.

It sucks.

I can’t choose whether or not I will get cancer. I can choose to remove my breasts and my ovaries as a preventative measure to significantly reduce those chances.

I choose to look at this knowledge as a blessing. I’ve had this gene mutation my whole life. That hasn’t changed. The only thing that has changed is that I know about it now. I would rather know than not know. Do I want to be shopping for surgeons to remove my breasts and fertility doctors to preserve my eggs so I have a chance at having biological children in the future? Of course I don’t. But I would certainly rather be making these choices, then to be making choices about cancer treatment. For that, I feel fortunate.

I refuse to ruminate on thoughts of ‘poor me’ or ‘why me’ or ‘this is so unfair’. They cross my mind. They do. Sometimes they linger. Sometimes they pitch tents and start making bonfires to roast some marshmallows. But what good would it do to let those thoughts take center stage? How would that serve me, my recovery, my future? How would being a victim benefit me?

I choose to look at this knowledge as a gift. A gift of life. A gift of choice.

How many women battling breast cancer right now would have gladly given their breasts to not have to be dealing with chemo and radiation? How many women with ovarian cancer would do the same? How many women will die of ovarian cancer, because their diagnosis comes too late? Tell me which of them wouldn’t have gladly had their ovaries removed if they had been given the choice. It’s a gift to have this knowledge in advance. To be able to take preventative measures, drastic and unpalatable though they may be.

That doesn’t mean I’m not scared. Or angry. Or sad. I am all of these.

I am overwhelmed.

I am also hopeful. And thankful.

I choose to focus on those thoughts over the next few months, as I meet with specialists and make decisions about removing my breasts. Removing my ovaries. Removing my ability to have children.

I will be 30 years old and breastless. Infertile. Menopausal.

I will be 30 years old and alive.

Healthy.

A gift.

[Via http://lifewithmoxie.wordpress.com]

The Battle of the HOT FLASHES!

I had to surrender to my hot flashes around age 52.  After trying all of the available over the counter “natural” solutions, and even the specially compounded bioidentical cream, I went in to my doctor and said, “HELP ME NOW!!!”  The lack of decent sleep, the constant brain fog, the unpredictable flashes and sweating.  What’s a girl to do?  I decided that I would either need to start killing people or get some serious medical help.  How did the pioneer women deal? Oh, that’s right, they usually died before they got hot flashes…

It helps that I have the most amazing gynecologist. She has all the facts at her fingertips and reads all the lastest studies. I know, because I do too. She doubled my estrogen level (no need for progesterone because I have no uterus) with an estradiol transdermal system (Vivelle Dot).  A few days later, I felt like I was slowly emerging from the biggest brain fog in my personal history. My temperature moderated and I could think again! YES!

We discussed how that old study on women who took Premarin for decades on end was not a fair measure of all hormone replacement therapies. A study summary that came out in the October 2007 issue of Scientific American called “Easing Hormone Anxiety”, stated that, “taking hormones soon after menopause-within about 10 years-is safe for most women.” The trick is in taking bio-identical hormones at the lowest level needed, get annual mammograms, and then get off of it when the worst is over.

This Scientific American report added, “The data even suggest that hormone therapy for less than 10 years may improve some womens’ health more than doing nothing.” This article quotes studies that have shown that estrogen taken at the worst part of early menopause has been shown to improve heart health and decrease cases of breast cancer in women age 50 to 59.

So let’s hear it for better living through chemistry!

Now, past age 54, I’m needing the estrogen boast less and less, and hope to get off of it all together in the next year or so.

[Via http://agingresearch.wordpress.com]

Adrenal exhaustion and menopause

Millions of women each year seek relief for hormonal issues, including hot flashes, night sweats, hormonal migraines, PMS, ovarian cysts, fibroids, endometriosis, fibrocystic breasts, weight gain, foggy thinking, and heavy bleeding. These symptoms are lumped together into the hormonal imbalance pigeonhole. In the case of menopause, hormone replacement has been the conventional cure. For menstruating women, oral contraceptives are most often prescribed.

When resolving hormonal problems, women are led to believe that all that is required is tweaking their hormonal levels or, in the case of oral contraceptives, a complete shut down of ovarian function. However, hormonal imbalances are symptoms of deeper rooted problems.

The Adrenals and Hormones

The adrenals are involved in manufacturing numerous hormones; blood sugar regulation; the regulation of the body’s minerals; producing and maintaining the body’s energy levels in conjunction with the thyroid; and producing stress-monitoring hormones.

The adrenals, the body’s shock absorbers, are the core of the endocrine stress response system. Two of their most important hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, are responsible for the fight-or-flight response. Adrenaline deals primarily with short-term stress while cortisol is produced as a result of both acute and long-term stress.

Prolonged stress, whether as a result of emotional, environmental or physical causes, is disastrous for the adrenals. Initially, it results in chronically elevated cortisol levels, resulting in weight gain (especially around the midsection), blood sugar imbalances, thinning skin, muscle wasting, memory loss, high blood pressure, dizziness, hot flashes, night sweats, excessive facial hair, and other masculinizing tendencies.

Overworked adrenals eventually crash, leading to adrenal exhaustion, where the body is unable to maintain adequate adrenal hormone production. Symptoms of overtaxed adrenals include extreme fatigue (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), irritability, inability to concentrate, frustration, insomnia, addictions to either sweet or salty foods, allergies, nervousness, depression, anxiety, PMS, sensitivity to cold, diabetes and headaches. Chronic low blood pressure can be a key symptom of adrenal exhaustion.

Since the adrenals contribute to about 35 percent of premenopausal female hormones and almost 50 percent of postmenopausal hormones, compromised adrenal function profoundly affects hormonal balance.

Progesterone is the primary raw material for producing cortisol. When the glands are in overdrive, the body will divert progesterone to the adrenals to support cortisol production. With reduced progesterone, the body may experience estrogen dominance, i.e. PMS, hot flashes, night sweats, migraines, fibroids, heavy bleeding, breast tenderness, weight gain, etc. Excessive cortisol also blocks progesterone receptors, further contributing to low progesterone. These two imbalances are the primary reasons why adrenal exhaustion leads to estrogen dominance.

Restoring adrenal function is a pre-requisite for hormonal balance. Nutrients that have special importance to the adrenals are the B vitamins (especially B5), vitamin C, proteins, magnesium, manganese, zinc, potassium, plant enzymes, adaptagenic herbs, adrenal extracts and the amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine. Rest also helps rebuild the adrenals.

Individuals who suspect adrenal exhaustion can determine whether the body is producing healthy levels of adrenal hormones through proper testing. Cortisol levels can be measured with a saliva test that collects at least four samples over 24 hours.

[Via http://agingresearch.wordpress.com]