Archive for the ‘Health and Fitness’ Category

Are you Perplexed About Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Sunday, October 18th, 2009

If you are questioning hormone replacement therapy, you’re not alone.

When it comes to your body it is important to know the facts. And one of the most important pieces of information is that there are several baby boomers living in the United States who are women.

In 2006, the oldest of the baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, began turning 60 years old. The US Census Bureau reports that as of July 1, 2005, there were approximately 78.2 baby boomers and 50.8% of them were female. That means, according to projections that 7,918 people turned 60 everyday in 2006, or about 330 hourly.

This is one of the reasons why countless women nowadays who are very uncomfortable with symptoms from peri-menopause or menopause. If you are one of more than 40 million women experiencing discomfort from menstruation to menopause, then you need to know the facts.

In simple terms, menopause is described as (a) the cessation of menstruation for 12 consecutive months (b) which usually occurs at ages 51 and 52 (c) marking the end of a woman’s reproductive years (d) where the ovaries stop producing the female hormone, estrogen. Another kind of menopause, called “immediate menopause,” can happen if your ovaries are surgically taken out. In either case, menopause affects women’s health and quality of life for the remainder of her lifetime.

The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), was a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored study of over 161,000 women, ages 50-79, established to address the most common causes of death, disability, and impaired quality of life in postmenopausal women. It was an attempt to collect information on ways to avoid and lessen the incidence of heart disease, breast and colorectal cancer, and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, and to identify the benefits and risks of using menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) to prevent these chronic diseases. These conditions are said to increase their chances of developing among females who are on the menopausal stage of their lives.

Many women are not aware of the fact that the above-mentioned study only discussed about cardiovascular disease, cancer and osteoporosis among 65-year-old women who are on synthetic hormone replacement therapy using the brands PremPro and Premarin only. Unfortunately, in July 2002, the investigators stopped the part of the study which is involved in the combination of estrogen and progestin - citing safety issues as the primary reason for such an action.

Statistics show that as of November 2003, about nine million Americans were using some form of Premarin. Premarin(r) is the acronym for Pregnant Mares’ Urine (PREgnant MARes’ urINe); PMU for short As soon as the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) results were released, and there was a reduction of 25 percent of the approximately 12 million women using PMU-based medications in 1999.

About 1/3 of the approximately 55 million post menopausal women in the United States are using synthetic estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), or hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Of them, approximately 49 % currently use “PMU” based products, down from a high of 79 percent in 1999.

The idea of using bio-identical hormones is most intriguing for women who are still doubtful of taking any HRT. Still, this task has become so perplexing because of the countless products that have been circulating in the market. It’s a wonderful thing though that the government dipped its finger on the matter -controlling all bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) solutions that are circulated.

Women don’t have to be baffled about hormone replacement therapy. In menopause medicine, people have been openly discussing about bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). But this term isn’t 100% correct since hormones aren’t really bio-identical. For one, natural hormones cannot be called restorative unless they really restore what’s been lost and they’re not bio-mimedic unless the body treats them as hormones. They can be mimicked, but they are not identical. They can only be restored, and never really replaced.

So how are biomimetic hormones different from bio-identical hormones? Derived from natural sources, biomimetic hormones mimic the undulating rhythms of the blood levels in a normal menstrual cycle. Undulating means to cause to move in a smooth wavelike movement.

To coincide with the chemical structure of natural hormones, bio-identical hormone products are made from plant sources. The premise is that, technically, the body cannot differentiate bio-identical hormones from the ones the female ovaries produce; however, different forms of human-produced hormones are recognized differently by cells. Thus, it makes sense that bio-identical hormone effects might also be different. Bio-identical hormone compounds should be presented biomimetically for them to be authentically similar to human hormones.

Biomimetic hormone restoration therapy is accurate, it is biomimetic and mimics the up and down rhythms of hormone blood levels in a normal menstrual cycle. That’s Biomimetic - not bio-identical.

How do you define rhythm? The rhythms of the body are regulated by a master clock that works much like a conductor. It activates one segment of the body’s orchestra as another takes a backseat, taking its primary cue from light signals in order to stay in tune with the 24-hour day. Figuratively, the hormones in the body ebb and surge at the wand of the maestro.

The circadian clock in our cells measures one 24-hour spin of the planet. For 28 days, the moon tracks the repeating of that sequence - and so does your body. The Wiley Protocol is an excellent example of a product that mimics the body’s natural production of hormones. To restore the hormone levels among the youth, topical creams differ - and the amounts of application are also different.

Among the latest treatment for women that employs the use of natural hormones in a bio-mimetic way is the multi-phasic rhythmic dosing of bio-mimetic hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). More than two million women in the U.S. use customized hormones for menopause symptoms.

According to forecast, in 2030, about 54.9% of the 57.8 million baby boomers would be female. That year, boomers would be within the ages 66 and 84. And by that time, they would hopefully still be living a comfortable life, thanks to the Biomimetic Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).

Cellulite After Menopause - Selected Preventions You Have Got to Know

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Recently cellulite after menopause is an ordinary dilemma had by aged women. To some women this condition doesn’t influence their life at all. On the other hand, many women out there will be wondering why does it occur and what kind of treatment to prevent or at least reduce it. If you are also wondering of cellulite after menopause, just take a look at the following information.

Cellulite and Hormonal Alterations

How does cellulite after menopause occur to woman? Hormonal alterations arise physically over the course of a woman’s life. The initial main hormonal alteration is at puberty. Another circumstence is pregnancy, which alters the hormonal balance in the body. As a woman grows old, her body no longer stays in a condition to bear children as a consequence of aging and the hormonal alterations that occur with age.

At the menopause the look of cellulite is influenced by particular conditions of human skin. At menopause your skin will thin and your connective tissue will also lose the color. This condition causes the softening of your skin so that your skin becomes no longer elastic. That is why cellulite after menopause likely occurs.

Together with these alterations, the connective tissue that holds the fat cells altogether is hardly elastic. When the skin thins, the fat cells that bulge will become more noticeable if there is either an episode of water retention or additional fat. The flexible skin, that hides the fat cells before menopause, stretches and thins after menopause. That is why cellulite after menopause comes up to an age woman.

First You Do not See it, Now You Do

When the skin loses its ability to bounce back, it looses and will not hold its own form again. The effect of smoothening skin and less flexibility also causes the cellulite after menopause to appear. It does so since the skin loses it elasticity, it loses its capability to cover the fat cells. As the consequence, what is beneath the skin, namely the structures of the bones, circulation system and fat cells, will become more noticeable after menopause.

Diet and Exercise Are Preventative Measures

The appearance of cellulite after menopause can be lessened by using a mixture of a nutritious and balanced diet with regular exercise. It can be bothering to figure out cellulite in any case. Yet, to have it worsen at menopause can be an out of the blue and unwanted change. Your body functions will be kept by appropriate nutrition, including skin function, energized. Work out will develop circulation throughout your body and will keep your skin as flexible as it can be.

In short, cellulite after menopause would not be such a big dilemma anymore to each aged women. As long as keep doing exercise and choosing the most appropriate food which doesn’t contain fat, be sure that cellulite after menopause will not irk you anymore. For further information in reducing cellulite after menopause, please ask any important suggestion from your nutritionist, your exercise instructor, your dermatologist, internet or any other sources.

Do you still want to know about cellulite after menopause? Here is the answer!

Menoapuse Natural Therapies & Depression and Menopause

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

For some women, the process of menopause will be a relatively easy one that requires very little in the way of medication or other special treatments to survive it.For others, menopausal symptoms will be severe enough to get in the way of daily life, by affecting sleep, mood and other factors.If you are one of those women who are affected by mood swings, hot flashes and depression which are preventing you from enjoying activities as you once did, there are plenty of options in menopause reliefSome of these treatments choices include medications that your doctor can prescribe and others will entail holistic remedies and lifestyle choices. Are you ready to find menopause relief? Read on for the latest tips in keeping those pesky symptoms under control.

Medications for Menopause Relief There are many possibilities for medications offering menopause relief today.Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a popular way to deal with “the
change” but it’s not for everyone.There are some risks involved with HRT, so it is
important to weigh those risks with your doctor to determine whether HRT is the right choice for you. There are some other medical pills which can give you some menopause relief. This includes antidepressants that can be effective in treating hot flashes as well as mood swings, blood pressure medication that can help to reduce hot flashes and vaginal estrogen that may relieve the discomfort of vaginal dryness that is common during this time.If you consider medication you really have to talk to your doctor wat the best options might be for your problems as most medications if they are not natural or herbal require a doctor’s prescription.

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Menopause Natural RemeidesSome women are really lucky and do not have many menopause symptoms. They do not need any serious medication. If you do not have severe menopausal symptoms good old fashioned home treatment and some herbal supplements will do the trick of keeping uncomfortable symptoms at bay until menopause has run its courseTwo of the natural remedies which have shown to bring menopause relief are a lot of regular exercise and a diet that is high in soy food.Herbs like black cohosh and supplements like vitamin E can also be effective in relieving some symptoms like hot flashes.To help relieve night sweats, many women will dress in light cotton layers for bed, and keep a bottle of water or a fan by the bed for quick cool off.The change can bring a whole host of annoying and uncomfortable symptoms, but there are options for treating those symptoms that can make the entire process easier to grapple with.Before you consider taking medication it is best to try some natural remedies first. You might get enough relief with your home treatments and natural supplements so that you avoid pumping your body full of medication.

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How important is a healthy testosterone level to your health and fitness?

Monday, April 20th, 2009

Testosterone is the most significant sex hormone in the male body. This is an anabolic steroid principally produced by the testes; and small amounts by the adrenal glands. Healthy levels of this hormone are essential for the production of sperm, as well as promote sexual function, sex drive and energy. It is also necessary for the development of male reproductive system and enhanced immune system function. In addition, it is responsible for many male characteristics like muscle growth and strength, facial and body hair patterns and a deep voice.

Although testosterone is frequently considered as a male hormone, women also require it in small doses. In the case of women, ovaries and adrenal glands are accountable for testosterone production. Researches prove that it helps women preserve bone and muscle strength; and contribute to libido or sex drive. It improves fantasies and sexual desires, helping make women more effortlessly sexually aroused, to enjoy intercourse better and have more frequent orgasms. It also helps relieve vaginal atrophy and dryness.

When compared with an adult female body, an adult human male body produces around forty to sixty times more testosterone. Usually it is 30% higher in the morning than the evening. In both men and women, it boosts up well being and sense of sex drive and personal power. Other benefits of this hormone are that it helps encourage bone growth, as well as alleviate mild depression and some vasomotor symptoms. Aging is the most common reason for decreased production of testosterone. The levels also usually reduce throughout chronic and acute emotional stress, physical inactivity, too much use of alcohol, over training, after the use of anabolic steroids, certain diseases, and the consumption of recreational or prescription medicines. This declination may result in depression, low sex drive, energy loss and constant tiredness. Low levels can also reason sexual dysfunction, muscle atrophy, bone loss and mood swings.

There are various natural methods and techniques that assist keep healthy testosterone levels. Diet is the most important aspect that influences healthy levels of testosterone. Good sleep patterns and regular exercise programs are also necessary to increased testosterone naturally. foods that increase testosterone levels include dark green leafy vegetables, peanut butter, raw oysters, avocados, eggs, bananas, low fat cottage cheese, asparagus, brown rice, figs, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, collards, kale, cress, kohlrabi, bak choy, mustard greens, etc. By restoring nutritional status and reducing stress you can also dramatically improve the hormonal balance. In addition to the above, today hormone replacement therapy is available to help several individuals maintain normal testosterone levels in the bloodstream.