As a physician specializing in hormone balancing, I talk to a lot of women about the typical symptoms of menopause and peri-menopause. Women come to me because they want to sleep better, protect their mental acuity or stop those awful hot flashes we all joke about. However, there’s a more serious issue to address that many mature women don’t realize can be addressed through hormone replacement therapy (HRT): heart health.
The Number One Killer
Heart disease is the number one killer for women. Heart disease is a disorder where the arteries leading to the heart are damaged or blocked so that oxygen and essential nutrients cannot get to the heart. Heart disease can lead to a heart attack, where part of the heart muscles is damaged or even dies because of the blocked artery and the lack of oxygen and blood flow.
Why Women?
Heart disease can creep up on women because many of the symptoms are easy to misinterpret. It’s easy to dismiss being out of breath as simply being out of shape or to ignore a pain in your chest or arm that comes and goes.
Women are also less likely to get help at the first signs of a heart attack. Some women are afraid to impose their needs on others; others are in denial the pain or symptoms they feel could actually be a real heart attack. For one reason or another, women tend to wait longer than men to call 911 and get help when experiencing chest pain or other symptoms of a heart attack, meaning more damage is done to the heart before help arrives.
An Unexpected Benefit of HRT
A recent study demonstrates that hormone replacement therapy is associated with beneficial effects with regard to cardiovascular disease, in particular, when HRT is initiated around the time (slightly before, during, or relatively soon after) women enter menopause. The exact timing for optimal results is still under investigation, but preliminary study results indicate that HRT
The Study
The study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, examined the heart health of 643 women over the course of five years, each of which took one of the following: a placebo or oral estradiol plus a progesterone vaginal gel (HRT). Every six months, both coronary atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and rate of change in carotid-artery intima–media thickness was evaluated via computed tomography. Positive heart health results were observed in women who had received HRT.
Hormone Replacement Therapy for Heart Health
As a physician who specializes in holistic health, I take into consideration all health concerns, present, and future, as I consider health recommendations. It is important to understand that not all hormone replacement therapy is equal. When prescribing HRT and the like, I evaluate health history, family history, lifestyle and other factors.
Considering Beverly Hills Hormone Replacement Therapy?
If you are interested in a comprehensive evaluation and a personalized discussion regarding bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, book an appointment through my office.