Top Health Concerns

  1. 1.   Menopause
  2. 2.   Thyroid Dysfunction
  3. 3.   Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
  4. 4.   Perimenopause
  5. 5.   Adrenal Fatigue
  6. 6.   Osteoporosis
Menopause

Menopause

Menopause represents a major transition in the lives of most women, thus it is often called the "change of life". Women experience a decreased production of sex hormones by the ovaries, and many times there are symptoms representative of estrogen deficiency and withdrawal.

Most women enter menopause between the ages of 45 and 50, but it may occur anywhere between 40 and 55. (There may in fact be a trend for women to begin experiencing these events even earlier, in some cases as early as 35 to 40 years old, and the term premature ovarian syndrome is now being used to describe some aspects of this situation. Those whose ovaries are surgically removed before they have entered menopause will almost immediately experience menopausal symptoms and often are placed on hormone replacement therapy, using estrogen and progesterone, to simulate their natural cycle.

The official definition of menopause is the time when there have been no menstrual periods for 12 consecutive months and no other biological or physiological cause can be identified. The cessation of menstruation occurring as result of the loss of ovarian follicular activity. Progesterone drops with anovulatory cycles and luteal function declines. Estrogen levels fluctuate in response to rising FSH levels. Adrenal androstenedione is the primary source of estrogen after menopause. FSH is a poor marker of estrogen function and more an indicator of inhibin levels.

Women are now living 30 to 40 years past menopause. This time in their lives needs critical attention.

The symptoms of menopause include a change in the frequency or volume of blood flow of the periods (or actual cessation of menstrual periods), irritability, hot flashes and night sweats, emotional mood swings, headaches, depression, insomnia, loss of sex drive and weight gain. Vaginal dryness and a weakening of the vaginal area tissues may also occur. More internal metabolic shifts, such as bone loss, may also occur. There are many factors that influence the intensity of symptoms and probably even the time they appear. A poor diet, emotional stress and lack of exercise may lead to an increase in symptoms, particularly when these lifestyle habits have been going on for years. Women who become aware of these relationships before menopause and change their habits to help build themselves up with diet and supplements and deal with their stressful issues most assuredly have an easier time. This coupled with natural or bio-identical hormone therapy replacement is a prescription for lessening the degree of symptoms during this change of life.

Natural hormone replacement means using hormones that are biologically identical to what your body makes. In other words, the hormones are the same chemical structure as the ones that your body made before menopause. Customized natural hormone therapy is the only way to replace hormones safely. One size does not fit all. Now there is a more effective way. Studies have shown that women who use hormone replacement live longer than those who do not.

There are five reason you should consider natural hormone replacement therapy:

May women ask if there is an increased risk of cancer by taking hormone replacement therapy. The answer is that 90% of postmenopausal women who develop breast cancer have never taken any kind of hormone replacement therapy.

Thyroid

Thyroid Dysfunction:

An imbalance of your thyroid hormone can affect every metabolic function in your body. Your thyroid gland is your body regulator. It regulates energy and heat production, growth, tissue repair and development and stimulates protein synthesis. Furthermore, thyroid hormone modulates carbohydrates, protein and fat metabolism, vitamin uses, digestion, function of the mitochondria (energy makers of your cells), muscle and nerve action, blood flow, hormone excretion, oxygen utilization and sexual function to list just some of its uses.

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is made in your pituitary gland located in your brain.

T4 is made in your thyroid gland and is called thyroxine. T3 is made in other tissues and is called triiodothyronine. Your body produces T4 and T3. T4 is 80% of the thyroid gland .s production. Most of T4 is changed into T3 in your liver or kidneys. T3 is five times more active than T4. T4 can also be coverted to reverse T3 which is an inactive form.

The following are symptoms of low thyroid production or (hypothyroidism):

Other interesting facts about hypothyroidism:

When testing your thyroid an entire panel should be measured. This includes your free T3, free T4, reverse T3, TSH and thyroid antibodies. If your antibodies are too high they can stop thyroid hormone from attaching to your thyroid receptors. Consequently, you can get symptoms of decreased thyroid function even when your blood levels are adequate. Thyroid antibodies can be elevated due to trauma, poor function of your gut, inflammation, and thyroid degeneration. Many factors affect how your body produces T3 and T4.

Some other factors that cause decreased production of T4 include deficiency in Zinc, Copper and Vitamins A, B2, B3, B6 and C. Your body needs to be able to convert T4 to T3, the more active form. The conversion of T4 to T3 requires an enzyme called 5 .diodinase. There are elements that affect 5 diodinase production: selenium deficiency, stress, cadmium, mercury or lead toxicity, starvation diets, inadequate protein intake, high carbohydrate diet, elevated cortisol, chronic illness, and decreased kidney or liver function.

Medications can also cause an inability to convert T4 to T3: beta blockers, birth control pills, estrogen, lithium, phenytoin, theophylline and chemotherapy.

Dietary factors like: too many cruciferous vegetables (green leafy vegetables), low protein diet, low fat diet, low carbohydrate diet, excessive alcohol, soy, and walnuts.

It is important to replace both T3 and T4 if you are diagnosed to have hypothyroidism (low thyroid levels). If you only have your T4 pathway replaced you may still experience low thyroid symptoms. Replacing T3 and T4 has been found to be more effective than replacing T4 alone. One study revealed that 35% of people on T4 and T3 replacement scored better on mental agility tests. Sixty-seven percent of these people studied stated they had an improvement in mood and physical health. Likewise, benefits have been shown by adding T3 for patients already on T4. They have improved mood and brain function. Synthroid or Levothyroxine are both comprised of only T4. Armour thyroid is T3, T4, T1, T2 plus other substances that help the body convert T4 to T3 (calcitonin, selenium and diuretic effect). The criticism of compounded armour thyroid is that it is not consistent from dose to dose. However, there has never been a complaint to the FDA concerning the inconsistency of Armour thyroid.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is a health problem affecting one in every ten women of childbearing age. It is the leading cause of infertility and affects a woman .s hormones, heart, blood vessels and appearance.

Many women experience missed or irregular periods, acne, weight gain and excessive hair growth. Internally, PCOS involves high levels of androgens and many small ovarian cysts. The cause of PCOS is unknown, though it is widely believed that PCOS is a genetic disorder. Most women have a sister or mother who share their plight with PCOS.

It is also believed that PCOS is caused by a hormonal imbalance, specifically, insulin, which controls the transformation of sugar and starches into energy. Many women with PCOS have higher than normal insulin levels which results in the increased production of androgen. Androgen is often referred to as a .male hormone ., though it is present in females. Too much androgen in a woman .s body can result in hair growth, weight gain and problems with ovulation (therefore, infertility).

Unfortunately, there is no one test used to diagnose women with PCOS. During your medical exam, you will be evaluated for a number of symptoms and will be tested to rule out other possible conditions. Laboratory results, along with the doctor .s exam, will help your physician make a determination as to whether or not you have PCOS. Once you .ve been diagnosed, hormone replacement therapy may be prescribed to treat your condition, based on your long-term goals. For example, if fertility is an issue, your treatment would be different that someone who is no longer wanting to have children.

In addition, you .ll want to make lifestyle choices that help your body adjust to its unique situation. A healthy diet, regular exercise and good day-to-day life choices will be key to dealing with the symptoms of and the emotional toll of PCOS experienced by so many women. If you have been struggling with the major outward symptoms - irregular periods, adult acne, weight gain and excessive hair growth . you should explore the possibility of PCOS. Once you .ve identified your condition, there are a number of treatment options that could quite possibly help you reclaim your life and your body.



Menopause

Perimenopause

Perimenopause describes the time prior to menopause (6 months to 10 years) when hormone levels fluctuate and decline.

"Peri" means "around the time of" or more simply premenopause, which is the term that has been used for decades for the time before menopause. However, most women slip gradually into menopause, except if they have had surgical removal of their ovaries. Menopause is an event that medicine tells us is defined by the cessation of periods for one year after normal changes in ovarian function. Perimenopause is even less defined. It seems that any menstrual irregularity from the ages of thirty to fifty could fit into the new definition of perimenopause.

Whether it is due to too much estrogen or not enough progesterone, or a combination of both, or for other reasons, several experts have listed the following as the most common symptoms of perimenopause:

  • Menstrual irregularities
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Heavy periods
  • Light periods
  • Hot flashes
  • Night sweats
  • Vaginal dryness

The hallmark symptoms of perimenopause, is to have flooding periods for several months before skipping a few. This pattern can repeat itself many times over several years. Worsening PMS seems to be the other symptom of perimenopause that gets women .s attention. High estrogen levels plus stress hormones and not enough progesterone conspire to make women feel like they have PMS all month long.

Menopause

Adrenal Fatigue

A below average functioning of the adrenal glands resulting in a number of symptoms. As such, it is classified as a “syndrome”. Those symptoms often include chronic infections (particularly those associated with the lung, including influenza, bronchitis or pneumonia) and fatigue that is not relieved by sleep.

While those suffering from adrenal fatigue may look and act normal, they often report having a general sense of “blah”, sometimes described as “gray” feelings. It’s not uncommon for them to supplement their lack of energy with caffeine and sugar.

There are extreme cases of adrenal fatigue that involve such a severe lack of energy that the sufferer is unable to manage in life – sleeping most of the day and night.

Adrenal fatigue affects every organ and system in your body. Your ability to metabolize carbohydrates, fats and proteins is greatly affected, often resulting in weight gain. You may experience dehydration and reduced electrolyte levels. Your heart rate can be raised or lowered. Your sex drive may diminish or disappear entirely.

These are all responses your body is making to the reduced adrenaline levels and they can result in much more dangerous and permanent conditions. Those who think they may be experiencing adrenal fatigue should be tested immediately.

Menopause

Osteoporosis

For years doctors have known that osteoporosis and menopause go hand-in-hand. In fact, women begin to experience bones loss rapidly in the years preceding menopause (see perimenopause above). At a certain point in the bone loss process, the bones become porous and this is when they are defined as being in a state of osteoporosis.

It is not uncommon for untreated cases of osteoporosis to result in a fracture – mainly because there is usually very little pain or symptoms. Most often it is the hip, spine or wrist that is broken. This makes osteoporosis a major public health threat, affecting 44 million Americans, 68% women.

Everyone, but especially women, should be aware of the affects of bone loss and the potential for bone fracture. All women who are perimenopausal, and without a doubt those women who are already in menopause, should be tested. Treatments are available and can essentially stop and reverse bone loss.