the risk of an average woman after menopause dying of heart disease is about 40 percent; her risk of developing breast cancer is at most 5.5 percent, with approximately a 1 percent chance of expiring from breast cancer. oUr SoCIETy HAS BECoME HorMoPHoBIC—and the media has been a contributing factor to massive pandemonium about hormones. a decade ago, polluted data from the famous women’s health initiative study started a cascade of misinformation that lingers to this day, contributing to a fear of the word hormone. many physicians still rely on a poor understanding of hormonal interactions and use faulty data while counseling their patients. no wonder we find ourselves in such a state of massive confusion about the important role hormones play in our health and in the aging process. when hormones are properly used and balanced, they are safer than most prescription drugs, and essential to preserving our health as we age. hormones are so important that the main cause of accelerated internal aging, skin aging and chronic disease can be summed up as a result of multiple hormone deficiencies. in essence, we age as our hormones decline. today hormone imbalances continue to be disregarded within a culture of unfounded fear. even when replaced, they often are not properly balanced. hormonal imbalances are associated with progressive inflammation. loss of testosterone in men, known as andropause, is a lethal disease and is associated with increased mortality of all causes—particularly from cardiovascular disease. seemingly the increase in cardiovascular disease occurs in females after menopause when estrogen starts leaving the body. estrogen has at least 400 essential functions for the female body internally and externally. estrogen deficiency is much more than the presence or absence of hot flashes and night sweats.
“
Progesterone is usually the first hormone to become deficient in peri-menopause, which can be as early as 10 to 15 years before menopause.
the role of estrogen in cardiovascular health for females has been much debated. most of this debate originates from a lack of understanding of the fundamental differences between oral and transdermal estrogen replacement. in a nutshell oral estrogens should be completely avoided, whereas transdermal, bioequivalent estrogens are the preferred route when replacement is indicated. with cardiovascular disease being the number one cause of mortality for both males and females in the U.s., a growing paranoia of elevated cholesterol continues to permeate our current medical system. interestingly, cholesterol is essential for proper hormone metabolism. over-prescribing statin drugs can impair our hormone production. ironically, cholesterol tends to go up with hormonal imbalances and improves as hormone metabolic balance is achieved. for example, thyroid replacement improves cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, improves metabolic syndrome—a pre-diabetic condition hallmarked by elevated insulin levels—and lowers independent cardiovascular risk factors such as highly sensitive c-reactive protein (crP) and homocysteine. contrary to a mythic belief of not being beneficial to the heart, thyroid replacement in hypothyroid individuals provides greater survival after a myocardial infarction when properly administered. it is a well known fact that an avalanche of chemicals, plastics and pesticides in the water supply, food chain, air and our homes has bombarded our society. many have sacrificed their health with years of consuming fast foods, soft drinks, caffeine and sugar—living sedentary lives with excessive stress and alcohol consumption, all of which affect hormone balance. the organic food and super foods movements along with the fitness and wellness industry have served our society with an incredibly helpful awareness, but this on its own will not solve the puzzle of chronic disease. hormonal imbalances are being identified earlier and earlier in males and females of all species. all hormones need to be assessed, individually balanced and replaced close to the time they leave the body. this is needed in addition to lifestyle changes and customized nutritional interventions. as we age the correct hormone balance is indispensable to preserve our immune system, reproductive system, brain function, sleep patterns and metabolism. there is an incredible over-prescription of sleeping aids, mood stabilizers and immunosuppressant drugs to address issues related to these body systems such as insomnia, fatigue, depression, anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, migraine, Pms, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (Pmdd—a severe form of Pms), difficulty losing weight, joint aches, hair loss, autoimmune
“
continued >>
JULY 2013
ONNECTION.COM
| 23