New Study Finds Early Hormone RT Reduces Heart Disease

By Chipper Nicodemus –

Hormone replacement therapy has been used to treat menopause for years. A new menopause study shows that some women who go through hormone replacement therapy in the early years of menopause can actually lower their risk of heart disease.

Due to a previous study done by Women’s Health Initiative study, many women have stopped taking estrogen treatments based on the advice of their doctors. The new study by the journal Menopause investigated over 600 women who were post-menopausal and undergoing coronary angiography because they could look for evidence of heart disease.

The researchers found that the women who used hormones earlier in menopause were linked to having less plaque in their arteries compared to women who went through menopause naturally. These same benefits were not seen in women to have surgical menopause, the surgical removal of the ovaries. This study adds that the effects of hormone therapy is still dependent on a women’s age and if she has any heart developed already.

Menopause is when a woman has missed her periods for 12 consecutive months. This normally happens between the age range of 45 to 55 and it officially marks the end of a women’s fertility. This is a natural biological process that is usually defined by two different stages, peri-menopause and post-menopause.

Peri-menopause is when the symptoms of menopause start to begin. The hormone levels may rise and fall, and suffer from the symptoms of hot flashes and other symptoms. This phase can last up to four or five years, sometimes even longer.

Once a year has passed since your last period, post-menopause has started. The ovaries produce much less estrogen and won’t release eggs.

There are other alternative menopause treatments besides hormone therapy. Some women use low doses of anti depressants. In order to reduce hot flashes Gabapentin is usually effective. There are lifestyle changes that can help reduce symptoms without taking hormones. Some of these changes are avoiding caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods. Getting plenty of exercise, deep breathing exercise, staying sexually active and using relaxation techniques also work.

There are a few natural menopause alternatives that are solid options for some women. Phytoestrogen are compounds found in plants such as Flaxseed, soybeans, chickpeas and other legumes. So foods like tofu and soy milk would be great to ease the symptoms of menopause. Another possible natural alternate treatment that has been reported to reduce hot flashes is Vitamin E. Take this tip with a grain of salt, this hasn’t be proven by scientists yet.

The choice to take hormone replacement therapy is a big decision. All of the risks should be considered and consulted with your doctor and other loved ones if you chose to. If you have any suggestion, tips or experiences on how to curb menopause symptoms please share below in the comments.

Chipper Nicodemus is a SEO Assistant at http://www.healthline.com/. Healthline Networks has extended its health search technology services to include specialized health tools that address the patient pathway – from symptoms to treatments, to doctors, to medications.