Tuesday, September 28,2010 - Thomasville Times - 3
HEALTH
Hormone replacement
should be used carefuldy
LIFELONG HEALTH
DR. DAVID LIPSCHITZ
Syndicated Columnist
For American women
reaching menopause, the
discussion of hormone
replacement therapy
is likely overwhelm
ing. Mixed messages on
the benefits and risks
of these treatments
have left most women
fearful and confused.
As recently as five
years ago, hormone
replacement therapy for
post-menopausal women
was thought by many to
be the foimtain of youth,
not only alleviating some
of the features of aging
but also reducing the
risks of heart disease,
stroke, Alzheimer’s and
osteoporosis. But fol
lowing a seminal paper
published in the New
England Journal of
Medicine, new evidence
Indicated that hormone
replacement therapy
actually Increased the
risk of the same dis
eases that it had once
been touted to prevent.
And over time, more
and more research has
confirmed these findings.
Published in the jour-,
nal Cancer Epidemiolo
gy, research showed that
hormone replacement
therapy significantly in
creased the risk of breast
cancer, particularly in
women who were not
overweight. In this study,
the longer the hormones
were taken, the higher
the risk. For women who
had a hysterectomy and
took estrogen therapy
alone for 15 years, the
increased risk of breast
cancer was 19 percent.
Women taking estrogen
and progesterone for 15
years saw an Increased
risk of 85 percent.
Studies clearly show
that hormone replace
ment therapy — and
particularly estrogen
therapy — reduces the
risk of osteoporosis,
but new research now
indicates that it does not
help protect strength
and muscle mass.
Based on aU this
evidence, experts In the
field now recommend
hormone replacement
therapy only to allevi
ate the symptoms of the
menopause, using the
lowest dose available
and for as little time as
possible. For women who
have had a hysterectomy,
estrogen alone can be
used; otherwise, proges
terone must be added, as
estrogen alone dramati
cally Increased the risk
of uterine cancer.
Despite the mounting
evidence and warn
ings of adverse effects,
many physicians ^e
stUl not convinced that
the Increased risk of
various health problems
is significant. Some
believe that the actual
risk to an individual
patient is small, even if
the risk to the popula
tion as a whole is quite
significant. There is also
a large group of physi
cians who maintain that
hormone replacement
therapy does have signifi
cant antl-agmg effects.
'They say that adverse
effects of the therapy are
related to the fact that
the hormones given are
not identical to those
naturally occxtrring m
pre-menopausal women
and that the dose admin
istered is Inappropriate.
These physicians
measure hormone
levels in the blood and
saliva and compound
“natural or bioidentical
hormones” to achieve
physiological levels
in the blood. Constant
monitoring is required.
While this approach is
very popular, there is
currently no rigorous
research to document
either benefit or risk in
this form of therapy.
Today, the vast major
ity of women continue
to take hormone replace
ment therapy because
their menopause symp
toms remain so severe
that they simply cannot
manage without it. These
symptoms include severe
hot flashes, insomnia,
emotional changes such
as anxiety and depres
sion, headaches, loss of
libido and vaginal dry
ness leading to pain with
Intercourse. Another
common problem is an
overactive bladder that is
characterized by urinary
frequency and a need to
rush to the bathroom.
The North American
Menopause Society
and the Endocrine
Society agree that use
of hormone replace
ment therapy should be
limited to treatment of
menopausal symptoms,
that the lowest dose
should he used and that
the therapy should be
discontinued as soon as
possible. Alternate treat
ments such as vaginal
estrogen creams should
be considered for women
who have vaginal dry-
Work+Eam+Save
Work from home!
Home-basal Customer Seivte Positions
September 28* 30» I Sam - 4pti? *
3216 eree Harris Campus Dt, Cftattotte, HC 28298 r
NOW OPEN
SCRUBS • CHEF CLOTHES
USHER DRESSES
NURSING ACCESSORIE:
Sizes XS - 5X
Special orders available for shoes!
WEST SIDE SCRUBS
1102 Lexington Ave.
(same building as Low Sodium Connections
in other half of building)
Monday - Saturday 9-6, TUes & Thurs til 6:30
ness or pain. Loss of li
bido can be treated with
the use of a very low-
dose testosterone cream.
Finally, experts in the
field have shown that
transdermal estrogen
used in a patch carries
a much lower risk of
heart attacks and strokes
than oral estrogen. In
addition, the patch does
not increase the risk of
blood clots or reduce
libido. Currently, the
evidence is accumulat
ing that should you need
to combat the symptoms
of menopause with
estrogen replacement,
the patch is preferable.
Clearly, hormone
replacement therapy
is not without its prob
lems. However, like all
approved medications,
there are circumstances
where the benefits out
weigh the risks. Unless
you have or have had a
high risk of breast can
cer, do not let fear of re
placement therapy cause
you to suffer with severe
menopausal symptoms.
When seeking hormone
replacement therapy
talk to your doctor to
ensure you get the right
dose, in the right way, for
the right amount of time.
More information
on Dr. David Lipschitz
is available at www.
DrDavidHealth.com.
Cancer patients, caregivers offered
free telephone workshops
Times staff Report
Finding out a loved one has cancer
can be one of the most difficult things
a person wUl ever have to experience,
but caregivers who offer friendship,
love and support to the family member
or friend diagnosed with the disease do
not have to go through the experience
alone. The American Cancer Society
hosts a series of telephone workshops
for family, caregivers and friends to
learn about Information and support
related to caring for a loved one with
cancer.
“Caring for someone with cancer can
be hard. Finding help shouldn’t be,”
said Patricia P. Hoge, RN, PhD, execu
tive vice president of mission delivery
and medical affairs for the American
Cancer Society’s South Atlantic Divi
sion. “Working together with caregiv
ers can help loved ones get weU and
provide the support family and friends
need through every step of their cancer
experience.”
Workshops include tips and practical
problem solving techniques, as well as
tune for questions and discussion. Par
ticipation is free to residents of Dela
ware, Georgia, Maryland, North Caro
lina, South Carolina, Virginia, West
Virginia and the District of Columbia.
No phone charges apply.
Workshop topics include:
What you need to know about Social
Security benefits
Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010, from 1 p.m. -
2:15 p.m. EST
Childhood lost: supporting the tween
caregiver to a parent with cancer
Tuesday, Nov. 9,2010, from 1 p.m. - 2:15
p.m. EST
Helping caregivers cope with the loss
of a loved one during the holidays
Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010, from 1 p.m. -
2:15 p.m. EST
Body image: supporting your loved
one with cancer
'Tuesday Jan. 11, 2011, from 1 p.m. -
2:15 p.m. EST
Take a break! Self care tips for the
cancer caregiver
Tuesday, Feb. 8,2011, from 1 p.m. - 2:15
p.m. EST
Telephone workshops are led by -
American Cancer Society patient advo
cates, framed Clinical Social Workers
available to assist cancer patients and
caregivers with problems such as loss
of income or lack of health insurance,
locating community resources, and pro
viding assistance with the emotional
impact of a cancer diagnosis.
To register for the telephone work
shops, contact the American Cancer
Society at (800) 966-3586 or visit http://
cancer.org/sacaregiverworkshops.
To learn more about programs and
services available in your conununity
for you and your loved one, contact the
American Cancer Society anytime at
(800) 227-2345 or visit http://cancer.org.
Your Town. Your Times.
VOUR DOCTOR 8HOUIO KNOW .
you hate getting shots,
but still love making them.
You’re smart, strong and active, and you deserve
personalized health care that can keep up with
your life. Welcome to Regional Physicians.
Our team of doctors and nurses will
take the time to talk with you, to learn
who you are and what you love to do,
and come up with a game plan for all
aspects of your health care.
Sometimes that means preventing you
from getting sick in the first place.
Get ahead of flu season this year by
signing up for your flu shot today.
Go to regionalphysicians.com or
call 336.878.6888 to learn about our
full range of services and to find the
flu shot location closest to you.
Care for your life.
REQIONALPHVSIClANS.COM
Regional Physicians
HIGH POINT REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM