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The following are a few news clips
that can help you make better decisions about your health!
Alcohol intake linked to modest increase in breast
cancer in both pre- and postmenopausal women
Singletary KW, Gapstur SM. Alcohol and breast cancer:
review of epidemiologic and experimental evidence of
potential mechanisms. JAMA 2001(Nov 7);286:2143-2151.
Consumption of alcoholic beverages has been consistently
linked with an increased (although modest) risk of breast
cancer in epidemiologic studies, according to this review.
Investigators evaluated clinical trials published since
1977 that investigated the association of alcohol intake
and breast cancer, with particular focus on epidemiologic
data published since 1995. Searches were made for studies
of human, animal, or cell cultures that examined the
effect of alcohol (ethanol) or acetaldehyde on physiological
process or possible risk factors associated with breast
cancer. Taken together, the studies provided consistent
evidence that the breast cancer risk is higher for women
consuming moderate to high levels of alcohol (defined
as three or more drinks per day) compared with nondrinkers.
Also, a significant dose-response relationship beginning
with intakes as low as one to two drinks per day was
found. Alcohol intake was noted to be associated with
increases in both premenopausal and postmenopausal breast
cancer. In postmenopausal women using estradiol, alcohol
consumption substantially increased serum estradiol
levels (up to a 3.3-fold increase in one study) compared
with nondrinkers.
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HRT--Should Women Take It?
from www.altmedicine.com
Should you take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or
not? That is a major health question facing countless
post-menopausal women. Most women take HRT to quell
bothersome hot flashes and protect themselves from bone
and heart diseases. However, according to the
July issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource, recent
research casts a shadow on HRT's heart benefits. Along
with a multitude of other potential risks and benefits,
these new findings make it difficult to decide whether
HRT is right for you. Here's the latest information
on this confusing topic from the Mayo Clinic:
HRT, particularly estrogen, has been proven to reduce
hot flashes and sometimes decrease irritability and
mood swings resulting from menopause. Estrogen also
can relieve vaginal dryness and soreness. Finally,
HRT is the strategy of choice for preventing and treating
osteoporosis. It is thought that HRT may prevent
heart disease in healthy women. However, women with
known heart disease may not reap the same benefits.
Several studies have shown that women with heart disease
who started HRT not only saw no improvement in their
disease, but may, in fact, have had a higher risk of
heart attacks and death in the first year after starting
it. Further research is needed to determine whether
HRT truly prevents heart disease in healthy women.
Other possible benefits of HRT include improved memory,
protection from colon cancer and reduced incidence of
macular degeneration (the leading cause of blindness
late in life). Risks of HRT include blood clots,
gallstones and possible increased risk of breast and
ovarian cancers. Determining whether you should
use HRT is a complicated decision -- one that shouldn't
be tackled without the help of your physician. Ongoing
studies may provide clearer answers in the future.
In the meantime, your doctor can help you choose the
strategy that's right for you. June 26, 2001
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Natural Progesterone Aids Women.
from www.altmedicine.com
A new type of natural progesterone improves the quality
of life for post-menopausal women, according to a new
Mayo Clinic study published in the May issue of the
Journal of Women's Health. The study reports that
women who include naturally occurring progesterone in
their hormone replacement therapy are more satisfied
with their overall quality of life. The natural
hormone, called micronized progesterone, does not negate
the positive effect of estrogen on cholesterol levels,
like synthetic progesterone does. Investigators
interviewed 176 women whose prescribed hormone replacement
therapy combined the natural progesterone with estrogens.
In the study, 80 percent of the participants reported
increased satisfaction with the new, natural progesterone
as compared to previous therapies that used synthetic
progesterone. Subjects indicated a significant improvement
in bleeding patterns and in control of symptoms when
the micronized progesterone was compared with previous
therapy. "The results of our study indicate
that natural progesterone may offer a wider range of
benefits to women taking hormone replacement therapy,"
says Lorraine Fitzpatrick, M.D., Mayo Clinic endocrinologist
and the lead investigator of the study. "We
already know that progesterone decreases some of the
risks of estrogen replacement therapy such as increased
risk of endometrial cancers. Now it seems that naturally
occurring progesterone can reduce the occurrence of
sleep disorders, hot flashes, anxiety and symptoms of
depression," she adds. Half of the study
participants reported an improvement in vasomotor symptoms
such as "hot flashes." Of the participants,
45 percent felt that psychological symptoms such as
feelings of depression and anxiety improved, and 32
percent saw a decrease in sleep disorders. Other
areas of improvement included menstrual problems, cognitive
difficulties and sexual functioning. The natural
hormone, micronized progesterone, is made from yams
and is chemically identical to the naturally occurring
progesterone found in the body. Micronized progesterone
also is more finely ground for better absorption.
In a large study of menopausal women published in 1998,
micronized progesterone also had the most favorable
effect on LDL and HDL cholesterol levels associated
with cardiovascular risk. According to Dr. Fitzpatrick,
Prometrium, a prescription medication, was used in the
study. Women who used it on continuous basis took 100
mg. a day. Those who used it on a cyclical basis (12
days a month) used 200 mg. a day. May 10, 2000
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Work as PCP w/ limited managerial/financial duties of
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DOE.
Email CV to
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