the dangers of hormone replacement therapy

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The most common treatment for menopause symptoms, which has been around for many years, is called HRT (hormone replacement therapy). For decades, doctors routinely sought to ease these symptoms with hormone replacement therapy. These medications containing female hormones to replace the ones the body is no longer making in sufficient quantities. It was widely believed that boosting estrogen levels after the beginning menopause symptoms could also protect against heart disease and osteoporosis, while improving quality of life and keeping women feeling younger. The safety of this treatment was put into doubt when in 2002 a large clinical trial called the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) reported that hormone therapy actually posed more health risks than benefits for women. As the number of health hazards attributed to hormone therapy grew, doctors became less likely to prescribe it. The trial was actually stopped due to concerns that the frequency of negative health risks were too great to continue. The study found that women who took combined hormone replacement therapy had higher risks of heart disease, stroke, breast cancer, and other health problems. With these increased risks in mind, it is not common for any long-term HRT use to be recommended any longer, especially in women who smoke or have other health risks. Short-term

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Page 1: The dangers of hormone replacement therapy

The most common treatment for menopause symptoms, which has been around for many years, is called HRT (hormone replacement therapy). For decades, doctors routinely sought to ease these symptoms with hormone replacement therapy. These medications containing female hormones to replace the ones the body is no longer making in sufficient quantities. It was widely believed that boosting estrogen levels after the beginning menopause symptoms could also protect against heart disease and osteoporosis, while improving quality of life and keeping women feeling younger.

The safety of this treatment was put into doubt when in 2002 a large clinical trial called the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) reported that hormone therapy actually posed more health risks than benefits for women. As the number of health hazards attributed to hormone therapy grew, doctors became less likely to prescribe it. The trial was actually stopped due to concerns that the frequency of negative health risks were too great to continue. The study found that women who took combined hormone replacement therapy had higher risks of heart disease, stroke, breast cancer, and other health problems.

With these increased risks in mind, it is not common for any long-term HRT use to be recommended any longer, especially in women who smoke or have other health risks. Short-term use for providing relief for some symptoms of menopause may be prescribed by your doctor, but it’s always a good idea to ask your doctor for this advice and to weigh the risks versus the rewards provided. For women who are experiencing severe symptoms that other menopause remedies don’t seem to help, such as loss of sleep, hot flashes, depression, etc. HRT may be of help. Many women are turning to other alternative treatments that are more natural – such as herbs, DHEA, roots, and certain bio-identical hormones which are made from natural ingredients. Only you can decide!

The health risks of some natural remedies are not known, since conclusive research has not been done on their long-term use as of yet. The main things a woman can do to increase the likelihood of avoiding negative health issues is to take care of her self, getting plenty of exercise, eating a more natural wholesome diet, drinking plenty of water, and of course staying away from smoking entirely.

Page 2: The dangers of hormone replacement therapy

Learn as much as you can about how to stay healthy, and you will see better management of your menopause symptoms.

There are many symptoms of menopause and also many cures for these symptoms. Learn as much as you can about them, and you can take positive steps to find relief for yourself.

Learn more by visiting us at natural menopause remedies site and reading our massive article collection!