Hormone Replacement Therapy

Macular Degeneration is a disease of the eye that gradually causes loss of a person’s central vision. Approximately 1.75 million Americans suffer from vision loss associated with the disease (All About Vision 1). The leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 60, Macular Degeneration, exists in two types (National Eye Institute 1). Both the wet and dry versions of the disease have similarities in risk factors, but differ in symptoms and treatments.

Hot flashes and insomnia are some of the problems associated with menopause. As you age, you may find that your symptoms are increasing and affecting your ability to maintain a productive lifestyle. A real solution to menopause is hormone replacement therapy.

Estrogen and progesterone are hormones generated by the ovaries. These hormones have a variety of fundamental uses in the body of a female. Estrogen initiates thickening of the uterus wall in preparation for implantation of a fertilized ovum. Also, estrogen plays a role in the metabolism of calcium in the body. Apart from these two roles, estrogen also participates in the maintenance of cholesterol levels within the normal limits. Estrogen is also implicated in keeping the vagina healthy. Progesterone, on the other hand, acts as a regulatory substance to estrogen. Menopause is characterized by a reduction in production of these hormones. This decline in production correlates with a decline in performance of

Although, estrogen is produced by other organs in the body, estrogen output is significantly decreased in premenopausal women, and progesterone becomes nearly absent.

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 50. Every ten years after the age of 50 the prevalence of this disease increases exponentially. Many different factors contribute to the development of AMD including genetic, environment, and metabolic functions. Aside from smoking, abnormal blood pressure, and an unhealthy diet low in fruits and vegetables, many more studies are concluding that similar inflammatory and oxidative processes seen in other age related diseases are also playing a key role in the development of AMD. This disease affects the central areas of the retina and choroid. In return central vision is impaired while peripheral vision is usually not lost. AMD is seen in two different forms, the earlier nonneovascular (dry) type and the more advanced neovascular (wet) type. Each form has its own specific pathology and unique characteristics that set them apart. Fatty, protein deposits called drusens may be the key risk factor in understanding dry AMD pathology, progression, and treatment. Once the more advanced wet AMD is diagnosed, pathology and treatment are targeted around the formation and destruction of abnormal blood vessels, characteristic of the wet AMD eye. The increasing prevalence of AMD has influenced more investigation into what factors can be modulated to prevent the onset or to stop the progression of AMD. This text will discuss the pathology of drusens and the role of inflammation and

Menopause is a transitional phase that every woman must endure. The affects that hormonal changes create during this transition can produce feelings of sadness and irritability. Menopause can be viewed as closing a chapter of life and eagerly awaiting the finale. A new beginning or a time of frustration; this transition can only be defined by the individual experiencing this phase.

Menopause can take women by surprise, leaving them to endure uncomfortable symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, and hot flashes. Dr. William M. Jamieson M.D. in Cincinnati, OH wants his patients to know about every available solution. The trusted gynecologist offers hysteroscopic surgery, women’s health services, fertility treatment, and gynecological surgery. He has taken a special interest in using bio-identical hormone replacement therapy to help women find relief from the negative effects of menopause.

Ladies world over fear "fifty". While men get devious at forty, ladies get confounded at fifty! This age is the age when a lady encounters menopause. For some ladies, menopause is a frightful period that is set apart by hot flushes, lavish sweating, sleep deprivation, vaginal dryness and emotional episodes. Amid menopause, a lady's body experiences extraordinary physical and mental changes also. Decreasing levels of estrogen and progesterone cause a considerable measure of issues for ladies. These hormones are in charge of the menstrual cycle as well as shield them from genuine maladies of the heart and the bone like osteoporosis. The current science has an impeccable answer for these issues called the "Hormone substitution treatment".

Weight gain the hormonal changes of menopauses can add to weigh problems particularly in the mid-section causing increased belly fat named visceral fat that is underneath the subcutaneous fat. By exercising regularly during the day and not at night. Taking control of your diet intake play a huge part during menopause and weight gain, by monitoring your sugar and caffeine intake. Hair changes there are two issues while going through menopause. Thinning hair on the scalp and unwanted facial hair on the chin and chest area. It is caused by the rapid drop in estrogen levels combined with the slower reduction in androgen levels (a male sex hormone, testosterone). Skin changes can run the gamut, from dry itchy skin to oily skin causing adult acne. Irregular menstruation, hot flashes and night sweats, which transmit to insomnia and sleep issues. The best bedtime habits to have for hot flashes and insomnia, is going to bed at the same time each night and limit long naps during the day, wear cotton pajamas and keep your bedroom cool with good ventilation. There is also elevated heart rate causing you to feel like you’re having a panic attack, palpitation and the feeling of your heart pounding rapidly. Mood changes when hormones are fluctuating during this time, making it difficult to concentrate, you tend to be more forgetful, irritability, fatigue, anxiety and depression. Vaginal discomfort and urinary issues, because of the decline of estrogen the lining and tissues of the vagina and urinary tract become thinner and drier leading to less elastic and muscle control. Bone loss plays a big part during a woman’s life especially during menopause and postmenopause the risk factors for osteoporosis are higher during this time. Research indicates that up to 20% of bone loss can occur during these stages (Hormone Health Network page 22). A good way to prevent bone loss is through dairy products by eating dark

Dry eyes can be chronic or temporary. Numerous factors can contribute to the condition, such as certain medications, disease in the eye glands, pregnancy, LASIK surgery, chemical or thermal burns, eye allergies, extended computer use, dry environments, long term use of contact lenses, or immune system disorders. Although the condition can affect anyone, it tends to show up more often in older adults and women

In the early transitional stages of menopause, women begin to experience a variety of physical and psychological changes (3). Some of the physical changes are unnoticeable to the menopausal women, while others are due to the symptoms. The symptoms commonly experienced by women during menopause include: hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, depression, irritability, headaches, and sleep disturbance, each symptom varies among women (3). Certain symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness have been associated to occur due to the loss of estrogen (4). In order to alleviate the patient’s discomfort of the ongoing symptoms, doctors

HRT rose in the effort to ease symptoms associated with menopause. Today there is little doubt that hot flushes amongst others can be relieved by the use of exogenous estrogens.2 The focus of HRT changed however in the 1990s from short-term treatment to preventive long-term treatment.2 Exogenous hormones are very bioactive and interact with endogenous hormones and interfere with natural variations. Estradiol, the main component of HRT in Europe, has shown effects on inflammation74-77, immunity78, 79 and metabolism80-86. These effects are multifaceted and not unidirectional,81, 86, 87 as they strongly depend on the tissue and the specific microenvironment.88-91 The effects of HRT depend further on age, timing in relation to menopause, dose and therapeutic window2, 81, 84

No woman's experience of menopause is the same, but most experience it between the ages of 40 and 58 and are able to confirm it after having missed a period for twelve consecutive months. Perimenopause, however, begins years before the final menstrual period and is usually the phase during which the physical changes start. The symptoms that women experience, which vary greatly per individual, are primarily the result of lowered production of estrogen and progesterone. Missed or irregular periods is a very common symptom of menopause and may be accompanied by one, or possibly all, of the following: hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood changes, sleep problems, weight gain and slowed metabolism, thinning hair and dry skin, loss of

Contact lenses are the convenient way to see clearly when you don't want to deal with the hassle of glasses. However, contact lenses can feel like you are wearing sandpaper when your eyes get dry and tired. Dry eye is one symptom of menopause and is caused by the drop in your hormone levels. However, before you give up on wearing contact lenses completely, there are three small changes you can make to make your lenses feel comfortable again.

Hormonal Replacement Therapy, or HRT, is a treatment of taking hormones to supplement the natural hormone levels of the body in order to minimize the menopause symptoms. The therapy is highly effective in relieving dryness in the genital tract, changing mood swings, and moderating hot flushes. HRT also averts the risk of developing certain cancers, osteoporosis, and fractures.