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ALTERNATIVES TO
HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY
According
to the Women’s Health Initiative, the following are alternatives for treating
heart disease, osteoporosis, and the symptoms of menopause. With
increasing age, a woman’s risk for heart disease begins to rise. Risk factors for heart disease include smoking, high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, physical inactivity, overweight/obesity, and
diabetes. It’s important to
follow a heart-healthy lifestyle – this means not smoking, eating a variety of
foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol and moderate in total fat, limiting
salt and alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy weight, and being physically
active. Sometimes drugs are needed
to control high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, or diabetes. For those who already have heart disease, the same lifestyle
measures can help keep the condition from worsening. Drugs may be needed to treat heart disease. The
risk of osteoporosis increases as women get older.
To help prevent osteoporosis, one key step is to follow an eating plan
that is rich in calcium and vitamin D. Moderate
exposure to sunlight helps the body make vitamin D.
Another key step is to engage in regular weight-bearing exercises.
It is also important not to smoke and to limit alcohol.
Smoking causes the body to make less estrogen, which protects bones.
Too many alcoholic beverages can increase the risk for falls.
Osteoporosis is treated by stopping bone loss through lifestyle changes
and medication such as Fosamax, Actonel, and Evista. Alternatives
to hormone therapy exist for treating menopausal symptoms.
Some botanical products contain or act like estrogens, such as soy and
some herbs. Some antidepressants (SSRIs
such as Prozac and Zoloft) also are used for the relief of hot flashes and mood
swings. Although they have not been
approved for this use, clinical trials have shown them to be moderately
effective. Vitamin E can alleviate
hot flashes. Lifestyle changes
including reduction of stress, avoidance of spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine,
enough sleep, and physical activity may also relieve mild symptoms.
Regular exercise and use of a fan may also offer relief from hot flashes.
Over the counter vaginal lubricant, such as Astroglide, may help with
vaginal dryness. Prescription
estrogen replacement creams may help relieve vaginal dryness and painful
intercourse. Sleep disturbances can
be helped by avoiding alcohol, caffeine, large meals and working right before
bedtimes. Physical activity may
also aid sleep, as well as avoiding napping during the day. There
are many herbal products for sale that claim to help menopausal symptoms.
These products are not regulated through the same government system as
drugs, so there is little research to back up their claims.
In addition, most have to be taken routinely, are not covered by
insurance, and can become costly over time.
We have attached a table of those herbs frequently marketed to relieve
symptoms of menopause. Click on the
following link to view the herbal
products table Before
taking an herbal products, discuss it with your physician. Some of the herbal
products can have harmful interactions with other drugs.
Make sure that you obtain the most pure form of each herbal medication
because they are often mixed with inactive ingredients that may reduce the
therapeutic effectiveness of the pure form. Also
see:
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