Hormone Treatment and Heart Disease in Post-Menopausal Women

If you are in the post-menopausal stage of your life, you are most likely struggling with female hormone imbalance. A hormone imbalance can create many changes in your body – and you may be experiencing many different types of symptoms. Symptoms can range from hot flashes to night sweats, and even affect your sex drive and your skin. Besides estrogen, your body may also be affected by an imbalance of testosterone hormones. These hormone imbalances can also be blamed for a decrease in your overall health and even a higher risk for heart disease. Consider using hormone replacement therapy to treat your hormone imbalance and take control of your health today.

Knowing the Symptoms of Female Hormone Imbalance

In this new stage of your life – after menopause – you may be experiencing many symptoms caused by female hormone imbalance. From low estrogen to an imbalance in testosterone levels, the symptoms can be many. The most common symptoms during and after menopause are hot flashes and night sweats, but can also include a lower sex drive, acne, depression, weight gain, headaches, vaginal dryness, unwanted facial hair and even more. Knowing why you are experiencing these symptoms – because of a female hormone imbalance – will help you better select the right kind of treatment to get your life back to normal and your health in top shape.

How Female Hormone Imbalance Relates to Heart Disease

Besides unwanted symptoms from a female hormone imbalance, an imbalance of hormones in the body can also be related to heart disease. After menopause, protective sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone are lowered. These hormones help with blood circulation and can even help regulate cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. As those protective hormone levels get lower, it can increase your risk of heart disease and other health problems.

Also affected during post menopause are stress hormones and your thyroid levels. It is no secret that higher stress can lead to heart disease and health concerns in many people, and the same is true for post-menopausal women. An imbalance in thyroid hormones can also affect the bloodstream and the body’s metabolism – leading to an increase in heart disease.

Choosing Hormone Replacement Therapy

If you are experiencing symptoms of a hormone imbalance caused by menopause (or during post-menopause), consider hormone replacement therapy to help regulate your hormone imbalance. Regulating your levels of estrogen, testosterone and other hormones can help relieve your everyday post-menopause symptoms, as well as help to prevent heart disease and lessen other health concerns. Take control of your health today and start using hormone replacement therapy to continue living a happy and active life.

What Causes Hormone Imbalance?

Hormones play an important role in the health of every person.  A proper balance allows men and women to progress through puberty and develop the characteristics associated with each gender.  When something occurs to interfere with the production of those essential hormones, the body and mind will undergo significant changes.  By understanding the underlying causes for a hormonal imbalance, it’s easier to determine the best type of replacement therapy and compensate for the body’s inability to produce enough of the right hormones.

Stress

For men and women alike, exposure to prolonged periods of severe stress can impair the production of hormones.  While a certain amount of stress is actually a good thing, too much will inhibit the natural balance and pave the way for problems.  Fortunately, hormone replacement therapy can correct the problem and supply what the body is not producing naturally.

Sedentary Lifestyle

If you find that you spend most of your day sitting at a desk and rarely exercise, rest assured that the ability to produce the right balance of hormones will be affected.  As the hormonal imbalance begins to manifest, you’ll feel tired, irritable, and may notice a loss of muscle mass.  Fortunately, HRT will help you get back to a good place.

Medication

There are medications that can trigger a hormonal imbalance.  Since no one reacts to medication in exactly the same way, it pays to take a look at the combination of medicines that you are currently taking.  Don’t forget to mention any herbal supplements you are also taking, since they may be part of the problem.  If you must take the medication in order to deal with a chronic condition, HRT is the best way to deal with a hormone imbalance.

Menopause

For women, menopause will cause a hormonal imbalance.  During this time, the use of HRT testosterone or estrogen treatments can be used to compensate for what the body is not producing naturally.  When the time is right, the treatments can be tapered off.  In the meantime, the replacement therapy minimizes the unpleasant side effects and makes it easier to make the most of every day.

Don’t assume that a hormonal imbalance can only occur at a certain time in life.  No one is immune.  When things don’t seem to be quite right, see a doctor and have those hormone levels checked.  Once you have an answer, it will be easier to determine if HRT is necessary to correct the imbalance and regain control of your life.

Perspectives on Sexuality and Hormone Replacement Therapy

Sexuality is something that is deeply ingrained in everyone.  You know personally that your sexuality has a great deal to do with your sense of self, the confidence you feel, and your ability to connect with other people.  In terms of establishing romantic bonds and enduring relationships, the role of sexuality cannot be overstated.

When something interferes with your ability to express your sexuality in some way, other areas of your life will also be affected.  That is where the connection between some type of hormone imbalance and hormone replacement therapy comes into the picture.

Feeling Like Less of a Person

Individuals of all genders find that their outlook of life changes when hormones are not being produced in sufficient quantities.  You are likely to notice that you don’t have the same level of enthusiasm for things that you used to enjoy so fully.  Being around other people may become tiresome, since it seems that every little thing they do gets under your skin.  Even the intimacy you used to enjoy so much with your partner provides no joy at all.

With all this going on, is it any wonder that you feel as if you are no longer the person you used to be?  As parts of your life seem to slip away one by one, so does your sense of self.  It’s easy to feel as if you are merely existing rather than really living.  

Your Relationships Suffer

As you struggle with feeling like less of a person, your relationships will suffer.  In some cases, your partner will assume you are having your needs met elsewhere, or that you simply don’t love the person any longer.  While you still feel love and you want to get that old excitement back, there’s a wall that keeps anything from happening.  

What Can You Do?

On your own, things will not improve.  Even though you are a private person and don’t like to talk about such things, it’s time for a heart to heart discussion with your doctor.  After hearing everything you have to say and asking some questions, expect the physician to order blood tests.

Hormones are carried through the bloodstream to every part of the body.  They influence all the things that make you the person that you are.  That includes your feelings of sexuality and your ability to express it.  When those blood tests come back indicating that there is a hormone imbalance, the doctor is likely to talk with you about the possibility of hormone replacement therapy.

What Will Happen Next?

As part of the discussion about HRT, your doctor will talk about different ways of introducing the right level of hormones into your system.  Many people find that patches work well for them.  Others are happy with the results of topical creams that allow the hormone to be absorbed through the skin.  Injections are also a good way to correct the imbalance and get you back on track.

Keep in mind that men and women alike need testosterone and estrogen in their bodies.  What is different is the amount that each gender requires.  Don’t be surprised if you are a woman and your doctor recommends HRT testosterone treatments to bring your body back into balance.  It won’t be long before you see why that particular choice was made.

You do not have to feel as if you are less of a man or a woman.  Correcting hormone imbalances with the aid of hormone replacement therapy has never been more effective.  See your doctor today and get ready to start living your life again.