Posted on 06/28/2004 8:02:12 PM PDT by neverdem
WASHINGTON, June 28 (Reuters) - Hormone replacement therapy may be especially dangerous for older women with diabetes, researchers said Monday.
A group of doctors led by Barbara Howard, president of MedStar Research Institute in Washington, studied 423 women past menopause who had atherosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries.
The women who had abnormal glucose tolerance - meaning that they had diabetes or a precursor - and who took hormones had changes in their blood suggesting they had a higher risk of heart disease, Dr. Howard's team reported in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
The study was based on an analysis of the Women's Health Initiative, the large continuing study that found two years ago that hormone replacement raised the risk of heart disease, stroke and some forms of cancer in postmenopausal women.
"People once thought that hormone therapy could prevent heart disease in women, especially in women with diabetes, who have an increased risk," Dr. Howard said. "But this study provides evidence that hormone therapy should not be used to reduce cardiovascular disease risk in women with diabetes or pre-diabetes."
Despite such findings, many experts say hormone replacement can be safe and useful for short-term relief of some of the debilitating symptoms of menopause. And in another report, published in the June issue of Fertility and Sterility, doctors said younger women just entering menopause might be at risk of heart disease from the treatment.
Dr. Frederick Naftolin of Yale University and his colleagues noted that few women in their 40's and early 50's took part in the Women's Health Initiative.
Dr. Marian Damewood, president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, which publishes the journal, agreed, saying, "The effects of hormone therapy on the health of a woman in her 40's just beginning the menopausal transition will be different from its effects on a woman 15 years older."
ping
I read your doc's website - impressive, but $3000 for a consult / physical evaluation? Does insurance usually cover it?
We've used homeopathy for years, with an MD who studied in homeopathic hospitals in Europe. Given all the problems with things like HRT, the rise in chronic and incurable diseases, and the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant germs, homeopathy is a genuine medical alternative.
It would be helpful if they included the types of HRT they used and found hurtful!!
There is HRT and there is HRT.
My Doc, a DO, has had me a low dose Estrogen and Testerosterone, and the latter has greatly helped me with serious life issues that could have resulted in depression but for the chemical help from the testerosterone. It also helps with other issues but I'm not going into them here. Oprah has covered the topic, thoroughly and frequently.
What's that?
Never mind. I googled it. That looks like a great idea. It's amazing how much they knew back then. Have fun. Think I'll check it out further when I have the time.
I find that always happens in articles like these, not mentioning specific HRT names. But oh well...you're right. There are different HRTs and you're not the first I've heard to have success with it.
Quote from you: As a non-gyn, I try to convince my patients that if they need a hysterectomy, they should have the ovaries removed, as in all liklihood, the only thing they will accomplish in the future is bad for their health. The hormones the ovaries produce can be replaced for the necessary duration to treat the menopausal symptoms that will occur after removing functional ovaries...
I think some of this is from people living longer.
As far as the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant germs, doctors and lawyers are to blame. Too often docs have prescribed antibiotic to legally CYA.
I for one is not yet willing to jump on the homeopathic band wagon but it really needs to be studied. There is a lot of potential out there that shouldn't be dismissed.
BTTT
Interesting article. Thanks!
Ours covered it as an out-of-network type of transaction. They will not deal with insurance companies directly b/c they don't like the interference from them.
We paid for it out of pocket (yeah credit card) and got back about 2/3 of it from our insurance company.
They do a tremendous amount of blood workup on you, physical exam, and a very detailed physical history. I think I spent 45 min. on the phone with one of their nurses going over my medical history (and I don't have that much to talk about, I'm only 33).
I know they send out their videos for free and those are supposed to have good info.
Not for frivilous reasons -- but if tney are having a hysterectomy - then yes, I advise the ovaries come along also......some gyn's disagree of course....but in my opinion the only thing those ovaries are going to do that can't be replaced by hormone replacement is cause trouble...trouble with a capital "C".
I have my ovaries removed in my 20's. I have to be on some form of hormone replacement. It took years finding doc's who understood the difference between menopause and surgical castration.
My compounded combo is a mix of plant based estrogen, progestrone and a smidge of testosterone.
Tried going off of it and I for the sake of humanity I went back on them.
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