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Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

It seemed the perfect match for us "women of a certain age" an easy-to-swallow pill that could soothe our menopausal symptoms, keep our bones strong, protect us from heart disease, and lower our risk of colon cancer. But alas, our love affair with menopausal hormone therapy (HT), which used to be called hormone replacement therapy, came to an abrupt end last summer when researchers leading the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) published their startling findings about the therapy.

The government-funded study found that Prempro, a combination of estrogen and progestin-and the most commonly prescribed hormone therapy for post menopausal women who haven't had a hysterectomy-didn't prevent heart disease after all in predominantly healthy postmenopausal women. In fact, women who took the pill had a small increase in heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots compared with women who took a placebo. In addition, Prempro slightly increased the risk of breast cancer, which was a major reason the study was stopped early.

In the end, the good news that HT really did appear to protect women against bone fractures and colon cancer wasn't enough to tip the scales. The WHI researchers concluded that the risks associated with this particular therapy outweighed the benefits.

Prior to the WHI, observational studies and clinical evidence suggested that taking HT did, in fact, protect women's hearts. That was no small thing, since heart disease has long been the number one killer of women.

So where does this leave you if you are currently using HT. We believe that our all natural product can offer you safe, effective relief from your menopausal symptoms, PhytoBalance has been researched and used world-wide for over 15yrs to treat menopausal symptoms naturally and safely.

We offer some suggestions on non-hormonal alternatives to Hormone Therapy.

• Quit smoking, exercise daily, practice relaxation and deep breathing techniques, and avoid spicy fare, alcohol, and caffeine.
• Get one or two daily servings of foods rich in Soy Isoflavones (roasted soy nuts, soy milk, tofu, lima beans, lentils, and kidney beans). Keep soy isoflavone intake in the 30-to 50-mg-a-day range, and don't exceed 100 mg.
• Try Black Cohosh it will help reduce hot flashes and night sweats

How do I protect my heart

• Make sure your blood pressure is within a normal range. Less than 130/85 is normal, but lower than 120/80 is optimal.
• Get your cholesterol and triglycerides tested, and keep them under control. Aim for these numbers: triglycerides, 100 to 150; HDL cholesterol, 45 or higher; LDL cholesterol, 130 or lower (less than 100 optimal for cardiovascular health, especially if you have diabetes); total cholesterol to HDL ratio, 4 or less. Consider cholesterol-lowering statins or other types of drugs if diet and exercise don't get your numbers out of the danger zone.
• Check your family history for heart disease, since it raises your risk too.
• Maintain a healthy weight. If you're overweight, losing just 5 to 10% of your bulk can make a big difference. Your body mass index, or BMI, should be less than 25.
• Stop smoking. Within two years of quitting, your risk of heart disease is about the same as someone who has never smoked, assuming your other risk factors are similar.
• Get enough exercise. It can fight inflammation, a hidden cause of heart attacks even in people with normal cholesterol levels. Shoot for 30 to 60 minutes of moderate intensity activity such as walking, jogging, biking, or swimming at least five days a week. Make strength training part of your program; aim for 20 to 30 minutes, 2 or 3 days a week.
• Talk to your doctor about taking a daily low-dose aspirin if you're past menopause. It may help to lower the odds of a first-time heart attack as well as a repeat attack.

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