For Women Only
Now that the furor from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study has subsided, reason is beginning to prevail. Released in 2002, the WHI findings scared many women away from hormone replacement therapy (HRT) when they reported an increased risk of heart disease, breast cancer, stroke, and blood clots in women taking synthetic estrogen and progestin. A new Yale study has concluded what has been clear to many researchers all along: the WHI results are fundamentally flawed. Published in a recent issue of Fertility and Sterility, a respected journal, the study criticized the age of the participants (from 50 to 79), noting that many may have been in the early stages of heart disease when the WHI trial began. Dr. Wulf H. Utian, executive director of the North American Menopause Society, believes the question of whether HRT reduces cardiovascular disease should be studied at the time of menopause, not years later. He also noted that although a woman on synthetic HRT is more likely to develop breast cancer, the risk per individual is minuscule. Another study showed that short-term relief from severe menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats, shortens life expectancy by a few days-a tradeoff that may be well worth improved quality of life. For more information on biologically identical hormones, which have not been shown to produce the negative side effects associated with synthetic HRT, visit www.collegepharmacy.com.
For Men Only
Researchers are pointing the finger at one male characteristic that appears to predict physical aggression. A study at the University of Alberta showed that men with index fingers shorter than their ring fingers are likely to be more aggressive. According to Dr. Peter Hurd, who led the study, scientists have found a direct correlation between finger lengths and the amount of testosterone that a fetus is exposed to in the womb. Published in Biological Psychology, the study obtained data by measuring the fingers of 300 college students. The effect does not apply to women.
Healthy and Fit
A healthy diet with wine and chocolate? This must be a dream. An article published in a recent issue of the British Medical Journal recommends daily consumption of dark chocolate, wine, garlic, almonds, and fruits and vegetables, along with eating fish four times per week, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 76 percent. The researchers project that men who follow the diet could add about 6.6 years to their lives and women 4.8 years. The foods chosen are ideal fuel, especially for those who are physically active. The fruits, vegetables, and nuts replenish glycogen stores and the fats are primarily unsaturated.
Quote of the Month
"There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open."
- George Sand
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Q&A
Q: Does smoking have any effect on hot flashes?
A: Indeed it does. Female smokers are more than twice as likely as nonsmokers to experience hot flashes, and they tend to be more severe, say University of Maryland researchers. Obesity also aggravates hot flashes. It's clear that there is no better time than menopause to make some major lifestyle changes that will benefit your health in many ways.
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Remember Sex?
Approximately 40% of women report sexual dysfunction, which may be attributed to testosterone deficiency. Recent studies demonstrate that testosterone can significantly enhance the sex lives of postmenopausal women. A study released in 2003 showed that women taking a low-dose estrogen-testosterone combination treatment reported a two-fold improvement in sexual interest, compared with women who received estrogen alone. Results of another study, presented last year at the annual meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in Philadelphia, showed that women with low sexual desire who used a testosterone patch had satisfying sex four times more often than they did before. The study was part of a clinical trial of the patch, although it has not yet been approved by the FDA. Ask your health care provider for information about biologically identical testosterone supplementation, or visit www.collegepharmacy.com.
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