HEALTHCARE
Healthcare issues don't come much more controversial than hormone replacement therapy. Where some see a miracle cure for almost everything, others simply see a fast-track to serious illness. BHRT or bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, however, is different. Based on natural hormones that the body can recognise, it offers real hope to millions of men and women. As these blogs for a global authority demonstrate.
Bioidentical and synthetic hormones.
They’re both the same, right?
Well, no, wrong actually. Wrong with a capital ‘W’. Bioidentical hormones and synthetic hormones may sound similar but they are two very different things. This post tells you why – and also why it’s vital that you know the differences between between bioidentical and synthetic hormones.
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But first let’s backtrack a little and look at what hormones do. Hormones play an essential role in how our bodies function. They enter the body’s cells, telling the cell’s DNA how to develop. The basic structure of any hormone is called the ‘molecular structure’ and it’s this that defines its properties and the ‘message’ it sends to the body’s cells.
Let’s take an example. Water has a molecular structure of H20 as it’s made up of one atom of hydrogen and two atoms of oxygen. However, add just one more atom of oxygen and it stops being water and becomes peroxide. And this small change alters its entire nature – drastically!
Another good case is ethanol, the kind of common or garden alcohol found in beverages like beer and wine. Add an atom of carbon and two atoms of hydrogen to ethanol and it’s still alcohol - but it’s now called isopropyl alcohol and is highly toxic if you drink it.
So, you can see the drastic differences apparently small changes can make. And with hormones, it’s just the same.
Bioidentical hormones are the original hormones our bodies make naturally. However, just as with water or ethanol, if you add atoms to them they become something else entirely. And this is what happens with synthetic hormones.
Essentially, synthetic hormones are hormones whose natural molecular structure has been added to so they’re no longer the same. Let’s say you remove just a single atom of hydrogen from estradiol – the main estrogen made by the human ovary. You now have testosterone. And no one can deny that estradiol and testosterone are completely different.
Now, you ask, why would want anyone want to do this? It’s a good question. And there’s a simple answer. Money.
A molecule that already exists in nature can’t be patented. After all, how could it? It’s the result of evolution. However, when they’ve added to it a company can then patent their ‘new’ hormone – and make a tidy profit as a result.
So, you see, bioidentical hormones and synthetic hormones are not the same at all.
In spite of this, or perhaps because of it, pharmaceutical corporations spend a huge amount of time and resources persuading doctors that bioidentical and synthetic hormones are very similar.
Yet synthetic hormones simply do not act like bioidentical hormones. Nor does your body break them down in the same way. While some may have similar effects at times, these are greatly outweighed by the differences between them. And, worryingly, many of these differences are completely unknown and potentially harmful.
In truth, ‘bioidentical’ and ‘synthetic’ hormone are misleading terms and not really self-explanatory. Yet they should never be confused with each other, nor taken to mean the same.
Interesting? For more revealing information about hormones simply call (331) 777-2419 or return the contact form.
Ageing.
It’s not what it used to be
Growing old gracefully. It’s been the aim of women for centuries. But is it selling yourself short? In fact, why do you need to grow old at all?
Of course, we all have to age at some time. The good news is that now there’s a way to hold on to your youth and vigor for far longer than ever before.
And it’s all about hormones.
Essentially, if you can restore your hormone levels to those of a younger person, you open the door to recapturing the health and vitality of that person.
In other words, through hormone treatment you can experience a huge range of benefits, from greater energy and vigor to glossier hair and clearer skin, from improved memory and moods to better sleep and weight control.
How can this be?
Well, it’s not all that complicated. Over the course of your lifetime, your body is pre-programmed to grow, procreate, then slowly detioriate and ultimately pass away. And each change is triggered by hormones.
On your ‘way up’, at puberty, changes in hormone levels kick in and send you into the fertile phase. For a couple of decades or so, you then enjoy your best health.
However, when women reach menopause, say in their late 40’s, the pendulum swings the other way. Your fertility hormones decline, and your body starts to suffer accordingly, with symptoms ranging from hot flashes to foggy memory. And while they don’t experience menopause, men also begin to suffer.
Yet, as we say, now you don’t have to just accept this decline as inevitable. Hormone replacement therapy can put back the hormones the years are taking away.
The result is that your body reacts by functioning as it did in your fertile years, restoring your youthful energy and alleviating the conditions associated with menopause and perimenopause. Think of it like resetting a computer.
Sounds like magic? It’s not, just sound science. However, it’s essential that the hormones used in replacement therapy are natural or bioidentical hormones, as close as possible to the body’s own.
For more information about how bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can restore your health and happiness, call the Anti-Aging Medical Group on (331) 777-2419.
Why BHRT is your perfect answer to PMS
Anxiety, mood swings, irritability, depression, migraine – they’re all symptoms of PMS. Whatever you’ve been told, they’re also conditions you no longer have to put up with. And it’s all due to BHRT, or bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
Allow me to explain. PMS – premenstrual syndrome - is very common in women of all ages, from teenagers to those approaching menopause. As such, it’s accepted as an inevitable part of life, just one of those things that you have to put up with.
However, this simply need not be the case.
Like many conditions, PMS is caused by hormones. Specifically, a lack of the hormone progesterone in the second half of the menstrual cycle. If the symptoms are particularly severe, it’s known as PMDD or premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
Fortunately, because PMS is caused by a lack of hormones, there’s a simple answer. Increasing the level of hormones! A blood test will confirm that PMS is actually the cause, and then it’s just a case of applying the correct dose of progesterone through BHRT.
Now, in practice things aren’t always that easy. Some medical practitioners still prescribe synthetic progesterone, also known as progestin. This is to be avoided at all costs as it has been linked to breast cancer. In contrast, bioidentical progesterone actually protects your breasts, as well as the brain and almost every other cell.
Crucially, bioidentical progesterone is natural and identical to the hormone your body makes by itself, and as such is automatically accepted by it.
In truth, occasional PMS is nothing to worry about. The problems start when you find you’re experiencing severe symptoms over several months. In these cases, you should seek BHRT as a matter of urgency.
When combined with high levels of the hormone estrogen, low progesterone can lead to breast and uterine abnormalities like cysts and fibroids. It can also trigger adrenal stress, which in turn can cause acne, weight gain and bloating.
To find out more about how bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can alleviate the symptoms of PMS and many other common conditions, call Dr. Selma at the Anti-Aging Medical Group of Chicago on (331) 777-2419.