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It would be awesome if there was a simple pill we could take that would halt the aging process. Unfortunately there isn’t and aging will happen to all of us. But even though we are going to age doesn’t mean that we cant take care of ourselves increasing our longevity.

As we age our hormones are critical to how we age and we can better manage our aging if we manage our hormones. By balancing our hormones we can look and feel better, be healthier, and avoid disease and disability. At Wright Surgical Arts we believe that you should be enjoying your lifestyle, keeping up the same activities, enjoying time with family, and an incredible sex life long into your 80’s!

Health is not just about your hormones, it is multifactorial and includes:

1. Hormonal Balance
2. A nutritious and balanced diet
3. Exercise and activity
4. Keeping stress at bay

Hormones Changes As You Age

Hormones typically begin to decline when a woman is in her late 20′s. How quickly or how slowly a woman ages depends on the rate of decline of these hormones. What this means is that hormones don’t decline because we age. Rather, we age because our hormones decline. Getting these hormones to healthy levels is the key to healthy aging!

At what point in your life did you feel healthiest and most energetic? Typically most women feel that they were in their prime at the ages of 20 and 30. You slept better, had more energy, felt less tired, and did more with this energy. Your skin looked fresh and great, your sex drive was strong, it was easier to build muscle, and you were able to keep the weight off. The reason you felt great during these times was that your hormones were balanced and your body was working as it was supposed to. Although we can’t reverse the clock making you younger we CAN make you feel like you once did. With balanced hormones, healthy diet and exercise this is possible.

What You Eat Is Important

We were designed for nutritious healthy foods. But today we have to fight GMO and processed foods, bioengineered produce, and food ladened with significant levels of pesticides and bad hormones. Here are some keys to a healthy lifestyle:

• Maintain a Balanced Diet – Protein, complex carbs, fat…it is important to know what you are eating.
• Don’t Make to Many Changes at the Same Time – Too many changes too close together can make it challenging and will increase your chances of failure.
• Take a Daily Vitamin – A good daily vitamin can help balance out the smaller things your body may be lacking.
• Other Supplements May Be Needed – There is more your body needs that a daily multivitamin cant supply such as: fish oil, Vitamin E, C, and D3. Vitamin D has numerous health benefits as well as cancer prevention. Ask us for more information on the vitamins you may need.
• Eat Clean – Making food at home that is unprocessed without preservatives is much healthier. Add fresh vegetables and fruits to your diet. Knowing what is in your food will help you feel better physically and mentally. It is rewarding to eat healthy, although it is unpractical to eat like this everyday when you begin to make it a habit you will begin to feel better about your self and your body. Small steps for success.

Be Active

When people start thinking about being active and starting to exercise, it is often associated with dieting. We are not fans of dieting, we are all about lifestyle changes. Exercising often becomes monotonous, doing the same routines at the gym everyday. If you are doing the same thing day in and day out you will get burnt out and stop. What we prefer is for you to be active. Being active means you are out getting your heart rate to an appropriate level. That doesn’t have to just be the elliptical at the gym, although that works great! You can go biking, hiking, walking, climbing, running, etc… Get Creative! Do what works best for you. Studies have shown that 3, 30minute cardio work outs a week had the same benefit as taking zoloft. Meaning, working out significantly boosts your mental wellbeing too! Everything works better with healthy eating and activity. Your heart, blood flow, brain, and mood. When your body is working in a healthy manner you are able to handle the stressors of life better.

Avoid Stress

You are probably thinking, ‘easier said then done!” But when your hormones are balanced, as well as healthy eating combined with physical activity, you will be able to handle stress significantly better. Here is what stress can do to your health:

• Stress can cause brain deterioration such as alzheimer’s and dementia.
• Stress compromises the immune system leaving your body open to attack from bacteria and viruses.
• Stress can fast track the aging process not only on the inside but to your face and skin.
• Stress can deplete your bodies valuable nutrients leaving you open to disease and sickness.
• Stress can also deplete your hormones interrupting the interrelationships that your hormones have with each other that help keep you healthy and give longevity.

If you know what stressors you have in your life then half the battle is done. Now it is just learning how to cope with them. If you don’t know then sit down and think through your routines and work life and once you discover what they are, you can begin the process of kicking stress to the curb.

Treatment at Wright Surgical Arts

We’re here to help you get the exact personalized care you need. We will test your labs to find out what your hormones are currently, and then will create a customized hormone care plan just for you. Contact us to learn more about healthy aging and how we can create a safe and effective treatment program that is specifically suited to you.

DHEA (also known as Dehydroepiandrosterone) is produced by your adrenal glands, and it’s no wonder they call DHEA the “mother of all hormones.” It is the most abundant steroid in our bodies and serves as the foundation for male and female sex hormones (androgens and estrogens). DHEA is a precursor hormone, meaning that it is required for production of many others. Without it, your body can’t make testosterone. DHEA should not be overlooked when balancing your hormones overall.

DHEA Facts

• You can find DHEA in every cell of the body.
• DHEA declines with age
• DHEA is a precursor hormone. Needed to make testosterone and many others
• DHEA supports the immune system, and protects against cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, depression, and heart disease.
• DHEA is available over the counter but proper dosing is key as well as quality of the product.

Other Benefits Of DHEA

It’s no surprise that since DHEA is in every cell that it is extremely important in supporting good overall health. There are numerous studies showing that low DHEA levels are present at the onset of disease, which has led researchers to conclude it is critical for proper immune system function. Low or deficient DHEA levels are found in almost every illness and DHEA has been found to block carcinogenesis which is means it helps to block the beginnings of cancer.

A 2008 study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society measured serum DHEA in 940 men and women ranging from age 21 to 88, and followed them from 1978 until 2005. The researches found that low levels of DHEA were associated with a shorter lifespan, and a higher incidence of disease. Low or deficient DHEA levels are found in almost every illness and DHEA has been found to block carcinogenesis, meaning it helps block the beginnings of cancer.

Hypothyroidism or under active thyroid means your thyroid is not making enough thyroid hormone. According to recent studies, more than 27 million adults have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism in America. Our providers will perform thyroid hormones test to determine what does of medication is right for you. Our goal is for you to maintain consistent levels of thyroid hormones within your body.

Symptoms of Hypothrydoidism:

• Poor memory and concentration
• Slow pulse rate
• Coldness fatigue weight gain
• Hair loss
• Constipation
• And many more

About Progesterone 

Progesterone (P4) is a steroid hormone involved in the female menstrual cycle, pregnancy and embryogenesis of humans and other species. Progesterone exerts its primary action through the intracellular progesterone receptor. In addition, progesterone is a highly potent antagonist of the mineralocorticoid receptor. Progesterone has a number of physiological effects that are amplified in the presence of estrogen.

Progesterone should always be treated in conjunction with balanced estrogen. Progesterone helps to protect again heart disease, menopause syptoms, pre-menstrual symptoms, breast diseases, osteoporosis, and many others. There are progesterone receptors in numerous sites throughout the body including areas like the brain and uterus (as well as many others). 

In bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, progesterone is mainly used to balance and enhance the effects of estradiol (E2) effect, decreasing the risk of uterine and breast cancer.

Testosterone

More than 90% of women over age 45 suffer from low testosterone. Research shows levels of testosterone drop 50% between the ages of 20 and 40. Other key hormones drop drastically as well. This loss, which continues as you age, takes a huge toll in stamina, appearance, mental acuity, general health, and zest for life. Yet testosterone can be a life changer in these areas—without a prescription. 

Is Testosterone Loss a Problem for You

You may be surprised. The majority of women in their 40’s, 50’s, and beyond have low testosterone.

• Have you had trouble losing weight since turning 40?
• Does your brain sometimes feel foggy?
• Have you been told you have osteoporosis or osteopenia?
• Do you feel fatigued most of the time?
• Do you feel less sexy than you used to?
• Do you have mood swings?
• Has your hair become thinner and drier?

These are signs of testosterone deficiency. If you’re over 40, you’re probably experiencing some of them. After 50, it gets worse.

Testosterone:

• Helps women slim down and shape up.
• Improves women’s mood. Research shows testosterone elevates mood in depressed women as well as or better than anti-depressant medication.
• May prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia. One in six women develops Alzheimer’s vs. 1 in 10 men. Could testosterone be the reason? A 2011 study by The Endocrine Society suggests testosterone may protect women against dementia.
• Helps women’s hearts. Studies suggest that testosterone therapy after a heart attack may help remodel cardiac tissue due to the abundant number of testosterone receptors in the heart.
• Increases women’s energy.
• Lifts women’s sex life. Testosterone improves sex drive and sexual response in many women and can increase sexual thoughts, fantasies, activity, and satisfaction.
• Builds bones and prevents (and is one of the best ways to treat) osteoporosis. Testosterone is so much safer than scary Fosamax, too.
• Improves skin tone and texture. Women who boost their testosterone notice the difference in firmer, more elastic, less crepe-y skin. They also find thinning hair becomes thicker.

Estrogen is the female hormone with the most controversy. And really, this controversy is simply due to misinformation! It can be difficult and frustrating to find good information about hormone treatment options especially regarding estrogen. Allow us to clear up this misinformation for you.

What Is Estrogen?

Estrogen is considered the “female” hormone where testosterone is considered the “male” hormone. Estrogen is actually more than just one hormone. It’s a class of hormones: estradiol, estriol, and estrone. You have estrogen and estrogen receptors literally all over your body. Estrogen hormones play an essential role in the growth and development of female secondary sexual characteristics such as breasts, pubic and armpit hair, endometrium, regulation of the menstrual cycle and the reproductive system. During the menstrual cycle, estrogen acts to produce an environment suitable for fertilization, implantation, and nutrition of the early embryo.

Is Estrogen Good for You?

The short answer is yes. But, it is a little more complicated than that. Estrogen therapy has been confusing for women. Women were told that estrogen replacement was ok, and for years women were treated with estrogen. It was these treatments that helped to relieve their menopausal symptoms. Research was then released from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) showing that estrogen therapy caused serious health risks such as breast and ovarian cancers. With media attention and little knowledge about what the studies really showed, estrogen therapy all but stopped. Since then, estrogen has been the most controversial and misunderstood hormone. Unfortunately the information from WHI was misinterpreted, causing physician misinformation and proper estrogen therapy to be abandoned.

Estrogen Facts

Synthetic hormones are what cause the negative results with estrogen therapy not bioidentical hormones. Synthetic hormones have been shown to cause breast cancer, heart attack, and stroke. Recent studies have shown that natural hormones (estrogen) do not have these side effects and actually have significant health benefits.

When treating women with hormone imbalances it is KEY to use natural or bioidentical hormones NOT synthetic. Sadly many physicians are uninformed and continue to prescribe synthetic estrogen.

Hormone replacement is never just about one hormone, it is about the balance of all. Estrogen treatment also depends on balancing the treatment of other hormones, especially progesterone.

Estrogen is made up of three different kinds: estradiol, estriol, and estrone. Prescribing just one of these does not allow for proper estrogen balance. These different forms of estrogens must be balanced to give the best outcome. We use a compounding pharmacy to achieve the right dosage amounts for what you need.

Estrogen Benefits

• Antioxidant
• Decreases “bad cholesterol” (LDL), and increases “good cholesterol” (HDL).
• Protects your arteries from hardening.
• Lowers heart attack risk
• Protects brain and memory function
• Protects against Parkinson’s disease.
• Increases focus
• Helps with skin elasticity by collagen production.
• Decreases wrinkles and helps retain skin moisture.
• Helps keep vaginal tissue healthy and prevents vaginal dryness.
• Decreases osteoporosis
• Increases metabolism
• Helps to prevent colon cancer.
• Protects against breast cancer when used with progesterone.
• Protects against ovarian cancer when used with progesterone.

It is Wright Surgical Arts opinion that estrogen therapy is healthy, with numerous health benefits if bioidentical hormones are used. We have done our research and know that estrogen is a safe and effective way to relieve your menopausal symptoms getting you back to the life you deserve.c

THE UNFORTUNATE CONCLUSION OF WHY ESTROGEN IS BAD

The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study enrolled more then 160,000 women starting in 1993. This study was paid for and sponsored by the pharmaceutical company that makes PremPro. Synthetic estrogens such as premarin are derived from the urine of pregnant mares, leading to the word breakdown: Pregnant Mare’s Urine. These estrogens contain many estrogens found in horses and not in humans. A lot of women are unable to tolerate the side effects of taking these horse estrogens. The study was stopped in 2002 when it became evident that there was an unmistakable increase in heart disease, breast cancer, stroke and blood clots in women taking this medication. The unfortunate conclusion was drawn that hormone replacement therapy for women is bad, and that it should be stopped. Just like that, women stopped taking estrogen.

The Truth Behind The WHI Study

ON CLOSER EXAMINATION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT:

• Only the women on synthetic estrogen and progesterone (also known as progestin) suffered adverse results to their health. These synthetic progestins are also known as Premarin and Provera. Those on estrogen only did not suffer adverse effects such as cancer or heart disease.
• Since women in the estrogen-only study had no increased risks this showed that it was the synthetic progestin (provera) that was the culprit NOT estrogen.
• Those in the study who started hormone treatment at younger ages experienced positive results, including a decrease in breast cancer.
• The majority of the women in the study were overweight. Fat cells contain estrogen and the more fat cells a woman has will increase their risk of cancers due this extra estrogen.
• The results were skewed by the high percentage of women who dropped out of the study (42%).
• The women in the study took the medication orally, which researchers later found was in part responsible for adverse results.

And the list goes on.

The Great News About Estrogen

Numerous studies have emerged since the WHI study that attest to the safety and health benefits of estrogen replacement. We have numerous articles that attest to the health benefits of hormone replacement of estrogen.

What We’ve Learned About Estrogen

Never liken synthetic estrogen with natural estrogen. Physicians and media tend tie these two together, but they are not the same. The dangers of estrogen replacement have been significantly overstated and misrepresented. What is most important is that other hormones are balanced with estrogen, especially bioidentical progesterone. Synthetic progesterone is what is dangerous in this whole equation not estrogen. Contact us to learn more about estrogen and estrogen replacement.