In case you were thinking of Angie's List to find a BHRT physician----

I tried that today, wanted to see if Dr. Carr was listed, and thought that I could perhaps check out a few of the other doctors that I have been asked about. Big surprise, Angie's List limits you to the city you live in, which for me is absolutely useless. Just a warning, thank goodness I didn't pay much for the subscription and I cancelled it immediately. I hate rip offs like that.......

(Update 8/2/11) Angie's List did finally refund my membership fee, the first email they sent said they would make sure my membership wasn't renewed, but that I was "welcome" to enjoy my year's membership with them, when I sent another email clarifying I wanted it cancelled entirely, they refunded me.)

Penn Study Identifies Risk Factors for Sudden Cardiac Death in Post-Menopausal Women with Coronary Artery Disease

This article from the PennMedicineNews.com site is one that you need to read, and then discuss with your doctor. Hopefully, you are not dealing with the risk factors listed in the article:
previous heart attack, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, physical inactivity, diabetes, and reduced kidney function---but if you are, please make sure that you are keeping up with your medical appointments and take special care to reduce your risks to the extent that you can. This is also an article to share and discuss with the older loved ones in your life who may be dealing with any or all of the risk factors listed----we often think of post menopausal as just those few years after we hit menopause, but in actuality it's the years from the moment of menopause until death.

History and menopause

Although we have made many strides in society's thinking about women in general, menopause, and how menopause is seen, we still have a long way to go. Check out this article from BellaOnline.com about the myths and historical perspective of menopause.

This quote pretty much sums up bioidentical hormone treatment:

"The shoe that fits one person pinches another. There is no recipe for living that suits all cases."

- Carl Jung

Study reveals how alcohol and weight influence breast cancer hormone levels in post menopausal women

I don't smoke, I don't drink (I think the last drink I had was at my 50th birthday party 2 years ago), but I am still overweight (but working on it). Check out this morning's article from NewsMedical.net ----- a study recently published in the British Journal of Cancer discusses the three biggest risk factors for breast cancer: obesity, alcohol, and smoking. I've done one workout already today, and am now heading to the pool for my water aerobics, and remind me to have just a protein shake for lunch!

Dispelling the Myths and Misconceptions About Natural Progesterone

For those of you who are bioidentically hormonally balanced, and especially for those of you who aren't-------this article is important reading. Go, Dr. Dach!

Great quote for the day!

"Meditation is the tongue of the soul and the language of our spirit."
- Jeremy Taylor

Can't Sleep? Calm Down and Cool Down

Although my sleep is still far from perfect, it's way better than it used to be thanks to hormone balance (much of my problem now is back and hip pain from a long ago car accident). Check out this post from The HuffingtonPost.com ------ it has some great ideas on ways to help improve your "sleep hygeine".

Alzheimer's Disease: Targeting Risk Factors Could Cut Number of Cases

Lots of articles popping up on my newsfeed about Alzheimer's Disease and dementia, must be there is a big conference going on somewhere and research papers are being presented. I was struck by this article from ABCNews.com, most especially by the part that said:

"On the basis of these figures, reducing the prevalence of all seven risk factors by 10 percent would cut the global and U.S. case counts by 1.1 million and 184,000, respectively. Prevalence reductions of 25 percent would correspondingly prevent some 3 million and 492,000 globally and in the U.S., respectively."

That kind of decrease in the number of people who will be affected by the disease is significant, not only in the suffering of the individuals and their families (I've had two friends in the last couple years who have had lives devastated by the disease, each is/was caring for a loved one), but in the financial cost to our health care system.

Temperatures back in the mid to upper 90's here in NC, so my repeated reminder: stay hydrated, and don't overdo the outdoor exercise!

To Ward Off Dementia, Try Staying Healthy From Head to Toe

Most peri/menopausal women have experienced moments/hours/days of forgetfulness, and most of us have felt at one time or another that they may be "losing it"----early signs of dementia or Alzheimer's. I know I did, but the hormonal balance has made my cognitive functioning a lot better. I like to think my daily hour of exercise helps not only my back and hips, but also my brain.

Time Magazine discusses in this article how various health issues can affect your risk for developing dementia, and ways you can work to minimize those risks. This is a good one for me to post, I just finished a 45 minute weight and balance ball workout (I don't mind the balance ball, but ugh, I hate working with weights----but I know it's important for bone health). Enjoy the rest of your weekend, everyone!

Can Shoes Really Tone the Body?

Good afternoon, everyone! I hope you are all staying cool and hydrated in this awful heat (here in NC we have heat index warnings of about 105 degrees). It's been way too hot to walk since about Sunday, but fortunately, the heat is supposed to break a bit by tomorrow, so perhaps I can get in at least three walks this week.

This article from the NYTimes.com didn't come across my newsfeed, I am not sure exactly how I backed into it. It's worth sharing with you, as I know a lot of you like to walk as part of your fitness routine (you are also doing weights for bone health, aren't you?) Some ofyou may remember that I purchased a pair of the Shape Up (Sketchers) shoes last September:

I tried, I really, really tried to like them, but I ended up hating them. I am not one of those people who wears sneakers out and about every day (I am way too in love with cute shoes---sigh---it's a sickness), but I do wear them almost every day for some form of workout. They made me overpronate both feet terribly, and I found no toning benefit. They were also a bit scary, as if I didn't have my foot at least halfway on a step when climbing stairs, I felt unstable, like I was going to fall backwards. I finally bought a pair of Saucony cross trainers for the gym and workouts at home, and a pair of Ryka walking shoes for fitness walks (so far, so good). I sent the Sketchers to Goodwill. Everyone is different, and I have friends that swear by these.

Now if it would just cool off so I could GO walking-------make it a great day!

I'm a huge fan of the Bear (and I especially LOVE Eeyore!)

"A bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercise."

---A.A. Milne, creator of Winnie the Pooh

Patients and Professionals for Customized Care

I have talked about this in the past, but not recently, and I know I have a bunch of new blog readers (thanks!) I subscribe to the free newsletter from Patients and Professionals for Customized Care, an advocacy group for compounding pharmacies, they are affiliated with the IACP (International Academy for Compounding Pharmacists). Lots of good information in their newsletters (and they don't bombard you with email, something I enjoy and respect!), and relevant since most of us use compounding pharmacies for at least some of our hormones. Click here to learn more and sign up for the newsletter.

The Truth About Low Testosterone -- And What To Do About It

Good morning, everyone! Another hot and humid day in NC (typical July weather)----hope everyone is keeping well hydrated!

This article from TheHuffingtonPost.com is to share with the guy in your life.....Dr. Jeffrey Life (that really is his name) discusses low testosterone, or low T. You may have seen Dr. Life's picture in magazines advertising Cenegenics, which is a chain of very high end "anti-aging" clinics around the country. His new book looks somewhat interesting, might throw it on my next Amazon.com order to add to my "health" library.

Teaser for an upcoming post----I am reading a book on hormone replacement therapy that is all at once fascinating and appalling. I'll post more about it as the week goes on......

Testosterone Therapy Improves Memory

Must be testosterone day on my newsfeed! I know a lot of you write to me complaining of brain fog and forgetfulness, and it's normal to be concerned and wonder if it's the first signs of dementia or Alzheimer's Disease. I know when I became peri/menopausal that my inability to focus on any task was maddening. I've been a lifelong book lover and reader, and yet it became a chore just to get through a chapter with any comprehension. I'm ADD to boot, so it was a double whammy. I now take testosterone once a day transdermally, and it makes a huge difference in my cognition. To learn more, check out this article from RedOrbit.com

The Low Down on Low-T; Replacement Can Help

I haven't shared an article with you lately on testosterone deficiency in men, often known as Low-T. It can have serious health consequences beyond erectile dysfunction, and as I stated in the post below this one, men can and do die from osteoporosis related hip fractures. My aunt's recently deceased husband is a good example-----he was hunched over from osteoporosis and had great difficulty getting around the last 10 years of his life. He was pretty miserable.

Check out this article from FoxBusiness.com ---- an overview of how testosterone deficiency can affect the man in your life.

New online test calculates osteoporosis risk for men, women

I have something for you to try out today! Saw this article on KABC-TV.com (Los Angeles ABC affiliate) about an online tool you can use to assess your risk for osteoporosis. We hear an awful lot about it affecting women as they age, but men also get osteoporosis, and if they fracture a hip, they are twice as likely to die from it as women.

Here's the link to the FRAX (WHO Fracture Risk Assessment Tool), go ahead, take the test, I'll wait!

I took the test, and my results showed that I have a 8.5% risk of a major osteopathic fracture in the next 10 years, and a .7% chance of a hip fracture. Now, a few points:

• I had to answer yes to having a previous fracture----I was in a car accident 19 years ago and had approximately 23 breaks in my pelvis, two broken legs, and a crushed right hand, wrist and forearm. That's a little out of the ordinary for someone so young, so that does alter the restults a bit.




• Nowhere does it account for hormonal balance, and quite honestly, my bone density has improved dramatically since getting my hormones balanced. Testosterone and Vitamin D3 have made a huge difference for me, and I also do regular weight training (not breaking any records, but still weight training).




• I have had a couple DEXA (bone density) scans, but right now in this mess of a desk I can't find my latest result (2009) so I left that area blank.

If the online assessment does nothing more than make people more aware of the osteoporosis risk for themselves and a loved one, it will have done its job. Stay strong!

Love this quote:

"We immediately become more effective when we decide to change ourselves rather than asking things to change for us."
- Stephen Covey

New highly-accurate blood test can measure all forms of vitamin D deficiencies

Most regular readers of this blog have probably already gotten their Vitamin D levels checked (blood test). I have mine checked every 6 months with Dr. Carr, and despite the fact that I faithfully down my 5000 IUs of Vitamin D3 every morning, getting to an optimal level has been a struggle. Dr. Carr explained it to me that the enzymes in our skin that convert sunshine to Vitamin D become less efficient as we age, so that sun exposure does not guarantee a good Vitamin D level (which is kind of ironic------I'm nice and tan from being out in the pool working out this summer!)

New blood test on the horizon to test the different types of Vitamin D, it will more accurately pinpoint deficiencies and provide important clues for research into Vitamin D and disease process. Read about this new test in this article from News-Medical.net.

Natural Estrogen May Improve Cognition for Alzheimer's Disease Patients

Good morning, everyone! A little "brain food" for this morning's post.

Check out this article from the University of Wisconsin-Madison's website. A small study done at UW has shown that women with mild to moderate cognitive impairment from Alzheimer's Disease may benefit from wearing an estradiol patch (most often known as Climera or Vivelle Dot) for a period of three months. The findings indicate that natural estradiol (not to be confused with Premarin or Prempro, which are drugs and not natural) may have protective effects on the brain. That's good news for those of us who are hormonally balanced!

I hope everyone has a great 4th of July-----be safe, make memories! Hot as hell here in NC, time for me to head down to the pool for a workout before the crowds get there.

Fourth of July: Love America, Love Life

Nothing to do with menopause----but having to do with beauty (and we are beautiful inside and out, right?)----check out this post from Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen's YouBeauty.com blog----celebrate our great country!