Who Decides what is Normal when it Comes to Hormones?
As Sophia on 'The Golden Girls' would preface her famous stories, picture it, you are at your PCP office for your yearly physical. Your doctor asks you how you are doing. Instead of saying the inevitable, "fine," you decide to [...]
BHRT for Men Dealing With Hormonal Imbalance
BHRT For Men Dealing With Hormonal Imbalance My wife starting going through ‘the change’ two years ago. Needless to say, it changed our lives. We had always had a very close relationship and fought rarely. We were always considered [...]
Our Hormones and Immune System
As we grow older, our immune system does not work as diligently as it did when we were younger. There have been numerous studies on sex hormones and immune system function. Many factors affect how the immune system functions. Females [...]
Be Proactive!
The average age for menopause in the United States is 51, according to the Mayo Clinic. But menopause can happen to women throughout their 40's and 50's, too. However, it is possible for perimenopause to start in the late 30s [...]
The Importance of Estrogen
Estrogen is an essential hormone that maintains the foundation for female vitality and well-being. Estrogen is critical in proper brain function, bone density, and reproduction. Estrogen is also responsible for the stability of many things like heart, brain, bones and [...]
Menopause – Facts, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
It's that time in life when women are taught to dread menopause. Menopause often presents itself in stages; perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause. Menopause means that you can no longer reproduce. Your body no longer releases an egg at ovulation, allowing [...]
Annie’s 3rd BHRT Implant
I am well into my bio-identical hormone replacement journey. I just received my third implant. I find that I forget about where I started; it’s easy to forget how bad things were. This is why my journal is so important. [...]
Annie’s Hormone Therapy Update
Now that it has been 8 weeks since my second implant I went back today to discuss the lab work I had drawn 1 week ago. My symptoms have greatly improved overall. My nurse practitioner explained that several weeks after [...]
BHRT – Update on My Progress
I went back in to review my blood work with the nurse practitioner. She walked in the room and said you must feel awful. I immediately started to cry. What she was not aware of was the intensity of my [...]
Dealing with Peri-Menopause/Menopause
I am 45 years old and have just started suffering the symptoms of peri-menopause. My periods have been irregular for about two years but have not completely subsided. I started having night sweats about a year ago and noticed a [...]
Annie’s Progress with BHRT
My bio-identical hormone replacement therapy story continues! I just had my second hormone pellet implant. I alternate sides each time that I go, that was a concern of mine since my first side was still tender. I filled out a [...]
3 Month BHRT Follow Up
It has now been almost 3 months since I began my Bio-identical Hormone Replacement therapy with pellets. My family and friends have noticed a change in how my temperament is more relaxed, I don’t get agitated so quickly. I no [...]
Annie’s BHRT Journey Continued
I have had the pellets in place for about 4 weeks now and just went in for a blood test. My levels have increased, and the doctor said that they would continue to do so, this appointment was just to [...]
Annie’s BHRT Journey
My journey with Bio-identical Hormone Replacement (BHRT). I am a 56 year woman that had a hysterectomy at 32 after my daughter was born. They told me that they removed my uterus only so I should not have any hormonal [...]
Bio-Identical Hormones vs. Synthetic Hormones
Bio-identical hormones are very different from synthetic treatments, sometimes having opposite cellular effects. Natural hormones compounded from plant materials with the same structure that the body produces. Synthetic hormones are quite different. Some commonly prescribed hormones are Premarin and Provera [...]
BHRT – What to Expect with the First Insertion
I went for my first ‘insertion’ and it went well. I was nervous. The nurse I met with called me back and explained my lab results to me. I believe that she used the description ‘bone dry’ to describe my [...]
What is BHRT?
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy addresses treatment options to alleviate the symptoms caused by imbalanced hormones or a natural drop in hormone production due to aging. Treatments are often called “bioidentical” or sometimes “natural” because the types of hormones used are [...]
There’s No Such Thing as Over-Reacting When It Comes to Your Health – Know When to Get a Second Opinion
I am a healthy 42 year old woman. I had one child when I was young. I am not overweight, I have no underlying health issues and take no medication. I only go the doctor once per year for my [...]
Menopause: How it Impacts You and Your Hormones – BHRT Can Help You!
Declining hormones due to menopause or peri-menopause are responsible for a host of symptoms and life changing issues. The result is like a chain reaction starting with night sweats, weight gain and lack of sleep to dulled libido and depression. [...]
Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women Dealing with Menopause
The symptoms of menopause are a direct response to declining hormones, specifically estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. This can occur naturally or it can occur surgically via oophorectomy (ovary removal). The decrease in hormone levels will likely bring on symptoms [...]
Hormone Therapy?
Hormone Therapy Hormone replacement might make you think of over-sized athletes and sweaty team jerseys. The stigma of hormone therapy or rather, hormone abuse, tends to often circle back to testosterone. Much of what we hear about in the [...]
BHRT for women-The Basics
One thing is inevitable, we are all aging. We all age at the exact same pace, and there is no stopping it. As a woman continues to age, she will likely start having symptoms of hormonal imbalances indicative of menopause. [...]
4 Health Benefits of Pet Ownership
Health Benefits of Pet Ownership If you have a furry family member – or one with scales or feathers – then you might already suspect that your four-legged charge offers a bevy of emotional benefits. Research backs up your [...]
Drink to Your Health: Better Beverage Alternatives to Soda
Beverage Alternatives to Soda Sunny days might make you reach for a frosty soda, but before you grab another soft drink from the cooler, think about the nutritional impact of your favorite sugary beverage. Sodas are packed with sugar, [...]
Building Stronger Bones as You Age
Building Stronger Bones as You Age Starting at age 50, men and women start to lose bone density at a rate of around 0.5 percent each year. For women, the loss is more noticeable since women tend to have [...]
Hold that Hot Dog: 6 Tips for a Healthy Cookout
Hold that Hot Dog: 6 Tips for a Healthy Cookout Processed red meat and salty, greasy side dishes dominate the cookout landscape. From burgers to hot dogs and all the heavy sides that go with them, eating well during the [...]
Healthy Eating on the Go – How to Eat Well on Vacation
Healthy Eating on the Go – How to Eat Well on Vacation The rules don't apply on vacation, right? Unfortunately, calories, fat, carbs and sugar still count whether you're at home or on the beach. It's easy to fall into [...]
4 Great Benefits of Getting Out in the Sun
4 Great Benefits of Getting Out in the Sun For decades, medical advice has been fairly set in stone when it comes to the sun: Stay inside, and lather up with sunscreen if you're going out. But recent research suggests [...]
Why You Need Preventive Care
Why You Need Preventive Care Do you know what kind of preventive screenings you need as an adult? If you're a parent, then you probably know all about your child's next trip to the doctor, where he'll get [...]
Pro Probiotics: Could Bacteria Improve Your Health?
Could Bacteria Improve Your Health? With so many health tends out there, it can be tough to separate fact from fiction. One of the latest nutrition crazes sweeping the industry is probiotics. You might have heard high praise [...]
Not Just for Kids: Adults Need Vaccines, Too
If you're a parent, then you know that your kids need routine vaccines throughout their childhood to protect against specific diseases and illnesses. Did you know that adults need vaccines, too? Aside from an annual flu shot, adults need a [...]
Low-impact Activities for High-impact Calorie Burn
When it comes to physical fitness, your mind may be willing, but your body can protest to the point of holding you back. From weak knees to aching joints, aging bodies keep millions of people stuck in a rut. Instead [...]
How Much Caffeine Should You Have?
Your daily jolt of java keeps you functioning as you work, drop the kids off at school and hit the gym. Unfortunately, there's a limit to how much caffeine you should consume each day, and exceeding that limit can negatively [...]
Got a Bug Bite? When to See a Doctor
As the weather heats up for spring and summer, you'll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. Unfortunately, April showers also bring showers of bugs. From spiders to mosquitoes, these tiny critters can ruin a good picnic and [...]
Drink in Moderation: How and Why to Limit Alcohol Consumption
When you go in for a routine physical, your doctor might ask about your social habits, including smoking and drinking. Throwing back a few beers with your friends on the weekend might not sound like a big deal, but a [...]
Annual Checkup? The Doctor is Out
If you're like many adults, then you probably schedule a yearly checkup with your doctor. These visits might include a brief physical exam and an interview about how you're doing, mentally and physically. In the past, medical professionals fully supported [...]
7 Natural Remedies for Soothing an Upset Stomach
Whether you've been battling pregnancy-induced morning sickness or a bad stomach flu, nausea can derail your day in an instant. It's difficult enough to deal with a persistent queasiness without worrying over how to treat it. Some conditions require only [...]
5 Common Misconceptions about Stress
Stress has become such a dominant part of everyday life that most people assume it's just a natural condition. From busy work lives to hectic family schedules, we deal with stressful situations so regularly that it's become commonplace. Did you [...]
4 Unique Ways to Relax
For many people today, the always-on approach to life can be physically and emotionally taxing. Whether it's a high-stress job in the corporate world or being a stay-at-home parent to an active toddler, stress can create a barrier to truly [...]
4 Simple Ways to Enjoy a Healthy Pregnancy
When you're pregnant, the list of dos and don'ts can feel like a mile long, and while most of the advice you receive is meant to help you enjoy a healthy pregnancy, it might feel overwhelming. Rest assured that you [...]
The Dangerous Side Effects of Too Much Sugar
With so many conflicting advice about sugar, you might wonder about the truth behind your favorite sweet snacks. Is sugar really bad for you? If so, how bad is it? As with most elements of the modern diet, sugar consumed [...]
Do You Really Need Vitamin Supplements?
Dozens of vitamin supplement bottles line your local pharmacy's shelves, and as you stand in front of them, overwhelmed by the options, you start to wonder if you need any of them at all. In fact, many people don't need [...]
Do You Need a Flu Shot? CDC Says Yes
Flu season in the U.S. typically runs throughout winter, but the epidemic season can start as early as October and last all the way through May, peaking from December to March. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC [...]
Allergies, Cold or Flu: How to Tell the Difference
If you've been fighting a runny nose, sore throat and general discomfort for the last few days, you may be tempted to pass it off as just a cold. While the common cold is aptly named, it's not the only [...]
Enjoy a Healthier, Happier Smile
If you suffer from dry mouth, sensitive teeth and other dental problems, then you may attribute these conditions to aging, and you may be right. Adults over the age of 65 are more likely to experience a wide range of [...]
The Benefits of Regular Exercise
You know that exercise plays a critical role in healthy weight loss, but if you're like many Americans, you may not be getting what you need to stay fit. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends that most healthy [...]
Andropause: A Man’s Transition Period
Men and women age differently, but age-related hormone fluctuations affect men and women in similar ways. Did you know that men can go through a type of menopause? Labeled "andropause" because it is not as defined as female menopause, male [...]
10 Foods to Help You Destress
If you're stressed, then the best way to boost your mood and relax your mind is to engage in a calming physical activity. Unfortunately, your schedule may not allow it. How can you de-stress when you're short on time? Food [...]
5 Ways to Promote Better Brain Health
#1 – Get Active Your body works as one coordinating unit, which means you need to get active to stay sharp physically and mentally. As you exercise, blood flows more freely to the hippocampus, a critical portion of your brain [...]
5 Common Problems with Peri-menopause
5 Common Problems with Peri-menopause Menopause starts for most women during middle age, but symptoms of age-related hormone changes can start well before the official end of your reproductive years. If you're in your 30's or 40's and already [...]
No Quick Fix for Weightloss
When it comes to losing weight, many people are looking for a quick fix to shed pounds. While dozens of fad diets promise fast results, few can help you stick with a healthy figure long term. There's no [...]
4 Natural Ways to Fight Seasonal Allergies
If spring flowers bring you nothing but itchy eyes, a runny nose and a sore throat, then you're probably familiar with the irritating effects of seasonal allergies. Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, affects nearly 8 percent of the [...]
How to Manage Stress
From getting stuck in traffic to giving a big presentation at work, stress takes shape in a variety of forms. When we're stressed, our bodies release cortisol, the fight-or-flight hormone. It's thought that cortisol used to serve a specific purpose [...]
Drink Up: Tips for Staying Hydrated
After a long workout routine, you probably reach for your water bottle without hesitation, but do you guzzle enough H2O on a regular basis? If you're like most people, the answer is no. Americans are woefully under-hydrated. A CDC survey [...]
Is Sunscreen Worth Applying?
Over the last 30 years, more people have gotten skin cancer than every other kind of cancer combined. Approximately 3.3 million people in the U.S. are treated for nonmelanoma skin cancer each year, and about 20 percent of Americans will [...]
How Your Hormones Affect Weight Loss
Losing or maintaining weight as you age might seem harder than it was when you were in your twenties. That's because it is. Hormones, which are responsible for a wide range of body processes, including metabolism, can affect your ability [...]
7 Simple Ways for Getting Rid of Belly Fat
If you've resolved to get in shape and lose some extra weight this year, then you already know that belly fat can stand in the way of your ideal figure. Excess fat around your midsection isn't just embarrassing. It's called [...]
5 Ways to Get Better Sleep
Sleep plays a critical role in everyday function, from making decisions to interacting with people. You may know that getting a good night's sleep can help you feel better about life, but did you know that not getting enough sleep [...]
