Study Shows Menopause Symptoms Last For At Least 7 Years

Dr. Enrique Jacome

Hot flashes and night sweats affect up to 75% of women in the US who are going through menopause. Though common, these symptoms can significantly impact a woman's quality of life. But how long do they last? According to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, many women may experience these symptoms frequently for at least 7 years.

Collectively, hot flashes and night sweats are referred to as vasomotor symptoms (VMS). As well as making menopausal women feel uncomfortable, VMS can reduce energy levels, disturb sleep and affect social functioning and overall quality of life.

According to the research team, including Nancy E. Avis of the Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC, there is a "lack of robust estimates" of how long women may experience VMS. 

The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) say VMS can last between 6 months to 2 years, though they note that some studies suggest the symptoms can persist for 3-5 years, with some women experiencing them for 10 years or more.

For their study, Avis and colleagues set out to identify the average length of time women may experience frequent VMS during menopausal transition - defined as having hot flashes or night sweats over at least 6 days in the past 2 weeks. They also wanted to identify risk factors for longer VMS duration.

Premenopausal, perimenopausal women had longest VMS duration

The team assessed 1996-2013 data of 3,302 women who were part of the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN). Of these, 1,449 had frequent VMS during menopausal transition.

The researchers found that on average, total frequent VMS duration was 7.4 years. 

Women who were premenopausal (continuing to have normal menstrual cycles) or early perimenopausal (moving toward menopausal transition) at the first report of VMS experienced the longest duration of hot flashes and night sweats, with an average of at least 11.8 years.

The shortest total duration of VMS was found among women who were postmenopausal (had experienced their last menstrual cycle) at the time of VMS onset, with an average of 3.4 years.

On analyzing the data by racial/ethnic groups, the researchers found that African American women experienced the longest duration of VMS, with an average of 10.1 years, while Japanese and Chinese women had the shortest VMS duration, with an average of 4.8 years and 5.4 years, respectively.

Non-Hispanic white women had an average VMS duration of 6.5 years, while Hispanic women experienced VMS for an average of 8.9 years.

The researchers also found that at the first report of VMS, younger age, greater perceived stress, lower educational attainment, greater symptoms of depression and anxiety and greater sensitivity to VMS symptoms was associated with longer duration of VMS.

Commenting on the results, the team says:

"These findings can help health care professionals counsel patients about expectations regarding VMS and assist women in making treatment decisions based on the probability of their VMS persisting.

In addition, the median total VMS duration of 7.4 years highlights the limitations of guidance recommending short-term HT [hormone therapy] use and emphasizes the need to identify safe long-term therapies for the treatment of VMS."

In an editorial linked to the study, Dr. Gloria Richard-Davis, of the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, and Dr. JoAnn E. Manson, of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA, say the findings from Avis and colleagues are "highly informative" and pave the way for health care professionals to adopt a more personalized approach when it comes to counseling women about VMS.

"The good news is that women now have more options for managing VMS and more opportunities for shared decision making with their health care professionals," they add. "Continued research in this area holds promise for further advances that will guide future care of women experiencing VMS."

www.sottopelleranchomirage.com

BHRT For Parkinson’s Disease And Traumatic Brain Injury

Dr. Enrique Jacome

BHRT or Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy helps restore hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone to their required levels. The hormones are taken from plant sources to produce molecules which are identical to the hormones our body naturally makes. BHRT is a safe method and patients who undergo the treatment have reported feeling younger, more energetic and having decreased symptoms of menopause and andropause (male menopause) symptoms. The therapy is customized to an individual’s requirements and is highly effective in both men and women. Here are the benefits:

• Improved immune system
• Increased sex drive
• Balanced weight
• Improved skin condition
• Lower depression
• A new study also suggests that it helps in Parkinson disease and traumatic brain injury

Parkinson’s disease and BHRT:

Parkinson’s disease (PD) causes the failure and death of critical nerve cells in the brain that are called neurons. PD usually strikes the neurons in the brain area called the substantia nigra that produces dopamine. Dopamine is responsible for communicating with the part of the brain that controls movement and coordination in a human body. As PD advances, dopamine production decreases which leaves a person unable to control his movements like a normal human being. This also inhibits his ability to exercise or maintain his fitness.

However, with BHRT, PD patients have reported improvement in the following areas:

• Reduced progression of PD symptoms
• Reduced need for medicines
• An improvement in fitness
• An improvement in coordination
• Better mobility
• Reduction in tremors

These improvements are possible with BHRT as BHRT is able to increase the production of dopamine and decrease inflammation in the female brain and testosterone in the main brain. BHRT keeps hormones in balance and revives quality of life of PD patients. Balance of hormones means a steady flow of hormones in the blood stream that helps keep PD negative symptoms in check.

Also, BHRT is customized as per the needs of the individual patient. This customization to the precise needs of the patient’s body is the key to the success of pellet therapy. SottoPelle’s® patent pending dosing method BioCalc® allows for the treating physician to dose the pellet therapy to exactly what that patient’s body requires to regain balance.

Traumatic brain injury and BHRT:

Research suggests that traumatic brain injury affects around 1.7 million Americans per year and it can cause cognitive, emotional as well as physical deficits. Most therapies do not provide significant improvements or recovery and the chronic symptoms continue to be a part of life of the patients forever. It has been found that brain trauma causes deficiencies in some types of hormones. When this deficiency in hormones is restored, a significant improvement is seen in patients that suffer from traumatic brain injury.

BHRT are plant-based hormones that match the exact molecular structure, as well as functionality of the human hormones. Hence, BHRT bind and communicate properly to the human body receptors and hence, extend vital support to organs, tissues and cells in the human body. If prescribed properly, BHRT can benefit traumatic brain injury as well as menopause, weight gain, and even osteoporosis. Again, BHRT are customized personally and have virtually no side effects. Exact dosage needs of a patient are uncovered by a series of blood tests.

BHRT needs to be researched upon even more to aid people in their illnesses and improved further to provide an even better outcome for patients’ suffering from PD, traumatic brain injury, etc.

If you need more information about this topic or SottoPelle Therapy, please contact us today!

www.sottopelleranchomirage.com

Getting To The Heart Of Menopause

Dr. Enrique Jacome

As we age, our risks for various medical issues rises. During menopause certain risks can increase for women when it comes to cardiac health and disease. As with anything else, some of it’s the old “nature versus nurture” scenario. Bad habits that you have nurtured through the years (poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, excessive alcohol, and other known risks) can take their toll. Some families have a history or are at a heightened risk of cardiac problems. Menopause itself does not cause cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Nieca Goldberg, a cardiologist and an American Heart Association volunteer states.“Menopause isn’t a disease. It’s a natural phase of a woman’s life cycle,” Dr. Goldberg said. “It’s important for women, as they approach menopause, to really take stock of their health.”

Per the American Heart Association about 35,000 under the age of 50 will have a heart attack each year. Heart disease is the leading killer of women. It is suggested that there is a connection between the estrogen and the decline during menopause and the health of the heart and blood flow. Other contributing bodily changes happen during menopause which put your heart at risk:

• Increase in blood pressure
• Bad cholesterol goes up and the good cholesterol goes down
• Certain types of fats called triglycerides in the blood increase

How can women deal with the changes and protect themselves from heart disease during menopause?

• Reduce or eliminate bad health habits.
• Eat well – fresh fruit is highly recommended
• Exercise – aerobics or activities that are low resistance
• Check your hormonal levels

www.sottopelleranchomirage.com

Celebrate Without Gaining Weight - Five Tips To Burn Holiday Calories

Dr. Enrique Jacome

Did you stuff yourself silly on Thanksgiving and enjoy an extra piece of pie? It’s OK to indulge a little on the holidays. But now you’re wearing those second helpings on your hips with a belly that’s starting to look a lot like Santa, and there are still plenty of parties ahead.

According to the Calorie Control Council, Americans consume up to 4,500 calories in one sitting with a typical Thanksgiving meal. The council’s exercise converter shows that it would take 15 hours of skiing to burn off those calories that are the equivalent of seven Big Macs!

Finding the balance between holiday merrymaking and healthy eating is challenging for most people at this time of year. Slipping in a few good habits in between those yummy egg-nogs will help you avoid any major holiday weight gain without feeling totally deprived.

One study in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise shows that 45 minutes of early morning exercise helps reduce food cravings and keeps your metabolism fired up all day.

Obesity experts also claim that starving yourself all day before the holiday bash won’t reduce the calories. Arriving hungry usually results in sugar binges, which can lower your immune system. Eating balanced meals in between the festivities will help prevent common seasonal illnesses like colds and flu while helping you stay trim.

Here are some suggestions that can help so you can have your holiday cake and eat it too without packing on the pounds:

• Eat before the feast: arrive half full so you don’t overload on the junk
• Use smaller plates: studies prove this reduces food intake
• Follow the 3-bite rule: enjoy a taste or two of that dessert but don’t eat the whole thing
• Day on, day off: if you overloaded yesterday, take a day off and eat healthy food tomorrow
• Balance your hormones: testosterone supports carbohydrate metabolism and builds muscle

The Calorie Control Council offers many tips and resources for preventing holiday weight gain, plus makeover recipes for common holiday foods at http://www.caloriecontrol.org. For more information on hormonal balance and weight issues, visit http://www.sottopelletherapy.com/category/weight-loss.

Sources

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19092692

http://www.caloriecontrol.org/articles-and-video/feature-articles/stuff-the-bird-not-yourself

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120912161554.htm – Brigham Young University. “Exercise may affect food motivation.” ScienceDaily 12 September 2012

www.sottopelletherapy.com/doctors/enrique-jacome-md

Are Your Hormones making You Fat?

Are you struggling to lose weight even when you’re doing everything ‘right’? Are you suddenly gaining weight although your diet and exercise have remained the same? Your hormones could be to blame!

Hormones are important to all body functions and play a significant role in your ability to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. There are many hormonal imbalances that can occur in the body including, but not limited to: elevated insulin, elevated cortisol, elevated or low estrogen, low testosterone, low DHEA, and hypothyroidism. It is important to recognize possible imbalances that may be occurring in the body and correct them in order to reach your weight loss goals.

Insulin – the fat storage hormone

Insulin has an important job. It processes the sugar in the blood stream and carries it to your cells – it’s then used for energy or stored for later use in the form of fat. Elevated levels of insulin can be caused by excess consumption of carbohydrates. A diet high in carbohydrates, such as processed foods and sugary beverages, in combination with a low protein and low fiber intake, can lead to the storage of fat, weight gain and high insulin levels. Poor diet along with lack of exercise, alcohol consumption, stress and high blood pressure can lead to chronically high levels of insulin and the development of Type 2 diabetes.

Cortisol – the stress hormone

High levels of cortisol can be harmful to your health. Studies indicate that a high stress level can contribute to the accumulation of belly fat. Cortisol levels are higher in people who suffer from conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and excessive fatigue. Not only does elevated cortisol lead to belly fat, it also increases appetite and cravings. This is why people turn to “comfort foods” when feeling significant amounts of stress! Other harmful effects of high cortisol include decreased bone density, memory loss and depression. What is the best way to combat high cortisol? Get some sleep! At least 7 hours a night. It is also important to eat a high protein breakfast and find an outlet for all that stress. Activities such as yoga, meditation or even taking a long walk can help decrease stress.

Estrogen – the reproductive hormone

Both men and women naturally produce estrogen. In men, an excess of belly fat can cause testosterone to be converted to estrogen. As a man’s estrogen level rises, so does the fat accumulation. In addition, high levels of estrogen in men can contribute to prostate cancer and heart disease. In women, both excess estrogen and low estrogen contribute to weight gain and difficulty maintaining a healthy weight. Estrogen levels fluctuate as a woman goes through phases of her reproductive life. What can be done if you suspect an estrogen imbalance? Get your hormones tested. Testing can identify if an estrogen imbalance exists and what methods of treatment would be best. Also it is important to eat a healthy diet including green tea, flax seed and chia seeds. All of these products can assist the body in processing extra estrogen in the body.

Testosterone – the sex hormone

Increased stress (high cortisol levels), abdominal fat and aging all contribute to low testosterone levels. Low levels of testosterone can lead to conditions such as depression, obesity, heart disease, loss of muscle tone, decreased stamina and decreased libido. Simple hormone testing can identify a low level of testosterone. When levels are corrected, it has been shown to decrease body fat and improve stamina, muscle mass and libido. A healthy diet in lean protein, as well as weight-bearing exercise can help naturally increase testosterone levels.

DHEA – the mother of all hormones

There is much talk these days about DHEA, but what exactly is it? DHEA is a precursor hormone secreted by the adrenal glands that can be converted into testosterone or estrogen in the body. DHEA levels typically hit their peak in our 20’s and then naturally decline as we age. DHEA is responsible for many important functions including the body’s ability to burn fat and keep it off. Low DHEA levels can be detected in hormone testing. Correcting an imbalance can improve libido, energy and weight loss.

Your thyroid gland

The thyroid gland is responsible for producing hormones that regulate the body’s metabolic rate, heart and digestive function, muscle control, brain development and bone maintenance. The thyroid gland can become overactive (hyperthoyrodism) or underactive (hypothyroidism). Thyroid conditions can be quite dangerous and cause many unpleasant symptoms. For patients suffering from hypothyroidism, weight gain is a common side effect. Thyroid conditions can be safely treated with medication.

Get your levels checked

Hormones play a significant role in your health, including weight loss and weight management. A simple blood test is the first step in understanding your hormonal health. Sottopelle doctors are experts in the field of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. We offer safe, natural and effective methods for both men and women. In addition, we offer Medi-Weightloss, a supervised weight loss program that works and has helped patients lose weight. We understand how hormones impact your health and that weight gain and hormonal imbalance are often interrelated. 

Guest Blog Author SottoPelle Dr. Mirabile

www.sottopelletherapy.com/doctors/enrique-jacome-md

Breast Cancer – The Testosterone Connection

Dr. Enrique Jacome

The statistics certainly appear intimidating, but don’t let breast cancer scare you this Halloween month! A diagnosis is not a death sentence, and October is designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month to help women become pro-active in better prevention and detection of the disease.

Let’s look at some data and then at some steps you can take to fight back.

Breast cancer by the numbers:

• One in eight women will be diagnosed with the disease
• A woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 3 minutes
• One woman dies every 13 minutes from breast cancer
• More than 250,000 women with the disease are under 40
• Men can get breast cancer and 1 in every 1,000 men are diagnosed each year
• There are approximately 3 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S.

For Dr. Gino Tutera, these statistics posed an incentive to research the role of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) in breast cancer prevention. Dr. Tutera developed a customized form of BHRT in pellet form delivering the precise dosage of hormones that each individual needs to restore the body’s natural physiological balance.

In his research, he discovered the role of bio-identical testosterone pellet therapy in helping to prevent breast cancer. While still widely regarded as a predominantly male hormone, testosterone is essential for women to maintain their normal physiology. Yet this scientific fact remains largely ignored.

“Around age forty, there is an increase in fibrocystic disease of the breast,” Dr. Tutera explains. “It coincides with women losing 50 percent of their testosterone production. Testosterone therapy helps decrease over-activity of cells in the breast and if you decrease cell proliferation, you cut down on the occurrence of cystic disease.”

According to Dr. Tutera’s 10-year breast cancer study*, the restoration of normal testosterone levels for women at risk for – or suffering from – breast cancer can make a significant difference in prevention of the disease. Maintaining proper levels of testosterone offers a lifesaving alternative for breast cancer patients who see not only a higher level of survivability, but also a lower chance of recurrence.

“Breast cancer patients are uniformly subjected to the usual treatment of no hormones whatsoever, which actually shortens the life span,” says Dr. Tutera. “Through testosterone replacement with SottoPelle, we have the capability to help patients get their quality of life back.”

In addition to maintaining your hormonal balance and obtaining regular mammograms, here are some simple lifestyle approaches that can help you ward off the disease:

1. Stay active and keep your body moving! That’s right… just 10 hours of exercise each week can lower your risk by 30 percent.
2. Eat a healthy diet of whole foods with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
3. Drink less alcohol and fill up on more water. According to several recent studies, limiting alcohol consumption reduces a woman’s risk of developing the disease.
4. Conduct monthly breast self-examinations.This represents one of the simplest and easiest preventative steps you can take.
5. Maintain a healthy weight – New research suggests that larger skirt sizes go hand in hand with greater risks for developing breast cancer.

Approximately 3 million breast cancer survivors are living proof that this disease can be beaten. More than 98 percent of cases survive due to early detection. There is hope!

www.sottopelletherapy.com/doctors/enrique-jacome-md

The FDA Tightens Up On Runaway Synthetic Testosterone Treatments

Dr. Enrique Jacome

It has been the biggest craze since Viagra. Low T is everywhere – even on the cover of Time. These days men can just walk into the gym or a storefront and ask for a synthetic testosterone injection with an unknown dose from some generic source. 

We shudder every time the endless TV commercials appear for synthetic pills, gels, injections creams and other topical testosterone treatments in unspecified doses. But on September 18, the runaway testosterone train came to a sudden halt as FDA medical advisers concluded that new safety measures were in order. Check out the news reports on this that we have posted below for your convenience. 

The advisory panel posed concerns that over 25 percent of the men currently taking these products have been administered testosterone without proper lab work to warrant any treatment. These men also lack individual dosing or post-treatment follow-up to monitor their symptoms and health, often resulting in heart attacks. 

As a result, the FDA has imposed new regulations to manage the use of these generic synthetic testosterone drugs. The FDA advisory came exactly one month to the day after Time magazine featured its “Mano-pause” cover story about the booming synthetic Low T business. 

Another report on Fierce Biotech, a daily online monitor for the drug industry, explains the story behind the facts, with last-ditch scrambles by drug manufacturers to salvage their Low T wares in the face of new FDA regulations. 

According to Dr. Gino Tutera — the founder of SottoPelle Therapy, a system of individually tailored bio-identical hormone pellets — good medicine is about safeguarding human health instead of imposing such serious health risks to millions of people. 

“Everyone doesn’t wear the same shoes size,” Dr. Tutera explains. “Back in the early 90′s, I realized that there is no one-size-fits-all hormone for everyone. Each patient is uniquely different and must be treated as an individual.” 

The science of pellet hormone therapy is based on precise doses of bio-identical hormones instead of synthetic ones. But what exactly does this mean and how do pellets work? 

A bio-identical hormone is one whose molecular structure contains the exact biochemical structure as the human hormone itself. And think of the pellet, about the size of a grain of rice, inserted under the skin as a reservoir that sits in your body awaiting the signal to release the necessary amount of hormone. 

The pellet’s release of hormone is controlled by the heart rate. Therefore, as long as the patient’s heart is beating, the secretion of hormone is continuous and will vary according to the patient’s needs. The body therefore controls the release of continuous hormone, naturally increasing or decreasing the amount of hormone released according to the body’s needs. 

In addition to right kind of natural hormone, safe and effective hormone therapy requires the following criteria: 

Proper testing with thorough analysis and diagnosis 
Customized doses based on each individual’s patient’s needs 
The hormone needs to be replaced in the exact ratio in which the body produces it to create the maximum physiologic protection 
The delivery system must replicates the secretion pattern of the organ being replicated, i.e., the ovary or testicle 

Pellet hormone replacement is one of the most researched forms of hormone delivery, starting in the 1930′s in Austria and continued after that by Dr. R Greenblatt from the University of Georgia Medical College. The clinics he established have been using pellets continuously ever since. 
Dr. Tutera subsequently developed the system of customizing doses for each individual patient to create a safe, effective pellet method that has restored good health and happiness to so many patients. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/18/health/testosterone-drugs-fda.html?_r=0 

http://blogs.wsj.com/pharmalot/2014/09/18/fda-panel-says-testosterone-drugs-need-more-study-and-reduced-use/

www.sottopelletherapy.com/doctors/enrique-jacome-md