“I’m Just So Tired All The Time”

Dr. Gino Tutera

We have all used the excuse “I’m just so tired” possibly multiple times a day, but do you know what is causing your lack of energy?

Many women experience crashing fatigue, a symptom of menopause.  Crashing fatigue is when you feel extreme exhaustion and complete lack of energy. This often goes away with enough sleep, hydration and rest.  Other women begin to experience night sweats during menopause.   These are uncomfortable experiences that interrupt sleep and cause restless nights. Men also may suffer from these as they go through andropause.  These night sweats, also known as sleep hyperhidrosis, are usually described as sever hot flashes that occur in the middle of the night.

Keeping stress levels low can help reduce the chance of wearing yourself down. Take some time each day to relax and maybe do some yoga. Yoga and other daily exercises have been shown to reduce stress levels and promote energy.  Also, it is important to give yourself enough time to do your tasks so you do not become burnout.

Another few quick tips:  reduce caffeine and alcohol consumption before bed. These may interfere with your ability to get a restful night sleep. Watching your diet and maintaining a healthy weight can keep you from feeling sluggish as well.

Estrogen and testosterone are essential hormones that help you maintain the energy that you need. The SottoPelle Method allows your body to receive the necessary amount of hormones that you need to keep your energy up and you menopause/andropause symptoms at bay. Get back to being yourself this Spring with SottoPelle.

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

Tips To Help You Get Beach Ready For Summer

Dr. Enrique Jacome

Many men and women are looking to get beach ready for summer.   There are those of you who feel you are feeling the effects of low testosterone, which means having that perfect beach body might be a difficult task to achieve.

Testosterone is an essential element for the support of fat distribution, muscle mass and strength. When the testosterone is off balance these aspects can be disrupted. Many find themselves losing muscle mass and decreasing in strength as they age, which may be due to low testosterone. Testosterone has also been shown to affect lean body mass and cause an increase in body fat. It can also determine muscle weight, size and strength. Overall, testosterone can play a major role in your capacity for getting in shape.

Physical characteristics are not all that it may affect. Your energy levels can be decreased with low

levels of testosterone. If your energy is low, your well-planned workout may be over before it begins.

Here are a few tips on how to get the most from your workout:

Mix it Up – Doing the same exercise routine over and over again won’t get you the complete healthy body you’re looking for. Putting in the time to focus on your target areas is fine and enjoying a certain exercise is excellent, but remember to keep your workout varied so as not to plateau. Have fun, try something new at the gym today! Or take the long walk outside with a friend to enjoy the warmer weather coming upon us.

Make your Workout Work for You – You don’t have to spend a bundle on fitness equipment and workout gear to get in shape. Make your workout fit into your lifestyle and budget.  You can always find other options for at home workouts as well as time saving methods for an effective lunchtime gym workout.  Did you know that you burn on average 45 calories vacuuming,  while sleeping burns 95 calories an hour.  Who would have figured! 

Motivation is Key – Talking with people who are interested in fitness can help keep you motivated as well as give you advice on your routine. Staying positive will help you get through the rough workouts and make you feel more accomplished after a great one. Changes won’t show up overnight but stick to it and they will come.  Find a buddy who will support you and find you accountable.  Results will come over time. Be patient with yourself!

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

Hormone Therapy Linked To Better Survival After Lung Cancer Diagnosis In Women

Dr. Enrique Jacome

Survival among people with lung cancer has been better for women than men, and the findings of a recent study indicate that female hormones may be a factor in this difference. The combination of estrogen plus progesterone and the use of long-term hormone therapy were associated with the most significant improvements in survival.

The study was designed to explore the influence of several reproductive and hormonal factors on overall survival of women with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). After adjusting for stage of disease at diagnosis, treatment type (surgery or radiation), smoking status, age, race, and education level, the only factor studied that predicted survival after a diagnosis of NSCLC was use of hormone therapy.

Among the 485 women, the median survival time was 80 months for women receiving hormone therapy and 37.5 months for women not receiving hormone therapy. Combined estrogen and progesterone was associated with a slightly higher median survival time (87.0 months) than estrogen alone (83.0 months). The findings of the study are published in the March issue of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's journal, the Journal of Thoracic Oncology (JTO).

The use of hormone therapy for 11 years or more was associated with significantly improved survival, and this finding remained significant among women who took either estrogen alone or estrogen plus progesterone and among women who had never smoked or were smokers.

"What has emerged from this study and other published findings is a complex relationship between hormone use and lung cancer outcomes, with variation in results based on years of use," says lead author Ann G. Schwartz, PhD, MPH, of Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, and an IASLC member.

Studies on the effect of hormone use on lung cancer survival have been limited, and the results have been inconsistent. Because of this, additional research is needed to evaluate the significance of long-term use of hormone therapy on outcomes in lung cancer, with better characterization of tumors in terms of expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors.

Dr. Schwartz adds, "There is more to learn about survival differences between men and women; hormone use may contribute to those differences. The largest impact on lung cancer outcomes will come from successful early detection and treatment."

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

Study Shows Estrogen May Fight Urinary Tract Infections

Dr. Enrique Jacome

The female hormone estrogen may protect against urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women by improving two of the body's defense mechanisms, a new study found. The researchers looked at the effects of estrogen supplements in healthy postmenopausal women, and found that the hormone helped trigger the production of body's natural antimicrobial proteins in the bladder.

The hormone also strengthened urinary tract tissue by tightening the surface layer of the bladder cells, which protects the underlying cells from infection, according to the study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are usually caused by E. coli bacteria, and are more common in women than men. Some patients suffer from recurrent infections that return every few months.  

In postmenopausal women, the low levels of estrogen are thought to have a role in recurrent infections by causing changes in the urinary tract that make it more vulnerable to infection. It is thought that using estrogen supplements, in the form of a low-dose cream applied to the vaginal area, may prevent recurring UTIs, said Dr. Margery Gass, the executive director for The North American Menopause Society and a gynecologist at Cleveland Clinic, who was not involved in the study. She noted that the percentage of women who develop recurrent UTIs after menopause is very small. However, the mechanism by which estrogen reduces recurrent UTIs in some postmenopausal women is not well-understood, the researchers said.

In the new study, 16 healthy postmenopausal women were given vaginal estrogen for two weeks. The researchers then examined the effects of estrogen by looking at participants’ urine, and cells of the bladder lining.

They found that in 12 participants, levels of antimicrobial proteins increased after the estrogen supplements.

Another defense strategy of the body is to shed the cells that have become infected with bacteria. However, this exposes underlying cells to bacteria, allowing the infection to progress. The researchers found that estrogen helped better connect the cells, and prevented excessive shedding.

The study showed the effects of estrogen on cells in the laboratory. In order to confirm the health benefits of estrogen supplements in people, in terms of reduced infections, further research is needed, the researchers said.

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

The Power Of Hormone Pellets

Dr. Enrique Jacome

Did you know that hormone replacement using pellet implants has been around for more than 70 years? In fact, scientists have published positive research on the benefits of this therapy in authoritative international journals for decades.

Bioidentical pellet therapy was originally developed in Europe during the 1930s. It proved an excellent treatment for hormone deficiencies, especially in menopause. The highly-respected pioneer of endocrinology, Dr. Robert B. Greenblatt, learned about this method and introduced it to his U.S. colleagues in 1939. Today, practitioners on five continents use pellet implants to restore hormonal balance in men and women of all ages.

PELLET IMPLANTS: SAFE, EFFECTIVE, CONVENIENT BHRT

When properly administered, the pellet delivery system provides safe and effective BHRT. In fact, it remains the only form of delivery that closely mirrors what the human ovary and testicle do. This method ensures the same steady, around-the-clock, low dosages the body once created. You won’t have to change patches, rub on creams, or remember to take a pill. And you won’t experience the radical surges and drops in blood levels as with other methods. Pellet implants even deliver more when the body needs it—like during exercise or periods of stress.

BENEFITS OF BIOIDENTICAL PELLETS:

• The only method that allows the body to control the release of hormone—raising levels when more is needed and decreasing it when requiring less
• Deliver a very low dosage continuously, 24/7
• Release testosterone and/or estradiol directly into the bloodstream, thereby bypassing the gastrointestinal system and liver
• Consistently proven more effective than oral, injected, or topical methods with regard to sexual function, mood and cognitive function, metabolic function, bone density, urinary and vaginal problems, lipid profiles, breast health and hormone ratios
• Typically last from 3 to 6 months

BIOIDENTICALS VS PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS

Any discussion of HRT must start with a comparison between bio-identical hormones and pharmaceutical imitators.

Pharmaceutical companies have manufactured and marketed hormone-like substances since the 1970s. The most profitable products do not perfectly match human testosterone or estrogen. Nor do they perform in the same way. Research continues to link these medications with serious health risks. Therefore, to be on the safe side, physicians generally prescribe the least amount of medication for the shortest period of time needed to relieve symptoms.

The body’s receptors do, however, fully recognize and respond to biologically identical hormones. Did you know that receptors exist in every vital organ and system throughout the body? That means that restoring testosterone and/or estradiol to healthful levels with bioidenticals supports the entire body, not just the sex organs. And this, in turn, allows the body to function normally.  BHRT not only alleviates symptoms, but provides what is needed to support well-being and optimum health.

WHY PELLET IMPLANTS WORK

Making a case for bioidenticals tells only one part of the story. Merely using any bioidentical treatment in any amount doesn’t guarantee lasting health benefits. It’s a lot more complex than that.

The method by which bioidentical testosterone and estrogen enter the body is crucial. Likewise, the way they find their way to appropriate receptors to perform their work is also critical.  It’s the delivery method that dictates the bioavailability, absorbability, and the amount and consistency of release.

To achieve the full benefit of replenished blood levels, research shows that it’s essential to adhere to the basics of human physiology: use a low dosage of biologically identical hormone in conjunction with a method that mirrors the human delivery system. That means it must deliver the proper amount slowly into the blood stream around the clock. This is the real secret to reestablishing internal equilibrium. And this precisely describes the pellet delivery system.

When you look at pills, patches, creams, and injections, they all lack in one way or another. These methods fall especially short when it comes to consistent dosing 24/7. Research indicates that the pellet delivery system alone most closely replicates the body’s way of doing things. When properly administered, very low dosages can be used to achieve normal blood levels. Pellets likewise release hormones directly into the bloodstream. This mode bypasses the gastrointestinal system and liver. Importantly, it is the only form of BHRT that can release more hormone when the body demands it.

SOTTOPELLE® —AN EXPERT CHOICE WHEN IT COMES TO BHRT

So why is SottoPelle® the BHRT of choice for so many men and women?

Because we’re industry leaders and expert at what we do. Unlike others:

• SottoPelle® uses the most reliable delivery system available—pellet implants.
• Our proprietary system is based in science, not guesswork. This enables SottoPelle® physicians to precisely determine the proper low dosage of bioidenticals for you as an individual.
• We use a time-proven insertion technique to assure a consistent steady delivery of testosterone and/or estradiol, 24/7.
• And we’ve been doing this a lot longer than most. With 22+ years of experience, we understand exactly what it takes to return you to a healthy state of balance and well-being.

Remember, not all pellet therapies are alike. Not every physician has the expertise to balance hormones. And that’s exactly what it takes to sustain a healthy body and support healthy aging. It doesn’t matter if you’re a man or woman, 19 or 91—that’s simply how it works.

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

Study Shows Hormone Replacement Therapy May Reduce Pancreatic Cancer Risk

Dr. Enrique Jacome

One type of hormone replacement therapy for postmenopausal women may decrease the risk of pancreatic cancer, a new study suggests. In the study, women from California who took estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy for symptoms of menopause were 41 percent less likely to develop pancreatic cancer over a 14-year period than women who never took hormone replacement therapy.

The new study involved more than 118,000 female public school professionals in California who were surveyed in 1995 to 1996 about their use of hormone replacement therapy and current or past use of oral contraceptives, and were followed until 2009.

At the start of the study, 60 percent of the women were postmenopausal, 25 percent of whom were current users of estrogen-only HRT, and 33 percent of whom were current users of estrogen-plus-progestin HRT. During the study period, 323 women (0.27 percent) were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

There was no link between the use of estrogen-plus-progestin HRT and pancreatic cancer risk. The age of participants at menopause, and whether they'd ever had children or breast-fed, were also not associated with pancreatic cancer risk.

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Southern California and was published online Sept. 5 in the journal American Journal of Epidemiology.

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

Stay Active, Keep Your Motivation

Dr. Enrique Jacome

The health benefits of staying active are numerous. Despite knowing the facts of have a fit and healthy body, finding the motivation to actually continuously strive for your fitness goals can seem an impossible task. Little things in our lives can easily add up to appear to be giant mountains. A long day at work, a poor night’s sleep, errands that are piling up, all of these reasons can rob you of the motivation you need to put your best foot forward in your workout.

Do What You Enjoy

Maybe you are don’t find lifting weights or using machines that keep you indoors inspiring. That is perfectly fine! Find something that you enjoy doing. Love music? Consider checking out some dance classes. Have a sport you used to love to play? Look for a local league you can join. Or maybe just check out some exercise classes at a fitness center to mix up your routine. Choosing something you enjoy doing will keep you wanting to go back. Bonus: joining a class or league can allow you to socialize and get to know your teammates or classmates which will encourage you to stick to your goals.

Treat Yourself

After you have completed your class or workout find a way to treat yourself. This could be as simple as savoring the fresh air or taking a breather from all the things you have left to do. Or you could reward yourself with a pair of new athletic sneakers for reaching a goal or buying some new music to keep you working forward during your exercise.

Break It Up

We all have those times where we’d rather blow off our exercise. At those times take everything one step at a time. Allow yourself the opportunity to bail but tell yourself to do one task at a time. Pack your bag, put on your coat, get in the car, drive, go through the doors, check in, change, do one exercise. By the time you actually start getting ready you will probably feel that you want to see it all the way through.

Our method works with your body to bring back your energy and keep your hormones in balance. Each of our pellets are made especially for our patient so that they will be exactly what they need. You can get back to being yourself and achieving your goals faster than you thought possible when you made them.

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

Menopause And ADHD

Dr. Gino Tutera

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is not just a young boy problem like many misconceive it to me. Even women going through menopause and perimenopause may experience the negative symptoms associated with ADHD. Often times this disorder is not detected in women until they are older and have been experiencing it unknowingly for a long time. ADHD symptoms in adults can vary from those in children. Some ADHD symptoms include disorganization, marital problems, reckless driving, chronic lateness and angry outbursts.

A study from the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) was conducted with 75 women ages 40 to 60 to determine whether or not “brain fogs” around the time of menopause are actual cognitive changes. After a battery of tests were conducted the study confirms that they are. The scientists in this study found that particularly when performing a challenging task, a woman can have memory difficulties by not being as capable of keeping her focus and attention on the task at hand.

Many patients that come to SottoPelle complain about memory loss and the inability to focus. With our patients, we have found that low testosterone is a vital factor in the diagnosis of ADHD symptoms. Some others believe that it is low estrogen levels that contribute to these increased risks and others believe that hormones do not play into memory problems at all. After performing our own tests before and after testosterone treatments, we have found that by balancing testosterone levels patients are more able to focus and keep their attention on what they are doing.

Growing older is difficult but when you can’t remember where you left your keys or stop tasks midway there could be an underlying concern. You should speak with your doctor about your memory loss concerns. Many people brush off memory problems and associate it only with aging. With the knowledge that you could be suffering from another problem that could worsen if left untreated, you should be motivated to seek help for a relief from these upsetting symptoms.

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