(NaturalNews) - According to researchers, women using synthetic hormones
may have an increased chance of dying from lung cancer. Findings from the
Women`s Health Initiative indicate that the use of Prempro, a synthetic estrogen
coupled with a synthetic form of progesterone, can lead to a 59 percent
increased risk of death if a woman develops non small-cell lung cancer. This was
revealed by Dr. Rowan Chlebowski of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles at
the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
A study showed that for non small-cell lung cancer, there was a significant risk
of dying if the women taking these synthetic hormones developed cancer.
There were 67 lung cancer deaths in the women taking Prempro and 39 among those
in the placebo group, according to Chlebowski. The women taking the synthetic
hormones had a median survival rate of 9.4 months while the survival rate of the
women who took the placebo and got the disease was 16.1 months.
This recent analysis regarding Prempro and lung cancer deaths was taken from
data stemming from the Woman`s Health Initiative study in which Chlebowski was
lead author. This study enrolled 16,608 postmenopausal women ages 50 through 79
and randomly assigned these women either a placebo or Prempro. In 2002,
researchers stopped this study short of its completion because they noted a
significant increased incidence of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease
among the women who took the synthetic hormones.
Acording to Chlebowski, 15 percent of postmenopausal women still take synthetic
hormones.
A hormone is classified as synthetic if it does not have the identical structure
as is found in the human body. When a synthetic hormone is taken into the body,
the body metabolizes it differently than it would a natural hormone. This
difference may account for the many grave side effects women who take synthetic
hormones encounter.
Fortunately, natural hormones do exist and have been used by holistic physicians
for many years. Natural hormones have an identical structure as those found in
the human body and are used to effectively treat menopause symptoms. Natural
hormones are available in creams, capsules, patches, and other system delivery
methods. Before prescribing natural hormones, the holistic practitioner will
test a woman's present hormone level through blood, urine, and saliva testing.
The holistic physician will prescribe bioidentical hormones based on these
findings. Bioidentical hormones are those identical in molecular structure to
the hormones made by the woman's body.
Traditional doctors are trained by the big drug companies to prescribe medicine
manufactured by them. These drug companies are against natural remedies as
natural remedies cannot be patented. Since these traditional doctors are in
allegiance with the pharmaceutical companies, the physicians too, often turn
their minds off to the notion of natural hormones. In light of the negative
press about synthetic hormones as reported in the study conducted by the Women's
Health Initiative, more traditional doctors are now willing to look at the use
of natural hormones. These doctors, however, represent a growing, but still
woefully small number.
Menopause occurs when the ovaries stop producing significant amounts of estrogen
and progesterone. This leads to a cessation of the menstrual cycle, and in many
women begins with symptoms such as hot flashes. The average woman will
experience the onset of menopause at age 52. A woman is considered to be in
menopause if she has had no periods for a year. Menopause is not a disease even
though some women suffer, often for years, from some of the following symptoms:
Hot flashes
Vaginal dryness
Mood swings
Night sweats
Insomnia
Reduced libido
Weight gain
Urinary incontinence
Treatment for menopausal symptoms includes eating a diet rich in plant foods,
especially whole grains, legumes, fresh vegetables and fruits. These foods
contain phytosterols that have a hormone-balancing effect. Eating these foods
also increases fiber that helps a heart stay healthy.
In addition, eating hormone-free animal products helps guard against a hormone
imbalance in the body. Reduce red meat consumption and other sources of
saturated fat. Caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, and sugar aggravate hot flashes
while carbonated drinks deplete calcium from the body.
The following remedies may help to safely minimize symptoms:
St. John's wort may be used to treat mild to moderate depression. This should
not be used in conjunction with prescription antidepressants.
Soy and Isoflavones are plant estrogens that may be helpful in relieving hot
flashes and night sweats.
Black cohosh has been used to relieve hot flashes and night sweats.
American ginseng has been found to improve a woman's sense of well being.
Source : Natural News.com
