Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Increase Heart Risk
By: Robert NamTotal Views: 72, Word Count: 617,
Hormone replacement therapy is one effective treatment which many women choose at the time of menopause. In this treatment, women take estrogen without progestin. Usually, doctors prescribe progestin along with estrogen in order to avoid the problem of uterine cancer. In this article you will come to know the answer for, ‘does hormone replacement therapy increase heart risk’, so that you can take preventive measures accordingly.
From a long time, such type of therapy has been used by women to reduce the signs of menopause like hot flashes. This type of treatment is also called post-menopausal hormone therapy. Many health care experts advise this therapy to offer relief from menopause symptoms. However, according to some research, it is said that there are some health risks involved.
The chances of heart problem due to hormone replacement therapy are more in the people who have menopausal symptoms under the age of 40, as compared to people who shows its signs after the age of 40. Women using such treatment before the age of 60 are more at risk of heart disease from the therapy. However, some studies also suggest that it can cause heart risks, when taken at the onset of menopause.
Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Increase Heart Risk?
Heart risk, especially coronary artery disease, is the common reason of death among women. After the problem of menopause, the chances of cardiovascular disease are more among women as it is related to the large fall in hormone levels. For the past few years, the research made to find out the relation between HRT and heart diseases has suggested that HRT helps to protect postmenopausal women from problem of heart disease. However, the new scientific research made gives contradictory evidence.
Some health care experts state that HRT does not only restrict to heart risk, but also increases the risk of other problems with certain side effects which are following:
- Risk of breast cancer
- Increase in fluid retention
- High chances of diabetes
- Problem of mood swing
- Monthly vaginal bleeding
- Risk of high BP
- Feeling restless
In most of the cases, the side effects can vary from mild to severe. If the effects are severe, the doctor will advise to stop HT immediately.
In case you face some irritating side effects, consult your doctor immediately. The doctor will advise you to change the dosage and type of progestin or estrogen in the prescription.
The risk of heart disease is more in this treatment. However, it has not yet been proved clearly. You can consult your doctor, if you are hesitating to take it.
To make sure that you don’t get prone to risk of heart disease, here are some tips you need to follow while using hormone replacement therapy.
· Always eat healthy food and drink plenty of water
· Reduce you cholesterol intake
· Perform exercise regularly
· Avoid smoking
· Consume small dose of replacement hormones
· Make sure that your blood pressure is under control
For women who experience signs of menopause problem and have less estrogen, the risk of heart disease is less with hormone replacement therapy. However, if women are old and have less level of estrogen, then the risk of heart disease is more with hormone replacement therapy.
If you have a question like, ‘does hormone replacement therapy increase heart risk’, then take an appointment with your doctor and talk to him about this. In most of the cases, you can use hormone replacement therapy safely without a significant risk of heart disease.
About the Author
Dr. Robert Nam is a well known heart specialist and has done postgraduate training in cardiology at the national heart hospital, the London chest hospital and UCL hospital, London. He was also engaged in research at the national heart and lung institute. Nowadays he is working as a consultant cardiologist at UCL hospital, London.
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