The Anatomy of a Hot Flash - Estrogen Dominance & Low Thyroid

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Fatigue, Stress & Hormone Imbalance Hormone Imbalance and PMSAll About Natural Hormones Progesterone, What and Why? Hormone Balance and Osteoporosis The Anatomy of a Hot Flash---Estrogen Dominance & Low Thyroid http://www.springboard4health.com/notebook/health_hormone_bal.html--- In the years leading up to menopause (perimenopause) menstrualcycles that may once have been like clockwork begin to becomeerratic. Bleeding may be heavier or lighter than usual – although weare not officially in menopause until we have had 12 consecutivemonths without a period. Erratic cycles are a sign of erraticovulations leading to highs and lows in estrogen and progesterone,an effect many women describe as an "emotional roller coaster." And don't let anyone tell you "it's all in your head"! When the ovaries begin to sputter, hormone production sputters andso do we…forgetfulness and foggy thinking, mental confusion and moodswings are hallmark symptoms for many women; as are hot flashes andnight sweats, tearfulness, unwanted weight gain, thyroid problemsand declining interest in sex, no matter how much we love ourpartner. Of course, not all women experience all these symptoms – asindividuals we each have our very own biochemistry – but it iscommon to experience some degree of discomfort during the menopausalyears. And the degree to which we experience discomfort is likely tobe associated with the degree to which our hormones are out ofbalance. If you are a woman experiencing menopausal symptoms you will want totest at least two hormones: Estradiol and Progesterone. If you wouldlike a more comprehensive picture, ZRT Laboratories five panel testmeasures: estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEAs and morningcortisol. The Anatomy of a Hot Flash Is it hot in here or is it just me? It's a common refrain among theestimated 50 to 75 percent of women in the U.S. who experience hotflashes during menopause. Hot flashes can be very mild, or badenough to have you opening every window in the house, even in thedead of winter. Also known as "vasomotor flushing," the hot flashoccurs when the blood vessels in the skin of the head and neck openmore widely than usual, allowing more blood to shift into the area,creating the heat and redness. Perspiration is also common to thephenomena and in some women the hot flash takes the form of a nightsweat, followed by a chill that has one groping for the coverskicked to the floor just minutes earlier. It's usually over inseconds, and there's no telling when it will recur – maybe minutes,maybe hours – but it will be back. Triggered by falling estrogen andrising levels of follicle stimulating hormone, hot flashes arriveunannounced, and usually at a most inconvenient time – in the middleof a job interview, in the middle of an important speech, in themiddle of the night. Besides hormonal changes, anxiety and tensionmagnify hot flashes and many women find that hot drinks and wine dothe same. Saliva testing identifies the degree to which the specific hormoneslinked to hot flashes are out-of-whack. Using test results as aguideline, natural hormone supplements can be suggested to restorebalance and cool the hot flashes. Many women also use phyto (plant)estrogens, such as Dong Quai and Black Cohosh; optimal nutrition andrelaxation exercises for added relief. In most cases, hot flashesusually go away a year or two after actual menopause and thecessation of menses. "Tired but Wired" – Fatigue, Stress and Hormone Imbalance Many people experience high levels of mental and emotional stress ona regular basis, which put a significant strain on adrenal function.When stress is not well-managed the ability of the adrenal glands todo their job becomes compromised. The adrenals normally secretecortisol in response to stress, with exercise and excitement, and inreaction to low blood sugar. The body normally secretes the highestamount of cortisol in the morning to get us going, with levelsdecreasing throughout the day. People with adrenal imbalance willoften have normal cortisol levels in the morning with below normallevels at other times during the day. If stress remains too high forprolonged period, the adrenals cannot keep up with the demand andtotal cortisol plummets, leading to adrenal exhaustion. The hallmark symptoms of adrenal imbalance are stress and fatiguethat is not alleviated with sleep – that tired-all-the-time feeling.Other common symptoms include sleep disturbances, anxiety,depression, increased susceptibility to infections, reducedtolerance for stress, craving for sweets, allergies, chemicalsensitivities and a tendency to feel cold. Saliva testing charts the extent to which cortical levels are out ofbalance and can be used as part of a strategy that looks at thewhole person and his or her life style. It is helpful to work with adoctor who can design a complete program of hormone balance and thenmonitor your progress. You can begin to support adrenal function on your own by avoidinghydrogenated fats, excess caffeine, refined carbohydrates, alcohol,and sugar. Eat plenty of quality protein and regular meals of highnutritional value. Key to success is to discover and practice stressmanagement in whatever form works for you personally. Take time outto evaluate the stressors in your life and find ways of expressingyourself creatively. Get enough rest and sleep. And last but noleast, keep a sense of humor! Low Sex Drive (Libido) and Hormone Imbalance Estrogen, progesterone and testosterone are key players in themaintenance of circulation, nerve transmission and cell division, soan imbalance of these hormones can easily lead to changes in sexualresponse. Declining estrogen levels common to the menopausal yearscan dampen nerve impulses during sex, making us less sensitive tovibration and touch. And since estrogens increase blood flow tosexually sensitive areas, decreased levels can slow or diminish thearousal response. Imbalances of estrogen and testosterone can causedryness and thinning vaginal tissue making intercourse uncomfortableor downright painful – an effect that does absolutely nothing forlibido. Key to a normal sex drive is the right balance of estrogen toprogesterone. An excess blocks thyroid function which inhibitslibido. A balance stabilizes mood and supports thyroid functionwhich enhances libido. Significantly, progesterone is also aprecursor to estrogen and testosterone so we need it in steadysupply for optimal sexual pleasure. Testosterone and DHEA also have a major impact on sex drive. Levelsgradually decline in the years leading to menopause and can dropdramatically with hysterectomy, chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.If you have a low libido and have lost interest in sex, salivatesting to measure levels of estradiol, progesterone, testosteroneand DHEAs can establish probably cause and a rationale forcorrecting the imbalance. Hormone Imbalance and PMS PMS differs from all other disorders because the diagnosis does notdepend on the type of symptoms you suffer from, but on the time whenyour symptoms appear and disappear. Dr. Katharina Dalton of theU.K., a leading specialist who first used the term "premenstrualsyndrome" defines it as the presence of recurrent symptoms beforemenstruation with the complete absence of symptoms aftermenstruation. Doctors have identified at least 150 symptoms thatoccur in PMS, but fortunately, because all of us are different, noone has all of them! Among the most common are bloating, headache,backaches, severe grouchiness, depression, breast tenderness, lossof libido and fatigue. Do these symptoms sound familiar? They are also the symptoms offestrogen dominance! Katherine Dalton knew this back in the late 1950's when shepioneered the use of natural progesterone to balance estrogen in PMSpatients, with great success. Over the years she and physicians likeDr. John Lee in this country have treated thousands of women in thisway. The great majority of patients report remarkable improvement intheir PMS symptoms including the elimination of premenstrual waterretention and weight gain. Dr. Joel T. Hargrove of VanderbiltUniversity Medical Center published results indicating a 90 percentsuccess rate in treating PMS with oral doses of naturalprogesterone. We know too, that topical progesterone creams areequally effective. This has to do with progesterones potentbalancing effect upon estrogen. Saliva testing can determine if yourPMS is associated with estrogen dominance. Measure you saliva levelsof estradiol and progesterone during days 19-21 of your cycle. A lowprogesterone/estradiol ratio on your test report indicates estrogendominance and the likelihood of PMS symptoms. If this is the case,it is worthwhile to talk to your doctor about supplementing withnatural progesterone to keep estrogen levels in check. To learn moreread: PMS: The Essential Guide to Treatment Options by Dr. KatharinaDalton, and What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause, byDr. John Lee. All About Natural (Bio-identical) Hormones Natural or "bio-identical" hormones (BHRT) are synthesized fromnatural plant substances to be identical in structure and functionto those our bodies produced naturally before menopause. Whenhormone production starts to drop below normal levels in the yearsleading up to menopause, natural hormones are the best and safestway for women to supplement. They are available through your doctoron prescription and tailor made to meet individual need by acompounding pharmacist. Some natural hormones are available over-the-counter, but it is always wise to do research first. Consult Dr.John Lee's books on premenopause and menopause for an approved listof creams. Note: Progesterone – not "progestin" – is the natural bio-identicalform of the hormone as opposed to progestin, the synthetic version(the "pro" in Prempro). Natural progesterone is just like theprogesterone your ovaries make, and it is available in a topicalform over-the-counter, and by prescription when compounded withnatural estrogens and other hormones by compounding pharmacists. When hormone balance is restored and maintained using natural,bioidentical hormones, there are far fewer side effects, symptomsand cancers than observed with synthetic HRT. Following naturalphysiology as closely as possible makes sense, because in a sensenatural hormones have undergone safety trials as long as humans havewalked the earth. What is Progesterone and Why Do We Need It? Progesterone can be thought of as a hormonal balancer, particularlywhen it comes to the estrogens. Progesterone is a steroid hormonemade by the corpus luteum of the ovary at ovulation, and in smalleramounts by the adrenal glands. It is the precursor, or substancefrom which most of the other steroid hormones are derived, includingcortisol, androstenedione, the estrogens and testosterone.Progesterone has a remarkable repertoire of important jobs fromnormalizing blood sugar levels and facilitating thyroid hormoneaction to regulating menstrual cycles and maintaining a healthypregnancy. The survival of the embryo in the womb absolutely dependson this vital hormone. Progesterone also has natural calming anddiuretic properties, and it enhances the positive effects ofestrogen while preventing the problems associated with estrogendominance. Unopposed estrogen can build to unsafe tissue levels that can leadto a strong risk for breast cancer and reproductive cancers. Whileestrogen levels drop only 40-60% at menopause, progesterone levelsmay drop to near zero in some women, resulting in estrogen dominanceand the array of symptoms that go with it. Supplementation ofnatural, bioidentical progesterone has been shown to restorehormonal balance, especially during perimenopause and menopause. Hormone Balance and Osteoporosis Saliva testing can easily test for imbalances in each of the majorhormones that have an impact upon bone health – particularly,testosterone, DHEA, cortical, estrogen and progesterone. Bone is ahormonally sensitive tissue that is affected by age-related declinein production of these hormones. Many studies show that as they age,both men and women begin to lose bone as the androgens –testosterone and DHEAs in particular – start to fall off. And whenthese hormones are low and cortical is high, bone loss increases atan even more rapid pace. We know that too much stress raisescortical output, interfering with calcium absorption and bone-building activity, while at the same time stepping up the activityof bone destroying cells. We also know that cigarette smoking,alcohol intake and a lack of physical activity are associated withbone loss. In a typical case study from our files a 63 year-oldwoman who had never taken hormones since her menopause at age 51 hada bone density scan which revealed osteoporosis in her hip andspine. Saliva testing identified an imbalance of androgens as wellas low estrogen and progesterone levels. Supplementing with naturalhormones brought noticeable improvement, but to gain full relief, aprogram of stress reduction, optimal nutrition and weight-bearingexercise was also introduced. Estrogen Dominance and Low Thyroid: Weight Gain and Depression More than 10 million Americans have been diagnosed with thyroiddisease, but interestingly, women are at greatest risk, developingthyroid problems seven times more often than men. Thyroid hormoneregulates metabolic rate, so low levels tend to cause unwantedweight gain, depression, low energy and cold intolerance. Excessthyroid causes higher energy levels, a feeling of being too warm allthe time and weight loss. But it is hypothyroidism or low thyroidthat is most common in women during the perimenopausal andpostmenopausal years; in fact some 26 percent of women in or nearmenopause are diagnosed with hypothyroidism. In his book, What YourDoctor May Not Tell You About Menopause, Dr. John Lee discusses how,as he learned more about the condition of estrogen dominance, itbecame apparent that the taking of thyroid supplements among hiswomen patients was especially common in those with estrogendominance. This is because when estrogen is not counterbalanced withprogesterone, the estrogen buildup blocks thyroid hormone creatinghypothyroidism. Saliva hormone tests show that women who areestrogen dominant often have menopausal symptoms intertwined withlow thyroid symptoms. The most common are weight gain or beingunable to lose weight and depression. Cold intolerance, thinninghair, sleep disturbance, fatigue, mood swings and low sex drive arealso associated with low thyroid. If you are suffering from thesesymptoms, estrogen dominance may be a factor that can be identifiedthrough saliva testing. Depression and Mood Swings Many women experience mood swings and depression as their hormonesbegin to fluctuate erratically in the perimenopausal years and thedecline to ever lower levels at menopause. Unfortunately, far toomany women are put on anti-depressants when, in fact, naturalhormone supplementation to smooth out the roller coaster of waxingand waning hormones during these years may be all they need. All ofthe sex hormones, especially progesterone, estrogens and androgens,have a potent effect upon state of mind, mood, and memory. So whenthey are out of balance – too high, too low, or up and down – as isnot uncommon in mid-life, the effects can range from less thandesirable to devastating. Estrogen, the hormone that surges to highest levels in the firsthalf of the menstrual cycle, has been shown to increase mood-enhancing beta-endorphins in menopausal women as well as in womenwho are still cycling. It is also known to boost serotonin andacetylcholine – the neurohormones associated with positive mood andmemory. So a lack of estrogen can bring on tearfulness and anxiety.But an excess can also affect our mental state by holding sway overprogesterone in the waning reproductive years. That's because as weage we ovulate less frequently and when we do not ovulate, we do notproduct progesterone. In this way we lose the inherent calming andmood-stabilizing effects of progesterone. We also lose its balancingpower upon estrogen which then builds up, blocks thyroid actionleading to low thyroid, and with it, depression. The androgens, testosterone and DHEA also play an important role inmental outlook and vitality. So it's not surprising that many womenfind they are in much better spirits once they are put on naturalhormone therapy. Hormone balancing is vital after a hysterectomy,because the removal of the ovaries shuts down all hormoneproduction, forcing a woman into menopause literally, overnight. Oneof the immediate consequences of the surgery is depression, whichcan be more safely alleviated by restoring hormone balance than bytaking Prozac. Saliva testing to identify hormone imbalances linkedto depression can serve as a basis for restoring balance and withit, a positive outlook. Reprinted with the permission of Candace Burch