A HOT FLASH ON PERIMENOPAUSE AND MENOPAUSE

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Of course, you know about menopause…the dreaded “M” word. But before we get into menopause, we should talk about its precursor; perimenopause. Many women haven’t even heard of it. Perimenopause refers to the years of hormonal upheaval that precede a woman’s final period. Usually, around age 35, progesterone, estrogen and testosterone (yes, you’ve got it) levels begin to decline and become erratic. Perimenopause varies greatly from one woman to the next. The average duration is three to four years, although it can last just a few months or extend as long as a decade. (10 years? Yikes!) While perimenopause is an extended transitional state, menopause is a point in time, defined by a lack of period for 12 months or more. The average age of menopause onset is 51 years. (But I’m too young to be in menopause!) However, this isn’t the case for everyone. (Not me, not me…please…)

AND YOU THOUGHT YOUR PERIOD WAS A CURSE.

Probably the first thing you think of with menopause are the dreaded hot flashes that can send a woman to an open fridge begging for icy relief. Truth is, nearly 75 percent of peri-menopausal and menopausal women experience hot flashes. But wait…oh, but wait…perimenopause and menopause can be a shipwreck to rival the Titanic:

  • Night sweats
  • Low libido
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Weight gain
  • Hair loss or thinning
  • Anxiety
  • Insomnia
  • Breast tenderness
  • Fatigue

Sadly, Mother Nature doesn’t always play fair.

MEN AND MENOPAUSE

If you’re unsure what menopause entails, men are mostly clueless. All they know is that their partner can seem possessed. Moods galore, tears out of nowhere, night sweats that send them scrambling from spooning to the dry side of the bed. Insensitivity can rear its ugly head. Yes, “the change” can change things, but the key word in this case is “adapt”. This is a time when men need to communicate, ask questions, be understanding, be supportive. Menopause might not be a party, but it doesn’t mean when it comes to a relationship, the party’s over.                                                                                                               

IT’S NOT ALL IN YOUR HEAD

Perimenopause and menopause can even be misunderstood by doctors. Women are often misdiagnosed with depression, anxiety and other mood disorders. As a result, millions have been placed on antidepressants unnecessarily, and needlessly placed at risk for prescription additions such as valium and other anti-anxiety medications.  These only mask the symptoms of hormonal imbalances.

HOW TO CHANGE “THE CHANGE OF LIFE”

Without question, perimenopause and menopause can seem like hormonal hell. Not knowing what to do about it or where to go is enough to make any woman crazy. But this doesn’t have to be a time when you feel like your body has gone rogue on you. If you want real help with the hormonal upheavals of perimenopause and menopause, you want to see the hormone experts at Denver Hormone Health.  No one knows more or understands better what you’re going through or how to get your hormones back on track than Denver Hormone Health. With state-of-the-art diagnostic hormone testing, the medical specialists at Denver Hormone Health can determine your hormone levels and create a unique treatment plan tailored to your individual needs. Perimenopause and menopause don’t have to hit the “pause” button on your life. Call Denver Hormone Health for an appointment now. Think of it as a hot flash of genius.

Hormone Facts: Stranger than Fiction

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Hormones Are Pretty Amazing Things

Hormone Facts: Hormones are special chemical messengers in the body that are created in the endocrine glands. These critical messengers control most major bodily functions, from simple basic needs like hunger to systems like reproduction, and even emotions and mood. There is not a single person on Earth who is not completely dependent on their endocrine system. Without hormones, you would simply not be able to exist. It can get pretty complex, medical and factual if you really dig into them.

But There Are Many Facts and Theories About Hormones That Are Surprisingly Eye-Opening.

Even unbelievable. The only way to demonstrate these are to list some of them. Don’t be surprised if the thoughts “you’re kidding” and “no way” come to mind…

The Use of Electronics Can Really Mess Up Our Minds.

One week of camping, without electronics, can help the body synchronize melatonin hormones with sunrise and sunset, and get a normal sleep pattern back on track.

Heil Whaaat?

During World War ll, the Allies considered injecting estrogen into Hitler’s food to make him less aggressive and cause his moustache to fall off.

Your Hangover Is the Result of Drunk Hormones

When we drink alcohol, it messes with the job of the antidiuretic hormone. What follows is the incessant peeing that happens when you drink, which is a major contributor in being hungover. So think of it this way: every time you drink, you’re kind of getting your hormones drunk too, because they quit behaving appropriately — like you.

SPF For Your Eyeballs?

If you don’t want a sunburn, don’t wear sunglasses. Because sunlight triggers the optic nerve, it immediately puts the pituitary gland on the defense. In response, melanocyte is released to prevent you from getting a sunburn. However, when you put on sunglasses, nothing is triggered, so nothing is released. 

Testosterone Road Trip

Testosterone can cross the blood-brain barrier and be converted to estrogen, but estrogen alone, cannot cross. As a result, men have more “estrogen on the brain” than women.

No Bones About It

Responsible for producing hormones that control, well, pretty much everything, the pituitary gland is also known as the master gland. You can also have 95 percent of this master gland removed and your body will still function properly. That’s because every part of the body is able to make hormones — including bones.

Take This Seriously

There are some 50 different hormones swimming through your bloodstream that play a really big role in your body’s health and well-being. When they are out of balance, it can seriously affect how your body functions. In many cases, when you aren’t feeling well, it could well be hormones. The best way to find out is to find your way to Denver Hormone Health. If it has anything to do with hormones, the doctors at Denver Hormone Health know what to do about it. With simple tests they can tell what’s out of whack, and create a tailored treatment plan to get you back on track. And feeling better than ever. Call Denver Hormone Health for an appointment now. There’s nothing funny about not feeling well.

Hormones and Diabetes: It’s Not So Sweet

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Diabetes Basics

Did you know that the medical term for diabetes is actually “Diabetes Mellitus”?  (Although you probably never hear it called that.) Diabetes affects approximately 30.3 million people (9.4% of the population) in the United States, (Tom Hanks, Nick Jonas and Halle Berry to name a few) while another estimated 84.1 million people have prediabetes and don’t know it. What you probably know is that it has something to do with sugar. To put it simply, diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body does not produce enough of the hormone insulin, resulting in high levels of the sugar “glucose” in the bloodstream.

Every Type is Pretty Terrible

There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Both types of diabetes are lifelong diseases that affect the way your body regulates blood sugar, or glucose. Glucose is the fuel that feeds your body’s cells, but to enter your cells it needs a key. Insulin is that key. People with type 1 diabetes  (often known as juvenile diabetes) don’t produce insulin. You can think of it as not having a key. People with type 2 diabetes don’t respond to insulin as well as they should and later in the disease often don’t make enough insulin. You can think of this as having a broken key. Of the two, type 1 is the most severe.

When Hormones Have Their Way

Hormone imbalances definitely influence blood sugar levels. To better understand how hormones affect diabetes, it is important to identify which hormones can impact those levels in the blood. Insulin is the hormone that affects blood sugar levels the most, but it’s not the only one. Glucagon, Amylin, Epinephrine, Cortisol and Growth Hormone are others that are best left to medical minds. Let’s just say when it comes to diabetes, unbalanced, they’re “bad”.  This, we can all understand.

Some Serious Stuff Here

Many people with diabetes often “poo-poo” it, not believing it can really do that much damage. But consider just some of the symptoms and health-related problems:

  • Increased thirst and urination
  • Nerve pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Blurred vision
  • Hunger
  • Weight loss or gain
  • Fatigue
  • Dry mouth 
  • Depression
  • Slow-healing wounds, cuts, or sores 
  • Itching skin
  • Increased susceptibility to infections
  • Heart and blood vessel disease
  • Kidney disease

Still think controlling it isn’t something to think seriously about?

Eat This Up

The first thing people think about when it comes to diabetes and diet, is deprivation. No this, no that, and absolutely, positively, never-ever anything sweet. Not so. It’s just all about portion. That box of Valentine candy? Have a small piece or two, just don’t devour the whole thing or dig into a 5-lb chocolate heart. (Cupid won’t die if you don’t). A diet for diabetics is a sensible, healthy diet for anyone; fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and heart-healthy fats. It’s about cutting back on sodium and processed foods. And really cutting back on carbs which are most easily broken down into sugar.  What are a few examples of things you should you totally try to avoid?

  • Frosting (Sorry, but you can ‘t get caught up in the cupcake craze)
  • Bagels
  • Soda (sugar-free is fine)
  • Sugary cereals- (Fruit Loops can really send your blood sugar in loops)
  • Stick margarine
  • Jarred tomato sauce- (Sure, it’s easy, but…Prego is a no-go)
  • Bacon (No more “Bs” in your BLTs)
  • Maraschino cherries (And the sugar-laden cocktails you love them in)
  • Soy sauce
  • Smoothies (Just being green, doesn’t make them healthy)
  • Vanilla cappuccino with whipped cream and hazelnut drizzle (Or any other Starbucks specialty where tons of sugar make them so special.)
  • The devilish duos of anything breaded and fried (bye-bye chicken McNuggets)
  • Fatty red meat (liverwurst’s the worst)
  • Hot dogs

It’s All in the Balance

Before you go bonkers over diabetes, you have to remember that it can be all about hormone imbalances. And imbalances, if treated correctly, by the right medical specialists, can be balanced. The place to start, is getting a good and accurate measure of your hormones, especially those that can contribute to diabetes. And in the Denver area, there’s no better place to do that than at Denver Hormone Health. Every one of the doctors that are at Denver Hormone Health are hormone specialists that know everything there is to know about hormones and getting them back in balance. Simple tests can tell them how they can help you if they determine you’re pre-diabetic or diabetic. Even if it turns out you’re not, they can see if something isn’t in balance with all the other hormones floating through your bloodstream. In any case, all they care about is getting you back to feeling your best. Call the experts at Denver Hormone Health now.

Diabetes doesn’t have to get you down.