Category Archives: Hormone Replacement Treatment

Myxedema coma, also known as myxedema crisis, is a complication of advanced hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones.

This article explores how hypothyroidism causes myxedema coma, before detailing its symptoms, causes, treatment, and diagnosis.

Myxedema coma is a severe complication of hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland produces hormones, including triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid does not produce high enough levels of these hormones.

T3 and T4 regulate several functions in the body, including:

If a lack of T3 and T4 severely disrupts these bodily functions, a person may develop symptoms of myxedema coma.

Learn more about normal T4 levels here.

Myxedema coma occurs when the body can no longer tolerate the effects of hypothyroidism.

When thyroid hormone levels become extremely low, a person may experience the following symptoms:

Myxedema coma is a result of untreated or undiagnosed hypothyroidism. However, some contributing factors may trigger myxedema coma sooner in some people.

These include:

If anyone has hypothyroidism, it is important that they try and keep warm. People should also contact their doctor if an infection, such as a urinary tract infection, takes longer to clear than expected.

A doctor can measure T4 and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels to diagnose myxedema coma.

However, they will likely start with immediate hormone replacement treatment while waiting for the test results based on other symptoms.

These symptoms may include:

A doctor may perform more tests to determine thyroid function and other conditions that could be affecting the thyroid.

If a doctor suspects myxedema coma, they will begin treatment with thyroid hormone therapy, which aims to ease symptoms by restoring T3 and T4 hormone levels.

Depending on how advanced the coma is, doctors will administer T3 and T4 hormones using an intravenous drip. However, a person can receive the treatment orally if they are well enough. In addition to thyroid hormone replacement therapy, people may need other medications such as steroids.

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not function properly and no longer produces enough thyroid hormones. It may also develop if the pituitary gland does not stimulate it.

Many conditions could lead to hypothyroidism, including:

Several drugs are known to interfere with thyroid hormone production.

Examples of these drugs include:

People receiving radiation therapy for head and neck cancer may also develop hypothyroidism months or years after treatment.

In addition, thyroid surgery may also lead to hypothyroidism. Treatment for conditions, such as thyroid cancer, thyroid nodules, hyperthyroidism, and goiter, involve partial or full removal of the thyroid gland.

Without treatment, advanced hypothyroidism will likely lead to severe complications, including myxedema coma.

People with myxedema coma generally have positive outcomes if a doctor can quickly administer thyroid hormone therapy. However, without rapid diagnosis and treatment, this condition is often fatal.

Myxedema coma, also known as myxedema crisis, is a severely advanced case of hypothyroidism that constitutes a medical emergency. It is often due to a long history of hypothyroidism going unrecognized or untreated.

Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones to meet the bodys needs.

A myxedema coma diagnosis requires immediate medical attention, which involves treatment with thyroid hormone therapy.

Excerpt from:
Myxedema coma: What are the symptoms and how is it treated? - Medical News Today

By Puja Gupta

New Delhi Do you constantly feel run down, exhausted and cold when others are warm? This so happens when the thyroid gland isnt working as well as it should be, you dont feel well. You end up putting on tons of weight irrespective of trying extremely hard despite trying very hard to keep your weight in the limit. These could be signs of Hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormone. These hormones are needed to keep your organs functioning properly, which is why you feel dull and low, when they are in short supply.

Many times, most women do not realise that they have a thyroid problem and therefore bring about no change in their lifestyle. While there is no substitute for getting a proper diagnosis and starting hormone replacement treatment if you have hypothyroidism, leading a healthier lifestyle and following a strict routine will help you feel better faster.

One of the first things you need to do is get your diet in order. Nutrition and eating well plays the most important role in driving optimum functioning of the Thyroid gland.

Sheta Mittal, Co-founder of &Me, a womens food and healthcare brand, says: For Thyroid gland nutrition, eating well, specifially includes consuming adequate amounts of Iodine and Tyrosine. Tyrosine and Iodine together make the famous T4/T3 thyroid hormones. We can get Iodine from sea food, dairy products and iodized salt, and Tyrosine from sesame seeds and soybeans in the diet. Also, make sure you include the full profile of micronutrients and macronutrients on a daily basis. Low fat, micronutrient rich, fibre heavy diet with 2-3 cups of colourful fruits and vegetables daily will help you lose weight or least to say maintain your weight, Instead of popping thyroid pills, a lot of women these days are opting for a more natural choice.

Thyroid pills inject artificial Thyroxine (T3) in the body, and if the lifestyle is not in check the body gets immune to the pill and the dosages keep increasing over the lifetime. Look for new age products in the market that are providing healthy alternatives to managing Thyroid in lifestyle formats such as teas, juices and so on. Make sure you do your research and look for nutrients above in the ingredients, she says.

While exercising is the last thing you want to do when youre feeling this lethargic, giving your body regular physical activity will boost your energy, help with weight loss efforts, and lower your stress levels.

She adds: Activities such as brisk walking and some toning exercises that target key muscle groups, including legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms, can prove to be extremely helpful in losing that extra weight. 30 mins a day, 5 days a week, is sure to take you a long way on the journey to staying fit.

One thing you must pay grave attention to is keeping you mind stress-free. Stress can make hypothyroidism worse. Stress can make any body problem worse. Why, because stress takes up a lot of mental energy and sucks nutrients, halts functioning of the body organs. Learning how to cope with stress can make a big difference in helping the body to function well and make you feel better. Yoga, meditation, deep breathing, or just chilling out to some relaxing music can all help you de-stress and let go of the anxiety. Find a stress-reducing technique that works for you and incorporate it into your lifestyle.

Getting sufficient good quality sleep will help improve your daytime fatigue. Make sure you set a regular sleep and wake time while keeping your bedroom temperature cool.

It is extremely important that you do everything you can to keep yourself healthy. Bringing a change in your lifestyle can definitely help balance your thyroid levels, helping you avoid any serious health abnormalities, making you a fit and healthy individual, ends Mittal. (IANS)

Original post:
Know your thyroid glands and how to take care of them - India New England

Doctors that provide hormone replacement treatment generally work with women experiencing symptoms of menopause. The goal is to protect the long-term health of their patients. However, theres a lot more that must be considered. Hormone replacement therapy provides various medications that contain female hormones. The therapeutic process serves to replace what is no longer present so that a womans body functions more effectively. For instance, it can treat individuals suffering from vaginal discomfort, bone loss and hot flashes. It can also help a postmenopausal woman prevent fractures that are related to bone loss.

Notably, a doctor thats treating a patient with hormone replacement will assess her condition and tailor the treatment accordingly. The doctor will make an initial assessment and reevaluate the situation at a later date to make any necessary adjustments based on the results. There are many benefits associated with receiving hormone replacement treatments, which are often tied to the type of treatment prescribed. For instance, systemic hormone therapy can be administered in a variety of ways, some of which are more effective than others. Here are examples of how a treatment might be administered:

There may be other options, but these are the most common methods used for administering systemic estrogen. There are instances when hormone replacement resolves frustrating issues associated with menopause, such as vaginal dryness. A significant benefit of this therapy is that it can lower the risk of heart disease and colon cancer, especially after menopause. It can also help with issues like osteoporosis.

If a doctor chooses to prescribe a low-dose treatment, it will likely be in the form of a tablet or cream. Its important to note that low doses are not as effective with issues like night sweats, hot flashes or bone loss. Its worth noting that there are some risks involved in hormone therapy, but this is something that a knowledgeable professional can help mitigate. For instance, sometimes the way in which the treatment is administered will be changed because of a negative reaction that may not occur when using a different method. The doctor will determine which method is likely to address your specific issue without any side effects. For instance, if a pill causes nausea, a topical treatment might work best. For some people, a skin patch is a better solution.

When taking hormone replacement medication, or receiving treatment for any other condition, its important to minimize the amount of medication consumed. Doctors will generally endeavor to prescribe the lowest dose possible and for the shortest period of time necessary. While there may be a need to increase the dose and duration in which is taken, they will generally start off with the lowest prescription based on your specific situation. There are some instances when the complications a patient faces is severe and requires treatment for a longer period of time. If this is the case, your doctor will monitor the outcome of higher doses or a longer prescription timeframe.

When receiving hormone replacement therapy from a doctor, you must ensure consistent follow-up care. By visiting your doctor regularly, they can assess whether there are any new risks or issues that need to be addressed. The ownership of making sure treatments remain safe isnt just on the doctor. Patients must also do their part, such as engaging in regular exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, managing stress and minimizing the amount of alcohol consumed. Ultimately, its important to prioritize your health and do whats necessary to maximize the results.

Hormone replacement has been effective for many women, especially in recent years. Whether or not hormone replacement is right for you will depend on many factors that will be determined in collaboration with your doctor. There is constantly new insights being made available about hormone replacement, which is why its always good to speak remain in communication with your doctor. You can also seek out other healthcare professionals that have specialized expertise in this area. Even if you have tried a treatment in the past and it didnt work out as planned, theres a chance that new treatment exists. If not, you can simply try an option that was not previously considered.

If youre interested in hormone replacement or you have questions about how it works, call us today. We have the knowledge and expertise to provide the support you need. Call us now at 205-352-9141.

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What Conditions Do Hormone Replacement Doctors Usually ...

More than 2.5 million people in the United States alone experience a traumatic brain injury, or TBI, each year. Some of these people are plagued by a seemingly unrelated cascade of health issues for years after their head injury, including fatigue, depression, anxiety, memory issues, and sleep disturbances.

A collaborative team, led by Dr. Randall Urban, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston's Chief Research Officer and Professor of Endocrinology, has spent the past 20 years investigating this post-TBI syndrome. The team has learned more about how a TBI triggers a reduction in growth hormone secretion and why most TBI patients improve after growth hormone replacement treatment.

The studies led to the definition of the syndrome as brain injury associated fatigue and altered cognition, or BIAFAC, as recently described in a commentary published by Drs Urban and Brent Masel, UTMB Professor of Neurology, in the Journal of Neurotrauma.

The team's work on brain injuries began in the late 1990's when Galveston philanthropist Robert Moody asked the team whether TBI caused dysfunction of the hormones made by the brain's pituitary gland and funded research for the study. His son, Russell, had suffered a serious TBI during a car accident and was seeking ways to improve the life of his son and others living with brain injuries.

The team has been building on the discovery that TBI triggers a long-term reduction in growth hormone, or GH, secretion that is linked with BIAFAC. Most TBI patients experience dramatic symptom relief with GH replacement therapy, but the symptoms return if the treatment stops. The researchers are trying to better understand BIAFAC and exactly how and why GH replacement works so well in order to develop new interventions.

"We already knew that even mild TBI triggers both short- and long-term changes to functional connections in the brain," said Urban. "GH administration has been extensively linked with both protection and repair of the brain following damage or disease, however we didn't know much about the particular mechanisms and pathways involved."

They examined 18 people with a history of mild TBI and inadequate GH secretion. The subjects received GH replacement in a year-long, double-blind, placebo-controlled study and were assessed for changes in physical performance, resting metabolic rate, fatigue, sleep quality, and mood. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was also used throughout the year to assess changes in brain structure and functional connections.

The study showed that GH replacement was linked with increased lean body mass and decreased fat mass as well as reduced fatigue, anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance. It was also found, for the first time, that these improvements were associated with better communications among brain networks that have been previously associated with GH deficiency. They also noted increases in both grey and white matter in frontal brain regions, the "core communications center of the brain," that could be related to cognitive improvements.

"We noticed that TBI patients had altered amino acid and hormonal profiles suggesting chronic intestinal inflammation, so we recently completed a trial to investigate the role of the gut-brain axis in the long-lasting effects of TBI," said Urban. "We compared the fecal microbes of 22 moderate/severe TBI patients residing in a long-term care facility with 18 healthy age-matched control subjects, identifying disruptions of intestinal metabolism and changes in nutrient utilization in TBI patients that could explain the reduced growth hormone function."

The results suggest that the people with TBI-related fatigue and altered cognition also have different fecal bacterial communities than the control group. Urban said that the findings suggest that supplementing or replacing the dysbiotic intestinal communities may help to ease the symptoms experienced after TBI.

"These two studies further characterize BIAFAC and act as a springboard for new treatment options," said Urban. "We hope that the publications will focus the collective wisdom of the research community to better understand and treat this syndrome, providing hope for many. Because these symptoms can manifest months to years after the initial injury and as this cluster of symptoms hasn't been previously grouped together, it often goes unidentified in the medical community."

Reference: Urban, R. J., Pyles, R. B., Stewart, C. J., Ajami, N., Randolph, K. M., Durham, W. J., Danesi, C. P., Dillon, E. L., Summons, J. R., Singh, C. K., Morrison, M., Kreber, L. A., Masel, B., Miller, A. L., Wright, T. J., & Sheffield-Moore, M. (2019). Altered Fecal Microbiome Years after Traumatic Brain Injury. Journal of Neurotrauma. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2019.6688

Wright, T., Urban, R., Durham, W., Dillon, E. L., Randolph, K. M., Danesi, C., Gilkison, C., Karmonik, C., Zgaljardic, D. J., Masel, B., Bishop, J., Pyles, R., Seidler, R., Hierholzer, A. H., & Sheffield-Moore, M. (2019). Growth Hormone Alters Brain Morphometry, Connectivity, and Behavior in Subjects with Fatigue after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Journal of Neurotrauma. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2019.669

Urban, R. J. (2019). A Treatable Syndrome in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury. Journal of Neurotrauma. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2019.6689

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

See the article here:
Growth Hormone Treatment Can Improve Long-term Effects of Brain Injury - Technology Networks

If youre looking for relief from menopause symptoms, knowing the pros and cons of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help you decide whether its right for you.

HRT (also known as hormone therapy, menopausal hormone therapy, and estrogen replacement therapy) uses female hormones -- estrogen and progesterone -- to treat common symptoms of menopause and aging. Doctors can prescribe it during or after menopause.

After your period stops, your hormone levels fall, causing uncomfortable symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness, and sometimes conditions like osteoporosis. HRT replaces hormones your body no longer makes. Its the most effective treatment for menopause symptoms.

You might think of pregnancy when you think of estrogen. In women of child-bearing age, it gets the uterus ready to receive a fertilized egg. It has other roles, too -- it controls how your body uses calcium, which strengthens bones, and raises good cholesterol in the blood.

If you still have your uterus, taking estrogen without progesterone raises your risk for cancer of the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. Since the cells from the endometrium arent leaving your body during your period any more, they may build up in your uterus and lead to cancer. Progesterone lowers that risk by thinning the lining.

Once you know the hormones that make up HRT, think about which type of HRT you should get:

Estrogen Therapy: Doctors generally suggest a low dose of estrogen for women who have had a hysterectomy, the surgery to remove the uterus. Estrogen comes in different forms. The daily pill and patch are the most popular, but the hormone also is available in a vaginal ring, gel, or spray.

Estrogen/Progesterone/Progestin Hormone Therapy: This is often called combination therapy, since it combines doses of estrogen and progestin, the synthetic form of progesterone. Its meant for women who still have their uterus.

The biggest debate about HRT is whether its risks outweigh its benefits.

In recent years, several studies showed that women taking HRT have a higher risk of breast cancer, heart disease, stroke, and blood clots. The largest study was the Womens Health Initiative (WHI), a 15-year study tracking over 161,800 healthy, postmenopausal women. The study found that women who took the combination therapy had an increased risk of heart disease. The overall risks of long-term use outweighed the benefits, the study showed.

But after that, a handful of studies based on WHI research have focused on the type of therapy, the way its taken, and when treatment started. Those factors can produce different results. One recent study by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center reveals that antidepressants offer benefits similar to low-dose estrogen without the risks.

With all the conflicting research, its easy to see why HRT can be confusing.

If you have these conditions, you may want to avoid HRT:

HRT comes with side effects. Call your doctor if you have any of these:

Your doctor can help you weigh the pros and cons and suggest choices based on your age, your family's medical history, and your personal medical history.

SOURCES:

Garnet Anderson, PhD, director, public health sciences division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle.

Cleveland Clinic: Hormone Therapy (HT), Understanding Benefits and Risks.

John Hopkins Medicine: Hormone Therapy.

Journal of the American Medical Association, Oct. 2, 2013.

Main Line Health: Estrogen, Progesterone, and Menopause.

JoAnn E. Manson, MD, DrPH, chief, preventative medicine division, department of medicine, Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston.

National Cancer Institute: Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Cancer Fact Sheet.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: Womens Health Initiative.

National Institutes of Health: WHI Study Data Confirm Short-Term Heart Disease Risk of Combination Hormone Therapy for Postmenopausal Women.

National Institute on Aging: Hormones and Menopause."

North American Menopause Society: Hormone Therapy for women in 2012.

Office on Womens Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT).

U.S. Preventative Services Task Force: Understanding Task Force Recommendations: Menopausal Hormone Therapy for the Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions.

Excerpt from:
postmenopausal hormone replacement treatment - webmd.com

ELEANOR BLACK

Last updated15:59, July 3 2017

Find out when your mum went through menopause - chances are it will be the same for you.

Menopause is a dirty word for women of all ages, but women in their 30s often try to avoid thinking about it altogether.

Play the word association game and you get old, infertile, past it, cranky, unreasonable.It's safe to say that few womenactually look forward to menopause.

READ MORE: *Auckland study about the effect exercise has on menopause in need of volunteers *Powering up: Why women should get in training for menopause *Mystery of menopause before 40

123RF

Few women look forward to menopause.

But whatever your feelings about this time of life, this is what you should know before it arrives:

8 YEARS IN A LEAKY BOAT

Menopause lasts significantly longer than we used to believe. Christchurch obstetrician-gynaecologist Olivia Smartsays women go through eight years of hormonal fluctuationsuntil menstruation ends when they are 51, on average.

Ask your mother when she experienced menopause, because chances are you will have a similar experience.

And if your mum was aged 40 or younger when her periods stopped,you should talk to your GP about your own fertility, and how you can protect your bone and hearthealth if you also hit menopause early.

CHEER UP, LADY, IT'S NOT SO BAD

The general perception is that menopause is a miserable experience you would not wish on anyone, and let's be clear it's no pony ride.

"It's a very real issue for women in their 40s," says Smart."A lot have to hold down a job and manage young families but there is this huge change looming which might effect their quality of life.

"It could be a crippling blow from a mental health perspective or on a cognitive level. The only comfort is that there are very good treatments available."

Some of those treatments are hormonal (we will get to HRT momentarily) and some are not, but the good news is that innovation is improving the quality of life for menopausal women every year.

HRT IS NOT EVIL

The perception of hormone replacement treatment has changed wildly over time. Once treated as a near-miraculous way of extending youth and treating the symptoms of menopause, it got a lot of bad publicity in the early 2000s when research linked it to breast cancer and heart disease.

"Using HRT for a short period of time [five years or less] is a safe thing to do," says Smart. "The safety data is pretty reassuring around that. It's about seeing a practitioner who is experienced and has the up-to-date information.

HEAVY GOING

It's true that a lot of women gain weight at menopause and that their body shape changes, with a thickening of the waist and extra pockets of fat collecting around their hips and bums.

Smart advises women still in their 30s to maintain a healthy weight, eat foods rich in calcium, do weight-reistance exercises, and do exercises that promote cardiovascular health.

The better the shape you are in approaching menopause, the better you will be able to cope with it.

IS IT JUST ME, OR IS IT HOT IN HERE?

Hot flushes are the gift that keeps on giving, sometimes for several years. Most people know that hot flushes are a sudden temperature rise, signalled by red, sometimes blotchy skin.

However, these symptoms may be accompaniedby heart palpitations,dizziness and a general sense of unwellness.

If hot flashes are a significant issue for you and you don't want to take hormones, it is possible to inject the neck in a procedure called a stellate ganglion block, says Smart. This can reduce the number and severity of hot flushes a woman experiences

NOT QUITE THE SAHARA... BUT...

One of the lesser-known downsides to menopause is vaginal dryness, which is uncomfortable and can make sex painful.The traditional treatment is flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil and lube.

A low-dose topical oestrogen cream can help, but for women who want to avoid the fuss and the hormones, alaser treatment is available which increases collagen production at the site.

SO WHAT'S PERIMENOPAUSE?

Whilemenopause is the end of menstruation,perimenopauseis the phase before it. But for conveniencesake we tend to refer to the whole transition as menopause.

"Over the age of 45, irregular bleeding should be checked out by your doctor," says Smart."Endometrial cancers are one of the most common cancers in women, and we are picking them up in women in their 30s and 40s."

THE NEVERENDING PERIOD

In some cases, women have really long periods that go one for a month or more. "If your body fails to release an egg and then the body is not getting signals that it needs to stop the cycle and start again, then you get this continuous bleeding for weeks on end," says Smart.

There is medication available to stop the bleeding, so don't suffer in silence. Ask your GP for help.

-Stuff

Originally posted here:
What women in their 30s need to know about menopause | Stuff.co.nz - Stuff.co.nz