September 28, 2011
Hot flashes can be a real nuisance to
many menopausal and even postmenopausal
women. The nuisance can be so strong that
many women will take hormone replacement
therapy just so they don't have to deal
with them. I've told you in the past that
HRT isn't safe. But what's surprising is
that hot flashes actually provide a beneficial
effect on your health.
Strange as it may seem, the silver lining
for those suffering from hot flashes is
that they may have less risk of breast
cancer. In fact, some recent data says
that they can reduce your breast cancer
risk by as much as 50%!
A research team questioned 1,437 postmenopausal
women. Of these, 988 already had breast
cancer. These women were between 55 and
74 years. The researchers asked them about
their menopausal symptoms. These included
hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness,
heavy menstrual bleeding, depression, and
anxiety. Quite interestingly, women with
the most hot flashes had the lowest risk
of breast cancer.
Stefan
Gluck is an oncology professor at the
University of Miami. He said the study "is another small, but important
piece in our mosaic in understanding breast
cancer.... It confirms that high levels
of estrogen increase the risk." He
added that the reduction in risk is substantial. "At
age 50, a woman has, on average, a 2% risk
of getting breast cancer, so if she experiences
menopausal symptoms, the risk is suddenly
only 1%," he said.
Similarly, an 80-year-old woman has a
14% risk of developing breast cancer, Gluck
said. If she had menopausal symptoms, it
cuts her risk to only 7%. Gluck did mention
that we don't have data showing that if
we artificially lower estrogen that we
can cut that risk.
Hot flashes can be stubborn and uncomfortable.
Tens of thousands of women turn to prescription
estrogens to alleviate the symptoms. But
these increase your risk of cancer. As
a result, many are now turning to bio-identical
hormones. The thinking is that true ovarian
hormones are safer. Yes, hormones natural
to your body are safer than foreign estrogens.
However, that doesn't mean that bio-identicals
have no risk.
This report suggests that natural estrogen
does carry some risk, since it is the lack
of your own estrogen that triggers hot
flashes. Will replacing your own deficient
estrogen with bio-identical estrogen restore
your risk to that of women who don't get
hot flashes? I don't have the answer to
that. But I've had these thoughts for years.
It's one reason why, unlike many of my
colleagues, I am rather cautious with bio-identical
hormones.
On the other hand, I have some great news.
There is a plant estrogen (phytoestrogen)
source that can significantly mitigate
hot flashes, improve bone density and reduce
breast cancer risk all in one. This plant
is Pueraria Mirifica. You can order it
from Longevity Research (800-580-7587)
in a product called HRT (Herbal Remedy
from Thailand). I suggest trying 100 mg
daily.
Additionally, you could consider trying
St. John's wort (300 mg daily) to alleviate
hot flashes. A recent study showed a highly
significant reduction in hot flashes with
this herbal remedy after four to eight
weeks. It also has phytoestrogens. You
can find St. John's wort at any health
food store.
Yours
For Inner Health and Outer Beauty,
Teresa
Rispoli, Ph.D., L.Ac.
Ref: Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and
Prevention online edition 1-26-11; Menopause,
2010 March; 17(2):326-31.
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