Hot Flashes Could Mean Low Bone Mineral Density.

Premenopausal women, perimenopausal women and postmenopausal women who suffer from hot flashes and night sweats, were found to have lower femoral neck (the large bone in the thigh that attaches to the pelvis) bone mineral density, than those who don't.

This is according to Researchers at the University of California, who analyzed data for 2,213 women between the ages of 42-52 who participated in the bone sub-study of the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation.

The study, which was published in the journal Menopause also noted that postmenopausal women with hot flashes and night sweats had lower lumbar and total hip bone mineral density.

'Female Viagra'?

When a testosterone patch for women was launched in 2007, it was hailed by the media as the 'female Viagra'. It aimed to boost the libido or sex drive of women who'd had their menopause brought on by a hysterectomy. But now, an independent drug guide has recommended that women avoid the patches, saying that the benefits are limited and the long-term safety uncertain.

An independent medicine guide has reviewed the research on testosterone patches for women, and says they shouldn't be recommended to treat a low libido. Although the research shows some benefits for carefully selected women, the improvement is small, with dummy patches working almost as well. Short-term side effects from testosterone patches are common, and the long-term safety is unknown.

The report also points out that the diagnosis of low sexual desire is subjective and can involve several factors, including relationships and lifestyle.

Source: Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, published by the BMJ Group.

How To Prevent a Stroke - One Minute Video

Post menopausal women have an increased risk of stroke, so please watch this one minute video.

This video has been produced by the National Health Service and is currently being shown on British TV.
It is aimed at helping people to recognise the first signs of stroke, and act FAST to save lives and reduce the damage caused.

Does HRT Shrink Women's Brains?

According to a US study led by researchers at Wake Forest University, two key areas of the brain involved in thinking and memory were smaller in women who had taken HRT than in those who had been given a "dummy" placebo pill.

These findings may explain previous studies linking HRT to dementia and an increased risk of memory loss.

The big flaw in this study was that the researchers admitted that they they were unable to take brain scans of the women before they began takin HRT.

So in actual fact the brain shrinkage could have occured before these women began taking HRT.

Yet again a big broo ha ha about nothing as this doesn't prove anything.
More studies would have to be done before any conclusions about brain shrinkage and HRT can be made.

Almonds for hot flashes

Vitamin E has long been established for helping many menopausal problems especially hot flushes, night sweats, palpitations and vaginal dryness.
One natural way to get Vitamin E from your diet is by getting it from almonds.

Almonds are an excellent nutrient-dense food to incorporate into a healthful diet.
Even though almonds are fairly calorific - 180 calories per ounce, substituting almonds for other less nutrient-dense foods is simple.

For example, replacing three foods with three tablespoons of almonds can boost the vitamin E content of your diet significantly, enabling the average American who only gets about half of the RDA to meet their full daily recommendation (15-mg alpha-tocopherol).