You know that having balanced hormones can help alleviate symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, loss of libido and mood swings. But healthy hormone levels can do more than improve the way you feel– they can save your bones (and maybe even your life).
● An estimated 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, 80% of them women ● Almost half of women over age 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis ● A woman’s risk of hip fracture is equal to her combined risk of uterine, ovarian and breast cancer.
Studies show that the risk of death goes up sharply in the event of a hip or back fracture.
The hormone estrogen protects women’s bones, and when menopause hits and estrogen levels plummet, women are at greater risk for bone loss, osteoporosis and fractures. Hormone replacement therapy keeps estrogen levels where they should be, protecting your bones and, as a result, your health and vitality.
While for older women with a diagnosis of osteoporosis, bone building drugs can and do reduce the incidence of fractures, many younger post-menopausal women with osteopenia (bone loss that is not as severe as osteoporosis) are being prescribed these drugs on a “preventive” basis. These drugs can have serious side effects, and research shows that they don’t provide much protection from fractures for women in these situations. (ref.3)
Maintaining healthy hormone levels can help women protect their bones without the side effects associated with bone building medications.
Just like with women, healthy hormone levels can be an important part of protecting bone health in men.
A 2017 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that one year of testosterone therapy significantly increased bone density and bone strength in men aged 65 and older. This is part of what researchers have dubbed “the T Trials,” an effort by the National Institutes of Health to study the effects of testosterone treatment in 790 men ages 65 and older. The ongoing trials will next seek to confirm if testosterone therapy and its bone-building ability also protects men from suffering fractures.(ref.4)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
President of SottoPelle®
CarolAnn Tutera is the President of SottoPelle® an international medical company with numerous affiliated physicians/medical practices across the globe. She is also the acting President of Tutera Medical and has shaped both companies from conception to leaders in the health and medical industry.
She has successfully implemented progressive and innovative technical resources resulting in patents, state of the art medical protocols, and global brand that is widely recognized and respected. This robust development has brought an international medical company with numerous affiliated physicians/medical practices success and accolades across the globe. Both companies have experienced robust revenue growth.
Resources:
1. https://www.nof.org/preventing-fractures/general-facts/what-women-need-to-know/ 2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.
nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4124750/ 3. http://hormonebalance.org/userfiles/file/aarp_bone_health.pdf 4. https://www.healio.com/primary-care/mens-health/news/online/%7B65bd909f-b9ad-420a-89f8-2128df053f51%7D/testosterone-treatment-improves-bone-density-strength-in-older-men
Thank you for providing this insightful information!