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Jan 29

Hair Loss in Menopause: Why It Happens, What You Can Do

When women undergo the hormonal changes of menopause, everyone expects the common side effects of mood swings, sleep loss, and especially hot flashes. It can be surprising to discover that for some women, hair thinning can occur during and after menopause.

When women’s hormone levels decline naturally over time, the protective effects of female hormones can also decline. Depending on your genetic risk and sensitivity, androgens can progressively weaken your hair follicles and cause some form of hair loss. 

There are other contributing factors to menopausal hair loss and it is important to identify and treat the root of the problem, rather than symptoms alone.

Menopausal Hair Loss Contributing Factors

While declining hormone levels may be the most obvious culprit, there may be other factors in play. These can include the following:

  • Thyroid dysfunction
  • Certain autoimmune disorders
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Unmitigated stress
  • Genetic predisposition

It’s understandable why preventing hair loss is important. For many women, hair is an important part of identity, confidence, and self-esteem. When loss of hair impacts your self-esteem, it can certainly have psychological effects like depression, anxiety, or social withdrawal. 

There can be a financial cost, too. Many women spend hundreds of dollars (or more) trying various shampoos, scalp treatments, and supplements which claim to stop and reverse hair loss.

No matter what is causing your hair loss, there are options and solutions available to you. Abundant Life Health Care will work with you to identify any hormonal changes or to determine if there are other underlying causes for your hair loss and help you regain your confidence.

How Abundant Life Health Care Can Help

When suffering hair loss, it’s important to identify the root of the problem rather than simply treating symptoms. While hormone replacement therapy can relieve symptoms of menopausal hair loss, we have found great success at correcting hormonal imbalances using bio-identical hormones, nutrition, dietary supplements, and positive lifestyle changes. 

Self-care is always important and can help you manage your stress as you find solutions to your hair loss. It’s our goal to help you discover your optimal energy and wellness. Request an appointment to start your journey toward abundant health today.


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Jan 22

Menopause & Depression: Understanding the Connection

Menopause marks a time of unpredictable hormonal fluctuations for women. Hormonal levels are closely connected to mood and overall well-being, and this is why some women may be at an increased risk for depression as they reach middle-age.

“Women going through the menopause are four times more likely to suffer from depression than women who are younger than 45,” according to Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton, the executive director of the North American Menopause Society.

During perimenopause, women’s estrogen levels gradually decrease. These hormones are responsible for maintaining the proper function of your body and when one is dramatically reduced or increased, there are consequences to your physical and emotional wellbeing.

Mood Swings & Depression

Mood swings are a common symptom for women in menopause, and it is normal to occasionally or briefly feel sad, down, or otherwise “blue.”

These mood swings can progress into depression as a symptom of other problems or ordeals in life, though is typically short in duration. There are a combination of factors that can contribute to mood swings and worsen depression and these can include overall stress levels and feelings about body image, aging, and sexuality. 

Depression is considered clinical when it is long-lasting and caused by a chemical imbalance, and should be treated accordingly. Some women may be more likely to suffer from depression due to family history and other contributing biological factors.

Common Depression Symptoms

Changing levels of estrogen during the perimenopausal period can have noticeable effects on your health. Common symptoms of menopause-related depression include:

  • Decreased interest in activities you normally enjoy
  • Fatigue or loss of energy
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
  • Thoughts of suicide
  • Change in appetite
  • Change in sleep patterns

Not all women will experience symptoms in the same way. If you’re suffering from depression and believe it may be related to menopause, it may be time to get help from our experienced and compassionate team at Abundant Life Health Care.

How Abundant Life Health Care Can Help

When suffering from depression, there are several important things that can help you begin to find relief from symptoms and improve your quality of life. Treating the whole person is what’s most important and identifying the root of the problem, rather than simply treating symptoms. 
While hormone replacement therapy can relieve symptoms of menopause, including depression, we have found great success at correcting hormonal imbalances using bio-identical hormones, nutrition, dietary supplements, and positive lifestyle changes. Self-care is always important and can help you manage your stress and cope with and even overcome depression.

It’s our goal to help you discover your optimal energy and wellness. Request an appointment to start your journey toward abundant health today.

 

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Jan 10

Menopause and Sleep Disturbance

 

For women already experiencing the myriad of changes that accompany menopause, sleep disruptions can prove to be particularly troubling. Changing levels of estrogen and progesterone can cause several menopausal symptoms that influence quality and duration of sleep, like hot flashes and nighttime sweating. 

 

Women’s sleep cycles are maintained through a complex balance of hormones, and the fluctuating levels of progesterone and estrogen before, during, and after menopause can cause sleep disturbances.

 

Common Menopausal Insomnia Symptoms


There are three different stages that insomnia can appear: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. Menopause related insomnia can be worsened or combined with a variety of related symptoms including:

 

  • Hot flashes
  • Night sweats
  • Irritability and mood swings
  • Changes in libido

Perimenopause can begin as many as ten years before menopause. During peri-menopause is when progesterone and estrogen levels begin to decline to an extent that may trigger menopause-related symptoms like hot flashes or nighttime sweating. Experiencing these symptoms can give you temporary sleep disturbances and in some cases insomnia.
You have typically reached menopause after a full year (12 months) without a menstrual cycle. Symptoms may be more pronounced and frequent during menopause. 


What Can Help Me Get Better Sleep Quality?


Aside from treating hormone imbalances, there are several ways you can improve your sleeping environment, minimize the impact of your symptoms, and potentially improve the quality of your sleep. These can include:

 

  • Stick to a comforting nighttime sleeping routine or schedule.
  • Avoid alcohol or tobacco before sleep.
  • Avoid bright screens of electronics before sleep.
  • Keep your room cool and comfortable.

When these aren’t enough to help you catch your well-deserved sleep, it may be time to get help from our experienced and compassionate team at Abundant Life Health Care.


How Abundant Life Health Care Can Help


In many cases, doctors choose to treat what they believe to be the primary cause of your insomnia: menopause. While hormone replacement therapy can relieve symptoms of menopause, we have found great success at correcting hormonal imbalances using bio-identical hormones, nutrition, dietary supplements, and lifestyle changes.


It’s our goal to help you discover your optimal energy and wellness. Request an appointment to start your journey toward abundant health today.

 

 

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Nov 29

Biotin (Vitamin B7) and Blood Test Interference

Biotin (Vitamin B7) interferes with certain blood tests.  Could your test results be less than accurate because of biotin?


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Nov 22

The Importance of Reliable Hormone Testing

When working properly, hormones help us live happier and healthier lives. They’re a normal part of bodily function and are responsible for important processes like our ability to sleep soundly, concentrate easily, maintain healthy bone density, have normal sexual functions, and can even positively influence our moods. When hormones are not in balance or not working as intended, they can negatively affect each of those processes and cause us a wide range of other physical and emotional distresses.

In order to provide long-term protection against osteoporosis, sexual dysfunction, breast cancer, and other disorders, it’s important to have your hormone levels tested to ensure they are at optimal levels. It’s much easier to receive help and make the necessary changes to improve your overall wellness once you know specifically which hormones are out of balance.

How Are Hormones Tested?

Measuring your hormone levels can be performed with several different tests, but the two most common are blood and saliva testing. Unfortunately, hormone levels from blood tests mostly indicate inactive hormones. For these and other reasons, ALHC believes blood tests are not the best way to test hormone levels.

In blood testing, samples are drawn and plasma is then separated from the sample to measure hormone levels. These measurements are of the hormones bound to carrier proteins as well as unbound hormones. Blood collection is considered an invasive method hormone testing.

At ALHC, we believe saliva testing to be the most accurate method of testing hormone levels because it more accurately reflects any absorbed and bioavailable hormones. Active hormone levels are important to measure as they help identify any excesses or deficiencies that may be causing your symptoms.

Accurate hormone readings are particularly important when using topical hormone therapy. Hormones are delivered to tissues by red blood cells, but any plasma that’s tested doesn’t contain red blood cell membranes. As a result, blood testing doesn’t accurately reflect current hormone levels from topical treatments. Studies show that this method of delivery results in increased tissue hormone levels (thus measurable in saliva), but there’s not a parallel increase in plasma levels. Because of this, blood testing should not be used to monitor topical hormone therapy.

What Hormones Can Be Tested?

Abundant Life Health Care tests for a variety of hormones. Each plays a unique role inside the bodies of both women and men, and must be properly balanced to prevent symptoms and promote long-term wellness.

Estriol (E3)
Estriol is considered the weakest of the three estrogens. It has been found to provide some protection from the stronger estrogens in the body. It can be used to control some of the symptoms of menopause including hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and insomnia.

Estradiol (E2)
Estradiol is the strongest form of estrogen. When a deficiency exists it can cause hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, memory loss, and strong changes in mood.

Progesterone
Progesterone is the bio-identical hormone known to block or protect against the proliferative effects of Estradiol (E2). It is protective for breast and endometrial tissue. When replaced in physiologic doses, it can stabilize mood, increase mineralization of bone, reduce PMS and post-menopausal symptoms, and decrease cancer risk. In males, it is protective to the prostate gland. It’s best supplemented topically or sublingually.

Testosterone
Testosterone is the major sex hormone in males, and is produced in the testes. In women, it is produced in the adrenal glands and ovaries. It’s essential for sexual function, cardio-protection, stamina, muscle strength, bone density, and stable sugar metabolism.

DHEA
DHEA is an adrenal hormone which may also be converted to testosterone and estrogen. DHEA supplementation, in addition to supporting adrenal health / energy, can optimize testosterone levels in women.

Cortisol
Cortisol is the adrenal gland’s primary glucocorticoid, secreted in a known 24-hour pattern called a diurnal rhythm. It’s essential for carbohydrate metabolism and immune modulation. It is foundational for energy production and optimal thyroid function.

How Abundant Life Health Care Can Help

The most effective way to diagnose hormone imbalances is through saliva testing. Saliva tests gives us the most accurate snapshot of the active hormone levels currently in your body. We can then correct these imbalances using bio-identical hormones, nutrition, dietary supplements, and lifestyle changes.

At Abundant Life Health Care, we understand that treating hormonal imbalances means addressing more than just your symptoms. In order for you to have the best outcomes, we address all of the factors that contribute to your wellness. 

It’s our goal to help you discover your optimal energy and wellness. Request an appointment to start your journey toward abundant health today.


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Nov 07

How Can Men Tell If They Have Low Testosterone?

Hormonal imbalances don’t just affect women. In fact, most men will experience a decline in testosterone levels at some point during their life. Declining testosterone levels are commonly seen in men starting in their 40s, and levels continue to decline approximately 10% per decade. The process is often gradual, but can have significant consequences. Low testosterone in men is a medical condition known as andropause, which means low androgen hormone (i.e. testosterone) level. By the time men reach their 80s, some level of andropause occurrence reaches 90% of men.

Andropause naturally occurs when testosterone production declines while the levels of testosterone-binding proteins increases. The result is that levels of “free testosterone” available to the body are lowered. Unless your doctor is specifically assessing testosterone levels, it can be easy to overlook or mistaken for other conditions like depression.

This is unfortunate because of the important role testosterone plays inside men’s bodies. In men, testosterone helps maintain both physical and mental health by increasing energy, preventing fatigue, maintaining normal sex drive, and increasing strength of structural tissues. The first step toward resolving hormonal imbalances like andropause is to identify the symptoms you may be experiencing. 

Low Testosterone Symptoms in Men

Symptoms commonly associated with decreased testosterone levels deficiency include:

  • Night sweats
  • Hot flashes
  • Low sex drive
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Moodiness, irritability, & depression
  • Reduced critical thinking ability and difficulty concentrating
  • Reduced flexibility
  • Reduced body hair
  • Reduced strength and stamina
  • Loss of muscle mass
  • Aches and pains
  • Difficulty recalling memories

What Other Hormonal Imbalances Can Men Experience?

Low testosterone is not the only hormone imbalance that a man can experience during his life. It’s not uncommon for an excess amount of estrogen to be discovered with accompanying andropause. Excessive estrogen in men can be associated with prostate gland diseases, such as benign prostatic hypertrophy and prostate gland cancer. Excess estrogen in men is also associated with altered mood and metabolism.

It’s important to resolve testosterone deficiencies and other hormonal imbalances before they can cause long-term consequences. Long-term testosterone deficiency can be associated with insulin resistance and diabetes.

Some of the ways men can counter andropause symptoms and raise their testosterone levels include the following:

How Abundant Life Health Care Can Help

The most effective way to assess your current hormone levels and identify any imbalances like andropause is to perform a saliva test. These tests are more helpful than blood tests because they allow us to determine your active tissue levels rather than the inactive hormones found in blood tests. Saliva testing also has the advantage of giving us the average of your hormone levels over the course of a day, as opposed to a one-time level of a blood test.

At Abundant Life Health Care, we understand that treating hormonal imbalances means addressing more than just your symptoms. In order for you to have the best outcomes, we address all of the factors that contribute to your wellness and help provide you with solutions to improving your overall health.

It’s our goal to help you discover your optimal energy and wellness. Request an appointment to start your journey toward abundant health today.


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Nov 01

Could You Have Estrogen Dominance?

It’s a common belief that estrogen deficiency resulting from ovarian failure is the primary cause of menopause, but did you know that estrogen dominance is more frequently the culprit of troubling symptoms? Estrogen dominance occurs when a woman’s body has too much estrogen relative to progesterone.

In “Estrogen Dominance is Really Progesterone Deficiency,” Dr. Jay Mead points out that, “although estrogen levels do decline with age (approximately 40 - 60% at menopause), more relevant is the fact that progesterone levels plummet by close to 90% at menopause from premenopausal levels.”

Under the impression that estrogen deficiency is causing their symptoms, many women go to see their doctor about estrogen replacement. However, the symptoms of estrogen dominance can begin even in your thirties and continue as you approach perimenopause. Identifying if your symptoms are caused by estrogen dominance is an important step toward receiving the correct treatment.

Estrogen Dominance Symptoms

There are a broad range of symptoms that can arise when too much (rather than too little) estrogen is produced in the body. The symptoms of estrogen dominance can last for 10-15 years as women approach perimenopause. Some of the common symptoms include:

  • Mood swings (can include depression and irritability)
  • Weight gain around the abdomen and hips
  • Fatigue
  • Hot flashes
  • Night sweats
  • Hair loss
  • Bloating from water retention
  • Memory loss, or difficulty concentrating
  • Decreased libido
  • Breast tenderness and swelling
  • Cold hands and feet (symptoms of thyroid dysfunction)
  • Difficulty sleeping

What Can Cause Estrogen Dominance?

In a normal menstrual cycle, estrogen is the dominant hormone for the first two weeks leading up to ovulation. In the final two weeks, that estrogen is balanced out by progesterone. 

Where problems arise is when women enter perimenopause and experience cycles without ovulation. When this happens, estrogen isn’t balanced out by progesterone and symptoms occur. Other contributing factors of estrogen dominance can also include:

  • Impaired immune function
  • Excess levels of stress
  • Excess body fat
  • A low-quality diet containing excess refined carbohydrates

How Abundant Life Health Care Can Help

The most effective way to diagnose hormone imbalances like estrogen dominance is through saliva testing. This gives us the most accurate snapshot of the “active” hormone levels currently in your body. We can then correct these imbalances using bio-identical hormones, nutrition, dietary supplements, and lifestyle changes.

At Abundant Life Health Care, we understand that treating hormonal imbalances means addressing more than just your symptoms. In order for you to have the best outcomes, we address all of the factors that contribute to your wellness. 

It’s our goal to help you discover your optimal energy and wellness. Request an appointment to start your journey toward abundant health today.


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Sep 27

Digital Detox, Part 2

I'm planning a digital detox.  Read about my guidelines and join my social experiment!


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Aug 17

Digital Detox

dig·it·al de·tox

noun informal

noun: digital detox; plural noun: digital detoxes

 


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Jun 29

Is that Mole Normal or Skin Cancer?

When you are looking at a mole, do you know what to look for that might indicate skin cancer?  Here's a memory tool to help you.  And if you're not sure sure if a mole is normal or not, get it checked!


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