Lifestyle Modifications
There are so many things to question during the menopause years.  Is HT right for me?  Am I at risk for cardiovascular disease?  Is osteoporosis going to inflict me?  Am I doing the right thing for my hot flashes? 

Move Your Body  With all of these questions weighing you down, it is easy to forget the most important ingredients to remain healthy through the change.  Eating healthy, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake and exercising regularly are constants throughout our lives.  These are the flour, sugar, butter and eggs of our chocolate chip cookies, if you will.  You cannot make the cookies without adding these staple items.

Looking Good  It is easy to concentrate strictly on health concerns as we age. Am I taking enough calcium? Am I eating right? Sleeping right? How’s my cardiovascular health? What about my cholesterol levels? These questions are great and very healthy ways of thinking. You should be applauded for being concerned with your biological well-being. Although I don’t hear a lot of these topics being discussed on “Desperate Housewives”, the characters all have great wardrobes and are aging so gracefully! Do you think Susan’s on hormone therapy? 

Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
Bio-Identicals:  Sorting Myths from Facts 

Hormone Therapy
The information on HT can be overwhelming and at times can even appear contradictory.  As more data appears from clinical trials, staying up to date is a daunting task.  Sorting through the information is imperative in making the decision to use HT (as any other treatment should be).  

Alternatives to HT
Before you try any of these approaches you should seek information about them from a licensed healthcare practitioner and discuss the safety and effectiveness of these therapies. Always check with your doctor first before using these products as they may interact with another drug you are taking, or may have possible side effects.

Black Cohosh  Black cohosh is an herb sold as a dietary supplement in the United States. It is known as both Actaea racemosa and Cimicifuga racemosa, a member of the buttercup family and perennial plant that is native to North America.

Healthy Support with Soy  While soy is not a replacement for prescription medication, fourteen clinical trials show that soy can help you manage midlife by reducing hot flashes and other common symptoms of menopause.

Complementary and Alternative Options  More women are turning to complementary and alternative options for relieving their menopause symptoms because they want to avoid the risks associated with conventional treatments.  Many people are looking for more holistic, natural approaches.  Interest in alternative therapies is quickly growing.