from the 2000 volume of HEALTH MATTERS©. . .

Some thoughts for Women's Health Month

Recently, I talked with a woman in her late 40's who has been experiencing peri-menopausal symptoms.  The medical system has her taking medication for panic attack, depression, blood pressure, and diuretics. Her doctor wants to add thyroid medicine and birth control pills.  Is there something wrong with this picture?

I would say yes! I am concerned about the number and combination of medications, among other things.  If doctors were better informed about women's health issues and natural therapies, they might take more care in prescribing treatments that newer studies suggest can actually lead to disease.

Truth is that doctors, including those who are women, are not well educated in women's health.  Women's physiology is different, yet the study determining the relationship between HRT and heart disease was done with men.  Why not use women in studies that will guide their medical treatment?

It's not nice to fool mother nature: Hormones, Cancer and Heart Disease in Women

For years forward thinking doctors have advised against HRT (hormone replacement therapy). Progestin, a component of HRT, is known to cause coronary artery spasms, which blocks blood flow to the heart, and leads to heart attack. Heart disease is now considered the number one killer of women over age 35. HRT is linked with other health problems, as well. Many recent medical journals report that breast cancer, other cancers in women, osteoporosis, stroke, diabetes, immune disorders, Alzheimer=s disease increase because of HRT. For every year a woman takes HRT, her risk of cancer increases 8 percent. Estrogen replacement increases her risk of endometrial cancer by 800 per cent.

Birth Control Pills, Cancer, and Infertility

As with HRT, birth control pills can lead to health problems. Today the birth control pill is prescribed for almost every complaint a woman might have from acne to heavy menstruation, and mood swings. It has been prescribed for girls as young as eight. As documented in Hormone Heresy by Sherrill Sellman, the pill is chemical castration, and its use is directly related to the increasing rate of infertility in women.

The pill is progestin, given in a dose two times more potent than the amount in HRT. Consider Norplant: if used six or more years, cancer risk increases 320 per cent. The pill also worsens the risk of cervical cancer, blood clots, HPV (a sexually transmitted disease), and causes nutritional deficiencies of zinc, calcium, vitamin E and B complex. The pill affects the entire endocrine system, altering function of the ovaries, the pancreas, thyroid, and the other important glands. A thyroid malfunction is frequently diagnosed in those with the Alzheimer's diagnosis. Prescriptions for serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, thyroid and diabetes medication are reported to be at an all time high.

Effective natural birth control methods exist.

Remember toxic shock ?

Tampons are now irradiated. They contain asbestos which increases bleeding, so you have to use more tampons. The materials used to make them are treated with dioxin. The EPA says that all dioxin treated products are toxic. Tampons, not made from organic cotton, can cause endometriosis, which can lead to hysterectomy.

Breast Health

Breast tissue is exceptionally sensitive to radiation, as determined, succinctly, after the bombing in Japan during WWII.  This fact led me to look for alternatives to mammography. I read a very good study about the benefits of ultra sound for its earlier and better detection of breast cancer.

For number of years, I have encouraged women to request this procedure in place of mammography.  Insurance balks at paying for ultrasound. Hospitals have an investment in the radiology equipment for mammography and it has to be paid for. Searching further, I found the work of John W. Gofman, MD, PhD, an Emeritus professor of molecular and cell biology at University of California, Berkeley.  His ground breaking, and impeccable research shows a direct relationship between exposure to radiation and breast cancer. He found that all forms of ionizing radiation (x rays), like mammography, dental, chiropractic, other medical x rays and fluoroscopy, have a cumulative impact on breast, heart and other tissues.  This exposure increases the incidence of cancer and heart disease.  Simply put, doctors must request x ray procedures.   The number and type of x ray procedures have increased.  As the number of doctors increases, so does the number of x rays ordered, and also the incidence of these conditions.  Dr. Gofman does not refute the benefit of diagnostic x rays, but he asks that the doses be measured and tracked.  He also demonstrates that radiation doses and disease risk can be reduced significantly without reducing quality in the diagnostic process.  Consider the facts: ultra sound is more effective, less expensive, less harmful, less painful and less intrusive. Which would you choose?

" I am woman, I am strong "

Too many women, and even doctors, subscribe to common but mistaken beliefs about health issues. For instance, it is commonly believed that soy products can prevent disease, but some studies done in Japan suggest that soy can cause cancer if used in the wrong form. Overdosing on Tamoxifen is another problem based on misinformation.  Much of the information given about women's health is based on outdated theories, and often an unwillingness to consider new thinking or methods.   Numerous choices are available for natural approaches in women's health care.   Ask about them.  Determine your own health destiny.  Hear the words from the song.

HEALTH MATTERS© is written by Gayle Eversole, RN, PhD, AHG. If you would like more information on the topics presented in this article, please contact me through the web at www.leaflady.org CHI © 3/2/2000 

A 1998 study, reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, documented the estimated 106,000 deaths in hospital annually from drug side effects.  These are not dosing or other drug errors.  Five drugs were recalled by the FDA between September 1997 and September 1998 because of life threatening side effects.  These drugs were not experimental or necessary to save lives.   One of those drugs, Posicor, was a drug developed to treat heart malfunction.   This drug had numerous serious side effect, including causing dangerously low heart rates. 

It takes years to really know a new drug well, to understand its pitfalls and its quirks, hidden strengths and optimal dosing.     Take heed and question.  Always ask about any prescription written for you by your health care provider:  It is your right to know what it is for, what it is expected to do, what are the side effects, and what are the risks compared to the benefits.  Remember informed consent, and the fact that you do have the right to refuse.