Bioidentical Doctors Update
We have added some new bioidentical doctors to our list of doctors who treat the symptoms of menopause and andropause and specialize in integrative medicine. These doctors include naturopaths who are trained to prescribe natural bioidentical hormone therapy (BHRT). Doctors added to the section on Mesa, Arizona, Carlsbad, California, Austin, Texas.
New doctors added: Linda F. Lambert, NMD, of the Tranquil Health Center, Liesa Harte, M.D. of Austin, and Abida Zohal Wali of the Ocean Pacific Integrative Health Center in Carlsbad, California.
If you are looking for a medical professional to help you manage menopause, andropause or any other age-related issue, these bioidentical doctors can help.
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Sleep problems during menopause
If pain and hot flashes are causing you sleep problems in menopause, then you need to tell your doctor about these symptoms. A recent study called the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) Sleep Study found that “menopause symptoms and pain both act together and must be taken into account.” In other words, sleep problems experienced by menopausal women can be caused by both pain and hot flashes and both symptoms should be treated.
Women in menopause can experience the problem of waking up early in the morning, say 2:00 or 3:00 and then not being able to get back to sleep or, they experience the problem of not being able to fall asleep. It was previously thought that hot flashes had been the source of the problem. 314 women of menopausal age were involved as subjects during the research, who were instructed to keep sleep diaries and wear watches which detected night time movement. The study revealedthat not only did hot flashes cause the problems of wakefulness, but pain was also contributing to the problem. The symptoms of pain was also causing lack of quality sleep and wakefulness.
The research on pain and hot flashes contributing to poor quality sleep patterns in menopausal women was presented to the North American Menopause Society’s annual meeting in Chicago. The study found that both of these symptoms have to be treated in order for menopausal women to get a good night of quality sleep.
Biomimetic hormones including Bi-est (a combination of natural bio-identical estrogen and natural bio-identical estriol along with bio-identical progesterone can be used to treat the hot flashes. Another hormone which might need to be included in the bioidentical hormone replacement (BHRT) program may include DHEA. A test for DHEA levels should also be included in a hormone test to check levels available in the body. Waking up at 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. may be caused by high cortisol Excess cortisol is caused by chronic stress. Stress will cause cortisol levels to shoot up. DHEA is the natural antidote to the negative effects of excess cortisol.
Do tell your doctor if you are experiencing pain. To ensure a good night’s sleep, the symptoms of pain need to be treated as well. Pain in menopausal women can be caused by many things including arthritis and fibromyalgia. Treatments vary for these problems so, in speaking with you doctor, you can find a solution to enable you to sleep better in the night by dealing with the cause of pain.
Sleep problems need to be treated as well. Going to bed and waking up at the same time day and sleeping in a dark room will help. Don’t exercise and rev up your body before you go to sleep. Limit your caffeine consumption during the day. Another hormone that decreases by the time women reach menopause is melatonin. Melatonin can be purchased over the counter and can be used to help with sleep problems. Begin with a 3 mg melatonin supplement and if that is not enough, try increasing the doseage to 6 mg or 10 mg of melatonin a night.
There are other natural supplements such as vitamin C and B6, Relora, Phosphatidylserine, holy basil , rhodiola and ashwagandha which will help manage stress, night time worrying and promote a restful sleep. To find out how much of these natural supplements you should take on a daily basis, speak with a naturopath or your doctor. Sleep problems in menopause can be solved. Discuss the solutions with your doctor.
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