Hormones: Determining Fact from Fiction

It is unfortunate that so much of the information that we receive about health is so watered down. It is exceedingly difficult to get the attention that you need from health professionals as well as accurate information in order to truly take care of yourself. One of the areas in health care that has become particularly muddled has to do with hormones and their relationship to aging. Both men and women have been lead astray in their attempts to maintain good health into old age. Much of the misinformation that is out there about hormones comes from the big pharmaceutical companies who stand to profit from their synthetic hormones. Determining fact from fiction can be difficult for people without a medical background and sadly, many individuals are unable to decide what is true and what is not.rnBioidentical hormone replacement is one of the treatments available for aging men and women to help them ward off some of the hormone-related health issues they encounter as a natural result of growing older. Bioidentical hormones are created to be exactly the same in structure and function to those produced by the human body. As such, these hormones have few side effects. When used under the watchful eye of a bioidentical hormone doctor, they can produce remarkable results that make people look and feel younger. As an added benefit, they can help people avoid some health problems that are common among people as they age. In contrast, synthetic hormones are produced with the sole purpose of making a profit. Things that are naturally occurring in nature cannot be patented; therefore, synthetic hormones are manufactured to be different from those produced by the human body so that they can be patented by pharmaceutical companies. The differences in the chemical structure of these hormones cause a variety of dangerous side effects. Cancer, heart disease, and stroke are among the serious side effects that are strongly correlated with the use of synthetic hormones. Many doctors are aware of the problems with synthetic hormones and recommend that people avoid using them. Unfortunately, most doctors are not all that knowledgeable about bioidentical hormones because these substances cannot be patented and therefore are not FDA approved. Many doctors shy away from recommending bioidenticals to patients because they simply do not understand the difference between bioidentical and synthetic hormones. This is a good example of why we should all take responsibility for our own health and not rely exclusively on what our doctor recommends. As an example, doctors still prescribe Premarin or Provera, synthetic hormones that have a horrible track record in terms of dangerous side effects like cancer and heart disease. Knowing the difference between synthetic and bioidentical hormones can make a big difference in a woman's life after age 40 or 50. Doing the research and understanding the facts can truly improve one's quality of life. Men, too, can benefit from bioidentical hormone treatments as they age, but also need to be prepared for the doctor to deter them from bioidenticals. Learning the facts about bioidentical and synthetic hormones can help make your golden years actually golden.