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How Estrogen Supports Your Heart Health
In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared February American Heart Month to raise awareness of heart disease. Understanding how to prevent this leading cause of death is no less crucial today.
As women age, their estrogen levels drop, especially after menopause. Since there’s a significant correlation between estrogen and heart disease, you may want to consider hormone replacement therapy, when appropriate, to increase estrogen.
At North Naples Gynecology and Obstetrics in Naples, Florida, board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Dean Hildahl offers hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help women stay healthy.
How to sustain a healthy heart
Women and men benefit from heart-healthy behaviors, such as:
- Exercising regularly
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Keeping blood pressure and cholesterol in check
- Eating a diet with lean proteins, omega-3s, and plenty of fruits and vegetables
- Quitting smoking cigarettes
Decreased estrogen also puts post-menopausal women at greater risk of heart attacks.
The estrogen-heart connection
Estrogen protects women against heart disease by preventing the inflammation that causes plaque to accumulate in their hearts. Estrogen helps:
- Lower “bad” LDL cholesterol
- Raise “good” HDL cholesterol
- Improve blood flow by dilating blood vessels
- Neutralize unstable molecules (free radicals) in the blood
- Protects cells in your reproductive system and brain
It’s essential to maintain a healthy balance between estrogen and other hormones. Too much or too little estrogen may cause problems.
Addressing your changing hormone levels
Dr. Hildahl determines your hormone levels through a simple blood test. Should he discover low estrogen levels, he may recommend that you consume foods high in fiber and healthy fats, such as fatty fish, olive oil, and nuts, and eat less sugar. He may suggest dietary supplements.
He may urge you to manage stress through meditation and other measures, such as increasing your exercise levels.
Dr. Hildahl may also recommend bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), which has fewer side effects than traditional HRT, to help balance your hormones.
Additional estrogen-related benefits
Besides helping you maintain a healthy heart, estrogen also improves:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
- Brain function and memory
- Bone strength
- Metabolism
- Mood
- Energy levels
Dr. Hildahl weighs your and your family’s medical history, your risk of heart disease, and your present hormone levels to determine whether estrogen therapy may be right for you.
How BHRT works
BHRT uses hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, derived from plants and not synthetic compounds or chemicals, so it offers more natural results.
Post-menopausal women are most often candidates for BHRT, but women under 40 with low estrogen levels remain more at risk of heart disease without hormone replacement. If you’re a good candidate for hormone therapy, Dr. Hildahl creates a treatment plan that may include:
- Daily estrogen-only therapy
- Continuous combined therapy of estrogen and progesterone daily
- Cyclic therapy with daily estrogen plus 12-15 days of progesterone each month
BHRT is available via pills, patches, creams, gels, shots, and implanted pellets. (Because you only take progesterone for a short time, we typically supply it in pill form.)
Potential side effects, such as bloating or mood swings, are often only temporary, as your body adjusts to new hormone levels.
We help you determine if BHRT is right for you
To schedule an appointment to discuss bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, other menopausal concerns, or any other obstetric or gynecological issues, contact North Naples Gynecology and Obstetrics by phone or online today.
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