Hormone Replacement Therapy & Depression

Many of the conditions that we have discussed previously can be easily treated with hormone replacement.
We will examine how this can be done.

It is necessary be aware of the need to treat depression and not to brush it aside.

The onset of depression should not be seen to be a disastrous condition. When the causes are understood better, the individuals can easily have access to remedies and cure for these.

I want to do this! What’s This?

In women, menopause can be and would be a difficult time for many due to a variety of symptoms caused by the changes in hormone levels that occur at this time, such as night sweats and hot flashes. These hormonal changes can also lead to depression.

Significance

1. Hormone replacement therapy involves prescribing oral drugs to women who are experiencing symptoms of menopause in order to alleviate their symptoms and to bring back normalcy in their lives.

Potential

2. Some medical researchers believe that the drugs used in hormone replacement therapy, which contain synthetic hormones, can cause women to become more chemically balanced, decreasing feelings of sadness and depression brought on by menopause.

Positive Trials

3. Both the National Institute of Mental Health and the University of Missouri conducted small, separate studies that consisted of less than 100 female participants who were given hormone replacement therapy. In both of these small studies, women showed a decrease in feelings of sadness and depression.

Negative Trials

4. A much larger study, consisting of more than 16,000 participants, was conducted by the Women’s Health Initiative. In its findings (published in 2003), the Initiative reported that there was no correlation between hormone replacement therapy and the reduction of depression in menopausal women.

Considerations

5. Since the 2003 study, it has been determined that hormone replacement therapy has a number of dangerous side effects, such as breast cancer, blood clots, heart attack and stroke. Because of these side effects, few research scientists view hormone replacement therapy as a viable treatment for any symptom of menopause, including depression.

Exercise to reduce Hormone Imbalance

There are other ways of reducing Hormone Imbalance, we will discuss this here.

Proper use of exercise equipment and physical activity will reduce your risks of developing

      1.  Coronary heart disease and high blood pressure,
2. Hypertension,
3. Colon cancer, breast cancer,
4. Diabetes,
5. Osteoporosis,
6. Fibroids,
7. Psychological well-being,
8. Depression and anxiety

Most doctors recommend that you engage in at least moderate activity for 30-45 minutes on 5 or more days of the week. At the beginning start slowly, don’t push yourself too hard by overdoing it. This applies to both women and men.

Taking a brisk walk, bicycling, using a treadmill, stair climber, strider, some weight lifting, or using any other exercise equipment will improve your health and your attitude towards life.

You are never too old to begin exercising! Here’s what exercise does for you!

• Reduces and prevents the risk of cancer, including breast cancer for women, stroke, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.
• Increases and maintains bone density, strengthens your bones and connective tissues, prevents osteoporosis and improves your balance and coordination.
• Makes your muscles burn calories, and therefore reduces body fat. The muscles become more developed and stronger, and you will become firmer.
• Makes respiratory muscles become stronger, especially with aerobic exercises, and gives you higher energy levels.

In short, using exercise equipment improves your physical appearance, makes you feel good about your body by reducing body fat and weight and improves self-esteem and confidence.

• Exercise boosts your immune system and gives you better resistance against disease.
• Fitness will improve your sexual desire and performance, and will improve your sleep quality.
• Women that exercise regularly will not suffer as much from PMS (premenstrual syndrome), depression and anxiety during their menstrual cycle.
• Exercise is a natural appetite suppressant, and it helps you control cravings.
• Exercise provides protection against injury, and it gives you balance and coordination.
• Increases stamina, your body’s ability to use oxygen, increases the body’s natural antioxidant defenses, and it allows you to experience physical and mental rejuvenation.
• Using exercise equipment for women is important for preventing pain and cramps related to fibroids and endometriosis by relaxing your muscles and improving the blood circulation and oxygen to the pelvic area.
• Walking, running on the treadmill, swimming, tennis, using a stair climber, yoga, and stretching are the most beneficial exercises to alleviate the pain you feel with fibroids and endometriosis.
• Using exercise equipment will help you lose a few pounds and excess body fat, which is a source of too much estrogen in the body. If you lose weight, your levels of estrogen will decrease, which helps with “Hormone Balance”.
• To stay fit reduces triglycerides and boosts HDL, which is the good cholesterol, improves blood circulation in all parts of your body and lowers blood pressure.
• For women, women’s fitness improves your mood swings and helps you feel good, and feel younger and happier! In other words, exercise stimulates the release of pain-relieving endorphins, and it also helps fight mild depression.

You should consider using the stairs in your building rather than using the elevator. If you are watching TV, use your stationary bicycle, treadmill or other exercise equipment while watching television.

The most important change in physical activity most of us can make is to move from being sedentary to incorporating even a moderate degree of activity into our daily routine.

• Exercise is a proven stress reducer, it relieves anxiety, anger, and is a regulator of the body’s metabolism.
• If you stay physically active, your mind will become more active. Exercise will get your blood pumping and your oxygen will start flowing which then activates your mind.
• When you exercise, make sure you increase your water intake. Most people are SERIOUSLY deficient in their consumption of water. When was the last time YOU consumed the recommended amount of 8-10 glasses in one day? ANY day? Not recently, for most people.

Middle Aged Depressions

We have been discussing the various conditions and side effects of depression and hormonal imbalance. We would discuss middle aged depression here.

Many people would suddenly experience a change in their physiological conditions as they progress on in life. They begin to notice some differences in their behavior and in their lifestyle. Many of these changes would lead to depression.

Depression is a condition that is common but sometimes goes unnoticed. I want to do this! What’s This?

Middle-aged men and women commonly experience depression because of life and hormone changes. The symptoms of depression often include feelings of sadness, being overwhelmed, anxiety, and exhaustion.

Women

1. Middle-aged women are more prone to suffer depression. A study done by the National Health Service in England found that women ages 40-55 were most likely to be depressed.

Menopause

2. Menopause is one reason women are more likely to be depressed. The hormonal body change causes insomnia and anxiety as well.

Overworked

3. Middle-aged people can come under depression if they are overworked and overlooked, especially if they keep working but having a fear for job loss because of newer, younger job seekers.

Life

4. Middle-aged people also experience depression at times because they have not done everything they wanted to or thought they would in life.

Diet

5. The British Journal of Psychiatry printed a report done by psychiatrists in France and England that found if middle-aged men and women consumed a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and fish, they were less likely to be depressed.

Ethnicity in the U.S.

6. In the United States, middle-aged white Americans have slightly higher rates than middle-aged African-Americans, but the rates for younger and older adults are approximately the same in both populations.