HerKare - Women's Wellness Services

How Low Estrogen Affects the Heart

by SXHH Marketing | Sep 18, 2020 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause, Wellness

Approximately 290,000 women die each year in the U.S. from cardiovascular disease. This makes cardiovascular disease the leading killer of women. What most don’t realize is that low estrogen could play a role in your risk for cardiovascular diseases. Women have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease during and after menopause, which may be due to declining estrogen levels in the body.

Summary

Low estrogen levels during menopause may increase a woman’s risk of cardiovascular disease. Estrogen helps protect the heart, and when levels decline, women become more vulnerable to heart-related conditions. This is why heart disease becomes more common in women after menopause.
Estrogen plays an important role in regulating cholesterol and maintaining healthy blood vessels. Low estrogen levels can increase “bad” LDL cholesterol and reduce “good” HDL cholesterol, which can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries. These changes can strain the heart and increase the likelihood of stroke, heart disease, or even heart failure.
54% of women experience heart palpitations during menopause due to declining levels of estrogen. Hormonal changes can overstimulate the heart and lead to irregular heart rhythms or a faster heartbeat. In some cases, these palpitations may be related to conditions like atrial fibrillation, which can increase the risk of stroke.
Hormone replacement therapy may help reduce cardiovascular risks associated with low estrogen. Research suggests that estrogen replacement therapy can improve cholesterol levels and reduce plaque buildup in arteries. A HerKare provider can help tailor a personalized treatment plan for you.

Low estrogen could put extra stress on your heart. Take care of your heart health during menopause.

Low Estrogen and Cardiovascular Risks

Estrogen plays many important roles in the body. Low estrogen during menopause can lead to symptoms that many of us know about. For example, hot flashes, mood changes, and vaginal dryness. However, declining estrogen levels can also cause other effects on your health. Some of these don’t even have symptoms like high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Low estrogen levels may lead to cholesterol changes

Estrogen can help regulate cholesterol levels, which is an important part of heart health. Cholesterol is a type of fat found in your blood. There are good and bad types of cholesterol. However, when people say “high cholesterol,” most of them mean high bad cholesterol, which can affect your risk for cardiovascular disease. LDL cholesterol, commonly known as bad cholesterol, can start to collect and form deposits in your blood vessels, which affects how well your heart can pump blood and may increase the risk for blockages and overworking your heart. HDL cholesterol, a.k.a. good cholesterol, actually helps reduce bad cholesterol levels and makes it harder for LDL cholesterol to form deposits in your blood vessels.

Estrogen acts on the liver to help reduce bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol in your blood. Therefore, low estrogen levels can lead to high cholesterol. This can put additional stress on your heart and increase your risk for heart attack and death from heart disease. Cholesterol level screenings are important at any age, but especially after menopause when you likely have low estrogen levels. Estrogen replacement therapy may help reduce LDL cholesterol levels and help increase HDL levels for postmenopausal women.

Low estrogen and blood vessels

Also, low estrogen can increase your inflammatory response to cholesterol deposits in your blood vessels. This inflammation can constrict blood flow even further and increase the risk for blockages and undue stress on your heart. Low estrogen levels may also cause your heart and blood vessels to become stiffer and less elastic. This can increase your blood pressure, which can damage your blood vessels and increase your risk for stroke, heart disease, and heart failure.

Low estrogen and heart palpitations

Another common symptom that women experience during menopause due to low estrogen levels are heart palpitations. Lower estrogen levels can overstimulate the heart and cause arrhythmias. For most menopausal women, this is an increase in heart rate. These palpitations can be a sign of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which is irregular and rapid heartbeat due to the upper chambers of your heart beating out of rhythm with the lower chambers. AFib can increase your risk for heart complications like strokes, heart failure, and blood clots.

Estrogen levels may lead to other health effects that increase your risk for cardiovascular disease

Low estrogen can also work more insidiously to affect your heart health. Hormone changes can increase your risk for conditions that also increase your risk for cardiovascular risk. For example, low estrogen levels have been linked to increased insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a risk factor for developing diabetes. Diabetes is another risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

Additionally, estrogen affects how your body distributes fat. Declining estrogen often leads to weight gain and increased visceral fat during menopause. This affects your health in many ways, one of which is putting extra stress on your heart. Therefore, estrogen also has other, more indirect impacts on your heart health. However, estrogen replacement therapy may help reduce these risks and help relieve menopause symptoms.

Estrogen Replacement Therapy May Help Reduce Cardiovascular Risk

Many researchers believe that estrogen plays a cardioprotective role in our bodies, which is why premenopausal women have less risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to men. Some studies suggest that starting estrogen replacement therapy may help reduce your cardiovascular risks. For example, one study followed women who started estrogen replacement therapy in their 50s after having a hysterectomy. That study showed that they had a reduced risk for cardiovascular death. Researchers looked at data from 10,000 women and found that the group who used estrogen replacement therapy after their hysterectomy had 12 fewer heart attacks and 13 fewer deaths over approximately 11 years.

Another study showed that women’s hormone care may also help reduce levels of atherosclerosis, which is plaque buildup in heart arteries. This plaque buildup increases the risk for heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular conditions. However, the group of women who used hormone therapy reduced their risk for plaque in their arteries. For example, the hormone therapy group was 20% more likely to have a coronary calcium score of zero, which is the lowest possible score for the test that indicates atherosclerosis. Additionally, women using hormones were 36% less likely to have a score higher than 399, which indicates plaque buildup in the arteries and also a high risk for heart attacks. Therefore, estrogen replacement therapy may help reduce cardiovascular risks during menopause.

Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

There are many symptoms of heart issues that women with low estrogen shouldn’t ignore. If you notice these signs, it’s important to schedule a checkup to help with early detection:

Heart palpitations: Heart palpitations could be a sign of atrial fibrillation.
Shortness of breath: Unexplained shortness of breath could be a sign of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and AFib.
Pressure in the chest: Fullness, squeezing, or even a dull pressure in your chest could be a sign of heart disease or even heart attack. If chest pressure doesn’t go away or if it goes away and comes back, it’s vital to talk to your physician.
Headaches: While headaches could be caused by many different things, they can also be a symptom of high blood pressure.
Achy jaw: If your jaw aches this could be a symptom of health issues and can even be a sign of a heart attack for women.
Lightheadedness: Lightheadedness can be a symptom of many things, like heart failure, diabetes, and heart arrhythmias.
Swelling in your feet: If your feet start swelling, this could be a sign of congestive heart failure.
Difficulty breathing when lying flat: Once again, this could be a sign of other conditions, but it can also be a symptom of pulmonary edema, or fluid buildup in your lungs, which is often caused by heart failure.

At HerKare, we provide advanced, compassionate healthcare for women. Our goal is to help you improve your quality of life. Whether you’re suffering from low energy levels, hot flashes, or just need a plan for overall wellness, our providers are here for you. To celebrate National Cholesterol Education month, schedule an appointment to learn more about your cholesterol levels, heart health, and learn strategies to help improve your health.

Hormone Replacement Treatment May Reduce Bloating

by SXHH Marketing | Sep 4, 2020 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause, Wellness

Hormone replacement treatment can help with many symptoms of menopause. For example, many women seek hormone care for hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. However, another common issue you may experience during menopause is bloating. Women who experienced bloating symptoms during PMS in their pre-menopausal years are more likely to notice these symptoms during perimenopause and after. Some characteristics of bloating include uncomfortable pressure or tightness in your abdominal area and changes in abdominal size or shape. Bloating is generally due to either gas retention or water retention. Either of these can occur due to hormone imbalances. While occasional bloating is normal for people of all ages, chronic bloating can negatively impact your quality of life. Therefore, if you notice frequent bloating, make an appointment to talk to one of our physicians about your symptoms.

Hormone replacement treatment may help with bloating during and after menopause.

Why Am I Bloating During Menopause?

Bloating is different from weight gain, though many people mistake the two. The way to tell the difference is bloating often causes sudden changes or fluctuations. For example, you may notice differences throughout the day or after meals. Weight gain generally doesn’t cause such quick changes and usually requires diet and exercise to change. There are many things that can cause bloating. For instance, many people bloat from eating or drinking too quickly, chewing gum, or taking certain medications. Additionally, bloating is common for those with gastrointestinal disorders and food intolerances.

However, hormone changes can also cause bloating. This is especially true during perimenopause when your hormone levels begin to fluctuate and often become imbalanced. However, even after menopause, low hormone levels can lead to bloating. Fortunately, hormone imbalance treatment can help keep your hormone levels in healthy ranges and may assist with symptoms like bloating and hot flashes.

High Estrogen, Low Progesterone

During perimenopause, a common hormone imbalance to see is estrogen dominance. This is where your body produces more estrogen and less progesterone. Estrogen can encourage water retention, which may lead to chronic bloating. Bloating caused by water retention may be different than bloating caused by gas retention. Generally, gas retention causes bloating only in the abdominal area, while water retention can cause bloating throughout the body. A common sign of water retention bloating is your hands or feet feeling “puffy.”

High estrogen and low progesterone levels can lead to water retention and bloating. Estrogen often acts as a fluid retaining hormone, while progesterone is a natural diuretic. Therefore, when these hormones are thrown off balance, you may notice bloating. This is commonly the cause of perimenopausal bloating. There are many strategies for handling bloating due to water retention, including hormone replacement treatment when the cause is hormone fluctuations.

Low Estrogen

However, even low estrogen can cause bloating. After menopause most women will have lower levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Estrogen doesn’t just play a role in water retention; it also aids in bile production. This means that low estrogen may lead to a reduction in bile, which may lead to symptoms that cause menopausal bloating. Bile is made in the liver and helps digestion in several ways. Notably, bile helps break down fats in food and turn them into fatty acids. Bile also helps lubricate the small intestine to help soften stool and promote bowel movements. Declines in bile production due to low estrogen levels can lead to constipation and other gastrointestinal symptoms that may cause bloating. However, hormone replacement treatment can help bring estrogen levels up to healthy levels to help with menopause symptoms.

Hormone Replacement Treatment May Help Menopausal Bloating

If you’re bloating during menopause, hormone therapy may be able to help relieve your symptoms. While menopausal bloating is often confused with other conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, a common cause is simply hormone changes that naturally occur during perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. If you have bloating due to these hormone changes, hormone replacement treatment may help reduce bloating.

The aim of hormone replacement treatment is to help bring hormone levels up to healthy ranges and to help create hormonal balance. Our provider may recommend hormone imbalance treatment if your hormone levels are low or if you have too much of a hormone. Often, this may cause other symptoms in addition to bloating, such as:

Mood changes
Hot flashes
Night sweats
Vaginal dryness
Insomnia
Anxiety
Low libido

If you and your doctor decide to start hormone replacement treatment, our team offers hormone injections for fast, convenient, and advanced hormone care. Injections can help you absorb the hormones better and allow more dosage control so we can adjust your dosage to suit your needs and body.

Hormone therapy from our team also means regular monitoring to help us fine-tune your dosage. This also helps us keep track of how you’re responding to treatment and evaluate your overall health. Hormone care from our team means routine checks of your hormone levels to help personalize your treatment plan.

Lifestyle Changes Combined with Hormone Replacement Treatment

However, because we take a broad approach to healthcare, we may recommend combining hormone replacement treatment and lifestyle changes as part of your custom treatment plan. Depending on your specific circumstances, there are several changes you may be able to make to help reduce bloating. We understand that there are many factors that can influence bloating, which is why we often recommend making some healthy changes when you’re experiencing symptoms. Some of the changes we may suggest include:

Drinking plenty of water
Exercising regularly
Reducing sodium intake
Eating smaller meals
Avoiding foods that cause gas retention, like:
- Beans
- Broccoli
- Fatty foods
Reducing stress

Therefore, if you’ve been experiencing chronic bloating, it’s important to talk to a physician about your symptoms to help you start feeling better.

At HerKare, we provide advanced, compassionate women’s healthcare. Whether you’re experiencing uncomfortable menopause symptoms or need a general wellness checkup, our team is here to listen and provide a warm, friendly environment where you feel comfortable to discuss all your health concerns. Our goal is to help you feel your best and help you remain healthy. Therefore, we work with you to find solutions tailored to your needs and your lifestyle. Book an appointment today and let’s talk about your health and wellbeing. We are here for you.

Can HRT Help Lower Cortisol? The Connection Between Estrogen and Stress Hormones

by SXHH Marketing | Aug 5, 2020 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause, Wellness

Today, women are under more stress than ever before. Life changes like perimenopause and menopause put women more at risk for these rising stressors, taking a toll on their health. Many women though, are turning to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as its effects may reduce stress in addition to hormonal balance.

Studies have shown that estrogen can play a key role in reducing cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, by helping restore hormonal balance. HRT may support healthier cortisol levels as well as improving overall well-being.

Summary‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

Estrogen may help support a more balanced cortisol response during perimenopause and menopause by influencing how the body reacts to stress as hormone levels decline.

When estrogen levels drop, cortisol activity becomes more pronounced, which can contribute to symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, changes in weight, and facial puffiness also known as “cortisol face.”

Research suggests that women using estrogen replacement therapy may have a more regulated cortisol response under stress compared to women not using hormone therapy.

At HerKare, hormone replacement therapy is personalized. If you’re experiencing symptoms that may be related to hormonal changes, book an appointment today.

What is Cortisol?

Imagine you’re driving when someone suddenly swerves into your lane. If you’ve ever been in a scary situation like this, then you can thank cortisol for the rush of energy you get as you try to avoid the accident.

Cortisol has earned the nickname “the stress hormone,” as it’s responsible for the fight or flight response. It quickly increases your blood sugar so your body has quick access to energy, helping you get out of life-threatening situations. However, cortisol also responds to other stressors that aren’t dangerous, like meeting a deadline at work or getting stuck in a traffic jam.

But it isn’t just fight or flight or normal stress, cortisol plays an important role in everyday life. For example, your body normally has higher cortisol levels when you wake up and when you exercise, helping to give you the energy you need.

Effects of High Cortisol

The problem is, most of us are walking around with higher than normal levels of cortisol. In fact, studies have shown that women tend to have higher cortisol levels than men. This can cause many unwanted symptoms to show up, such as:

Fatigue
Increased abdominal fat
Brain fog
Depression
Anxiety
Mood changes

In addition to these internal symptoms, high cortisol levels can impact you in more visible ways. Some people refer to a visible effect called “cortisol face”.

Cortisol face, sometimes known as moon face, refers to facial puffiness that can happen when cortisol levels stay elevated. This is because cortisol can affect how the body manages fluid retention.

While cortisol is often called the “stress hormone”, it does not work alone. Estrogen is also important when it comes to the body regulating stress, making the relationship between HRT and cortisol worth exploring.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and Cortisol

So, how does hormone replacement therapy, specifically estrogen replacement therapy, have to do with the stress hormone?

During perimenopause and menopause, your estrogen levels naturally start to decline. At the same time, the body’s stress response becomes more sensitive, leading to higher cortisol levels. This is where estrogen replacement therapy may help.

By stabilizing your nervous system, estrogen replacement therapy reduces the body’s stress response, helping avoid the physical menopause symptoms that cause stress.

In one study examining stress, researchers exposed participants to mild stressors to measure their cortisol response. Women not using hormone therapy showed higher cortisol levels than women who were on estrogen replacement therapy. The women on estrogen replacement therapy have a more balanced cortisol response, even when exposed to the same stressors.

These results point to the idea that estrogen replacement therapy may support a more balanced stress response, especially during perimenopause and menopause.

Explore Your HRT Options

Hormones play a central role in how the body manages stress, and estrogen and cortisol are closely linked in that process.

At HerKare, hormone replacement therapy is one of the many ways we help support hormonal balance through every stage of life. Treatment is always personalized and may help relieve symptoms related to the stressors of perimenopause and menopause.

If stress, energy, or mood changes are affecting your daily life, our team can help you explore whether hormone therapy may be right for you.

Book an appointment today to get started.

Short, Irregular Cycle? Talk to Your Hormone Doctor

by SXHH Marketing | Jun 19, 2020 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Wellness

When you notice changes in your period, a hormone doctor may be able to help. Short, irregular periods may indicate hormone imbalances, like low progesterone. A simple blood test can help your hormone doctor determine if you have low progesterone levels. If this is the case, they may recommend a personalized treatment option to help you get back on track and reduce your risk for more serious complications.

Hormone doctor – HerKare Women’s Health Clinic

Your hormone doctor listens to your concerns about short or irregular periods and helps you find personalized solutions.

What Can My Hormone Doctor Do About Irregular Cycles?

Your hormones help control your periods, which is why visiting your hormone doctor may help if you notice changes in your menstrual cycle. Progesterone plays a pretty significant role in your cycles. After ovulation, when your body releases an egg for fertilization, your body begins to produce progesterone. This helps thicken the lining of your uterus to prepare for pregnancy. However, if you don’t become pregnant, then your body decreases your progesterone levels and your period begins. This part of your cycle, between ovulation and your period is called the luteal phase. This phase typically lasts between 12 and 16 days. By contrast, anything less than 11 days is considered abnormal and could be due to low progesterone levels.

However, progesterone isn’t just for pregnancy. Research shows that progesterone helps with bone health and may help you sleep better. Also, progesterone can help keep your estrogen levels in check to prevent health complications from too much estrogen. Therefore, if you notice that your periods are shorter than normal or starting to become irregular, your hormone doctor can help determine if your hormones are the cause.

If you also notice these other symptoms, you should also mention them to your hormone doctor:

Spotting between periods
Fatigue
Irritability
Low libido
Mood changes
Headaches
Frequent urinary tract infections
Frequent vaginal infections

These can all be signs of low progesterone, which can contribute to short or irregular periods.

The Role of Progesterone Replacement Therapy

If you do have low progesterone levels, your doctor may recommend progesterone replacement therapy. This treatment can help get your periods back in check, reduce symptoms, and help you feel better overall. Also, if your periods become irregular during the transition to menopause, your doctor may recommend bioidentical progesterone and estrogen to help reduce symptoms like hot flashes and mood changes to help you stay comfortable and feel great.

At HerKare, we provide advanced, personalized healthcare for women at every stage of life. We are a woman owned and managed clinic where women can feel heard and empowered to improve their health. Our physicians work with you to find treatment solutions based on your needs and lifestyle, whether you need help with diabetes management or testosterone replacement therapy. Schedule an appointment online today to address your symptoms and start an individualized treatment plan.

Low Estrogen Can Affect You at Any Age

by SXHH Marketing | Nov 5, 2019 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Wellness

Low estrogen levels can leave you feeling poorly. Yet, before you are diagnosed, the confusion about why you’re suffering can be worse than dealing with your symptoms. Signs of low estrogen are often very similar to those of menopause. However, what many don’t realize is that you can be affected by low estrogen well before you enter perimenopause. Even women in their 20s and 30s may require hormone replacement therapy for many different reasons. If you suspect that you may have low estrogen levels, it’s important to see a doctor. A women’s health care provider can test your hormone levels and determine the best course of action to help you feel better.

What to look out for

Oftentimes, you may notice your mood changing before you have any physical symptoms. A few things to watch out for are unexplained irritability, depression, and mood swings. You might find that you just can’t seem to get out of bed, or even the smallest things get to you more easily than they used to. Feeling constantly tired and not being able to sleep are also clues that something isn’t quite right.

Some or all of these are typically paired with physical changes. Another sign that something is wrong is that your period becomes lighter or less frequent. Though your period may not be the most enjoyable experience, you should definitely question changes like lighter flow or irregular menstruation. Finally, you’re likely familiar with the next symptoms: hot flashes and night sweats.

Having even one of these symptoms can make life difficult. The bottom line is, if you are seeing sudden changes in your mood or body, you should visit your women’s health clinic. If you do have low estrogen, a doctor can help you find a solution to start feeling great again.

Causes

As we age, our estrogen production naturally slows down. However, in younger women, it is often caused by something else. Here are a few things that could cause low estrogen in younger women:

Over-exercising
Thyroid conditions
Malnutrition
Autoimmune conditions

Each of these issues is cause for concern on its own, so it is important that you visit a women’s health clinic if you think you are suffering from low estrogen. If you are, we can help you get the care you need, such as progesterone and estrogen replacement therapy. We will listen to everything you’re experiencing and take into account your symptoms, lifestyle, and goals to create a treatment plan for you. At the end of the day, both you and your doctor want you to feel your best.

If you are going through any of these symptoms, no matter what age you are, you should see a doctor. You shouldn’t have to give into your symptoms, and getting answers is a step toward feeling better. A physician at HerKare may be able to determine if you have a hormone imbalance and help you organize a treatment plan to keep you happy and healthy.

The Baby Blues: Why Don’t I Feel Better Yet?

by SXHH Marketing | Jan 25, 2019 | Wellness

I will literally never forget the crash of hormones that follows the birth of a child – the Baby Blues, they say. It was day 4. My child was exactly 4 days old, and I could feel the hormones beginning to fall like a wave about to crest over me and smash me down onto the sand underneath. Only…there was nothing I could do to stop them. I couldn’t move out of the way or side step the hormones. I couldn’t take a special pill or eat a special diet to keep it from happening. That crash was coming, ready or not. And ready I was definitely not.

A hormonal imbalance and crash after the birth of a child is completely normal. Your hormones have been soaring for a solid 9 months, and even though there were some ups and downs, they mostly stayed fairly high. After the baby arrives, your body takes a few days, and then a signal is sent that tells your body to shut it down. No baby means no more high levels of hormones. The only problem is that your body doesn’t do this gradually. The hormones fall drastically, giving many women the sensation known as the baby blues.

The baby blues is the slight depression that follows the birth of a child. It’s not full on, hard core depression, but rather a negative or down feeling. Most women suffer through for a week or 2, and then the hormones begin to level out. The baby blues start to subside, and women begin to feel normal again. The important thing to remember with the baby blues is that it is normal, and for most women, it passes fairly quickly.

But, what happens when it doesn’t pass? What happens when the baby blues turn into the long term blues? When this happens, you can almost be certain that hormonal imbalances are at play. When the hormones are not in balance, it can cause a wide array of symptoms, one of which is a feeling of the blues or even full on depression. If your baby blues seem to be turning into long term depression, then your hormones are likely still imbalanced. They are not returning to normal levels as quickly as they should, and it is causing your body and mind to experience the blues.

If you find this happening to you, get help right away. The right treatment can turn hormonal depression around and stop it in its tracks. At HerKare, a treatment professional may be able to test your hormones, determine whether an imbalance is present, and get you an appropriate treatment plan. When your baby blues turn into depression, or you suspect a hormonal imbalance for any other reason, get to HerKare to let a physician help you today.

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