Eric Braverman MD on Menopause

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Eric Braverman MD on Menopause
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Part 6 of the Series Aging and the "Pauses of
Life"Menopause - The Decline in Estrogen,
Progesterone, Testosterone, and More
Did you know that once menopause begins, the rest
of the "pauses" quickly progress, as the
imbalances feed on each other? Consequently, your
health breaks down. The roll down the hill goes
faster and faster, especially if our brains
aren't in good shape. The imbalances in the
estrogen-progesterone ratio can feel chaotic at
best.
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When estrogen production flags, the other
"pauses" cascade. Loss of estrogen can create
changes in bone density, leading to osteopause
Heart pump failure, triggering cardiopause
Increased risk of breast cancer, triggering
immunopause Loss of memory and other cognitive
deterioration, triggering electropause, and other
"pauses." You can find out more on the other
pauses in other blogs (beginning October
2016). Be Prepared Most women are caught
unaware by menopause. Despite scrupulous efforts
to counteract the combined effects of gravity and
aging, her arms have probably been getting
progressively flabbier since around age 30. In
fact, the typical woman begins losing muscle mass
starting around age 25, while weight begins to
climb. The unpleasant changes ahead are linked to
shifting hormonal tides within the female aging
body.
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I often use the analogy of a boulder dropping
into a still body of water to describe how these
changes affect everything from mood and
concentration to memory and quality of sleep.
Imagine a boulder dropping into a calm, deep body
of water, representing your 22-year old self at
peak reproduction health. There are ripples,
slowly spreading out, heading inexorably for the
distant shore. As they approach that shallow
shoreline (representing you, at about age 50)
they gain strength and height, eventually
crashing against the shore with tsunami force.
The gentle swells and expanding ripples represent
the years of perimenopause between about 22 and
50. The devastation of the tsunami represents
menopause hitting with full force. "Freak Outs"
and Other Symptoms
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• Along with hot flashes, the following symptoms
  can be experienced during menopause
• Attention deficiencies
• Bone weakness
• Vaginal dryness
• Failure to ovulate
• Hair loss
• Loss of libido
• Mood swings (Freak-Outs)
• Abdominal weight gain
• But why are increased body fat, loss of muscle
  tone, weight gain around the middle, and
  "freak-outs" common occurrences during
  menopause?The fall of estrogen and progesterone
  cause a cascade of rising blood sugars and lower
  mental activity. Women begin to feel both hungry
  and tired so often, they eat more junk food to
  stay alert and they exercise less. The good news
  is that we now have the ability to give low
  dosages of natural hormones that will transform
  not only the way you feel but the way you look.

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GABA and serotonin agents can stop the
"freak-outs" many women experience as a result of
declining estrogen levels. This occurs because
you're losing progesterone, the hormone that
keeps you calm. Without progesterone, many women
experience a general "sinking" feeling. With the
right treatment, this feeling will go away.If
your hot flashes and other symptoms are severe,
you may need to let your doctor know -
estrogen-containing products can be a most
effective treatment.
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Progesterone to the Rescue Progesterone is a
medical gift. It's a natural mood balancer,
stress reliever, and brain calmer, and it
squashes cortisol (our stress hormone). It is a
natural diuretic, antidepressant, antioxidant,
and a precursor of cortisone and necessary for
survival. "Battle" Strategies By taking natural
estrogen and other bioidentical supplements, you
can turn back the clock. While there's no
medication that will stop menopause from
occuring, you can trick your brain into thinking
it is 50 forever. The only way menopause can be
successfully treated is by imitating the body's
own mechanisms, which means replacing the
hormones that the body naturally has lost. By
maintaining and increasing hormone levels, you
can restore your health and even reverse the
symptoms that have been affecting you. Natural
hormones have been found to be capable of doing
this without causing negative side effects.You
can also strengthen your overall health by
supplementing with vitamin D. Typically I
prescribe 5,000 units per day as a natural brain
builder.
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My Rainbow Diet will allow you to control your
weight and stop the cascade of illness associated
with obesity. It's remarkable how carrying as
little as 10 extra pounds can significantly
affect your overall health. Keep your meals full
of colorful fruits and vegetables, herbs and
spices, lean proteins, and healthy fats.And
discuss with your doctor about taking these
code-breaking hormones Hormonal Treatment  
 Brain CodeAction Progesterone                  
              GABA, Serotonin Testosterone  
                             
Dopamine Estradiol (E2)                         
     Acetylcholine Estrone (E3)                 
                Acetylcholine DHEA             
                             
Acetylcholine, Dopamine Pregnenolone             
                  GABA
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By understanding the intricate neurochemical
relationships among organs, the brain, and the
body's various systems, it is possible to marshal
appropriate lines of defense against detrimental
aging. These include lifestyle modifications,
nutrition and supplement therapy, bioidentical
hormone replacement, and if needed, prescription
medications to help women achieve optimal health
and minimize the ravages of "normal aging."For
more information or help, call us at PATH
Medical to make an appointment. Early detection
is always key towards better health. Author
Bio Eric Braverman MD is a Summa Cum Laude and
Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Brandeis University
and NYU Medical School, did brain research at
Harvard Medical School, and trained at an
affiliate of Yale Medical School. Dr.
Braverman is acknowledged worldwide as an expert
in brain-based diagnosis and treatment, and he
lectures to and trains doctors in anti-aging
medicine.