SAN ANGELO, Texas —Estrogen, progesterone, DHEA and testosterone are hormones that play critical roles in women’s health. Estrogen alone performs 400 essential functions ranging from increasing our metabolic rate and decreasing blood pressure to maintaining memory and sustaining bone density. Adequate estrogen levels contribute to our skin’s youthful appearance, our energy levels and our mood.

Estrogen, progesterone, DHEA and testosterone work in concert, traveling down metabolic pathways to achieve needed balance.

In young, healthy women, these four hormones achieve a natural balance, ensuring that each hormone does its job and doesn’t cause problems. for instance, if estrogen is present without the buffering effects provided by progesterone, the “unopposed” estrogen can attach to hormone receptors in the breasts and can increase the risk of breast cancer.

Either because of aging or the influence of environmental factors such as smoking or stress, our ovaries begin producing hormones more erratically as we approach midlife. As our hormones diminish, women experience a wide variety of symptoms including foggy thinking, mood swings, weight gain, anxiety, insomnia, and heart palpitations.

This period of hormonal fluctuation and diminishment is known as perimenopause. at this stage, most women still have adequate estrogen, but are experiencing changing levels of progesterone, testosterone and DHEA. Doctors can perform a blood test that identifies the levels of circulating hormones in a woman’s body, determining shortages and excesses.

Over a period of 10-15 years, the ovaries eventually quit producing the hormones necessary for menstruation causing menopause. at this stage, estrogen supplies have diminished, too, causing symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and increasingly wrinkled skin. Low estrogen levels also contribute to thinning bones that can lead to osteoporosis.

For many years, the only treatment available to deal with the symptoms of “the change of life” was Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), a regimen that uses estrogen as the primary therapeutic tool. This estrogen’s chemical make up is different from the estrogen that occurs in our bodies, which affects the way it interacts with our cells. It also is stronger and since it is administered alone, it is unopposed. a landmark study noted that HRT increased the risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots and breast cancer prompting the medical community to rethink the use of HRT as a long-term solution. now, HRT is prescribed only as a short-term treatment.

In recent years, an alternative, known as Bioidentical Hormone Replacement (bHRT), has become widely available. the hormones used in this treatment are synthesized in certified labs from plants and are chemically identical to the hormones that naturally occur in our bodies; therefore, they interact with our cells and follow the same metabolic pathways as our own hormones. because the hormones are identical to those produced by our bodies, they can be used for as long as the patient benefits from them.

The only women who cannot undergo bHRT are women who have a history of or are at high-risk for sex-hormone-fed cancers such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, and endometrial cancer.

BHRT strives to restore the balance between the four primary sex hormones. Doctors use the results of the initial blood test and follow-up urine or saliva tests to prescribe a mixture of hormones specific to an individual patient’s needs. for instance, if a patient’s progesterone and testosterone levels are low, her treatment will supplement only these hormones. because naturally occurring chemicals cannot be patented and the prescriptions are individualized, they can only be filled at compounding pharmacies, which are pharmacies that have the ability to create custom-made medicines.

For women, finding balance in our lifestyles is not always easy. Fortunately, though, science has provided an opportunity to restore hormonal balance. if you are plagued by the symptoms of hormone imbalance, talk with your doctor to determine whether or not bHRT offers a pathway to well-being for you.

Kathy Cubine, D.O., is a family practice physician at Community Medical Associates and a member of the medical staff at San Angelo Community Medical Center.

?Many people suffer from anxiety. Some people suffer from anxiety for a long time without realizing why they’re suffering from it.

Several factors contribute to a person developing anxiety. Research has broken down the potential causes into three main segments, viz., brain chemistry, heredity, and life experiences.

Anxiety wastes a person’s time and energy, while weakening that person both mentally and physically. Overcoming anxiety helps improve your health dramatically and allows you to enjoy life more fully.

The Many causes Of Anxiety

Anxiety can be a result of a mental condition, a physical condition, side effects from medication, or even a combination of different factors. Panic disorder can cause anxiety, displaying symptoms such as heart palpitations, dizziness and shortness of breath. Generalized anxiety disorder and phobic or stress disorders cause anxiety in some people. Additionally, stresses that rise due to work issues, personal relationships or financial issues can cause anxiety. Emotional trauma such as losing a loved one is known to cause anxiety, and so can a serious medical illness. Other than this, anxiety can be a side effect of prescription medication, or of narcotic drug abuse. it could be symptomatic of an event such as a heart attack, a heat stroke, or even hypoglycemia.

Overcoming Anxiety Through Medication

People who display symptoms of anxiety disorders are sometimes prescribed medications to help calm the mind. These medications work by altering the chemicals of the brain. most anxiety symptoms are relieved due to medication, and this has led doctors to believe that brain chemistry in some people triggers anxiety disorders. However, medication cannot be long-term solution for anxiety problems; a person can become dependent on these medications. Doctors advise natural calming techniques and positive thinking to combat anxiety disorders.

Overcoming Anxiety Naturally

Here are a few tips to overcome anxiety naturally.

Think Positive: Negative feelings and emotions add strength to your anxiety. Detaching yourself from situations and people that cause you anxiety is a good way to combat anxiety symptoms. Wake up with a positive thought and tally all the good things that happen throughout the day. tell yourself that life is good and that each day is going to bring only good things to your door. Self-motivating talks and appreciating yourself for all your positives will help you control your anxiety.

Keep Busy: Keep yourself busy so that you don’t get the time to brood unnecessarily. An idle mind is indeed a devil’s workshop.

Set Goals: Knowing a set path for your day, a month or a year will help calm your anxiety. Set goals and work towards them without taking too many breaks. doing this will direct your thoughts and feelings away from constant worry and anxiety, and will turn you towards positive action.

Share your Thoughts: Talk about your anxieties to someone you know and trust. Discussing your troubles objectively will help to alleviate anxiety symptoms. it will also help put your anxieties within the right perspective, helping you get rid of them. However, make sure that whoever you talk to is able to objectively help you with your anxieties, instead of fuelling them further. It’s best to talk to a qualified therapist who’ll help you reduce your anxieties over time.

Exercise: Exercise fills you with positive hormones and makes you feel good. It’s a good way to keep from letting your fears overwhelm you. Try any exercise with which you’re comfortable; you can walk, or swim, try a sport or do aerobics, as long as you feel happy doing it. Don’t select an exercise that’s difficult to perform, which might cause further anxieties.

Laugh Heartily: Laughter is the best medicine for all ails. Find any reason to laugh; watch comedy shows, talk to funny friends, and visit the circus. do whatever it takes to liven up your days. Laughter, just like exercise, floods your body with positive hormones, which keep anxiety at bay.

Be Selective: Stay away from people and things that make you more anxious. if watching the news on TV makes you anxious, switch off your TV. Surround yourself with only those aspects that calm you and make you happy. This way, you can selectively choose happiness over anxiety and lead a better life.

John runs an online nursing uniform store offering a wide range of lab coats, nursing scrubs and medical uniforms.

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Does a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder require that symptoms occur each and every time one is in the feared situation?… is it considered just 'shyness' if the symptoms (anxiety, sweating, heart palpitations, etc.) occur only during SOME occurrences of that situation, but not in others?

Anxiety Attacks Versus Panic Attacks

There are some differences between anxietyand panic attacks. while books are writtenon this topic, this lesson will attempt tosummarize some basics here for a briefoverview.

An anxiety attack, sometimesreferred to as a panic attack, is anunforeseen periods or incidents where thereis a sudden fright or fear of intenseproportions. these attacks focus on fearsthat are most often not rational; however theperson with the disorder believes he or sheis in terrible danger or at extreme risk.Most often these anxiety attacks occur all ofa sudden; i.e. they are not planned nor dothey come with any type of warning mechanismbuilt in for advance action. Results are thatthe person suffering the attack will feelabout to faint or near death’s door.

People who suffer anxiety attacks report thefollowing symptoms, listed in no particularorder:

Discomfort or pain in the chest Vertigo orDizziness Upset stomach / Nausea Loss ofControl, Loss of Mental Stability StressCold or hot flashes Heart palpitations ornear heart attack Shallow breathing Shakes /Trembling

Anxiety disorder is characterized as havinganxiety feelings that are “always there / allinclusive,” make people want to isolatethemselves from society and hamper everydayactivities with others.

On the other hand, a panic attack does notcarry with it that “always there”association. in fact, panic episodesgenerally burst forth, peaking afterroughly10 minutes or so, then ending afterabout 25 minutes.

During a panic attack, 4 of the symptomslisted below (in no particular order)generally make an appearance:

Shallow breathing, even to the point ofsuffocation sensation…

Increased heart rates Tightness of chestShakes / Trembling / Sweating Chokingsensation Upset Stomach / Nausea VertigoSurreal feelings Loss of Control, especiallyof mental faculties Death coming on NumbingCold or hot flashes

The main difference between anxiety attacksand panic attacks is in the duration of theattack and how intense it is for the personwith the affliction. while anxiety attacksare less hi-stress, they tend to last longerthan the power-packed panic stressors.