Category Archives: Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is any form of hormone therapy wherein the patient, in the course of medical treatment, receives hormones, either to supplement a lack of naturally occurring hormones or to substitute other hormones for naturally occurring hormones. Common forms of HRT include: To avoid HRT risks, it is essential to use the most effective delivery method of both estrogen and progesterone Continue reading →

Approximately 80% of menopausal women experience symptoms. While a quarter of those are thought to have severe symptoms, only a small proportion of menopausal women currently take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) Continue reading →

Cardiac catheterization (heart cath) is the insertion of a catheter into a chamber or vessel of the heart. This is done both for diagnostic and interventional purposes. Subsets of this technique are mainly coronary catheterization, involving the catheterization of the coronary arteries, and catheterization of cardiac chambers and valves of the cardiac system. Continue reading →

Heart arrhythmiaSynonymsCardiac arrhythmia, cardiac dysrhythmia, irregular heartbeatVentricular fibrillation (VF) showing disorganized electrical activity producing a spiked tracing on an electrocardiogram (ECG).SpecialtyCardiologySymptomsPalpitations, lightheadedness, passing out, shortness of breath, chest pain[1]ComplicationsStroke, heart failure[2][3]Usual onsetOlder age[4]TypesExtra beats, supraventricular tachycardias, ventricular arrhythmias, bradyarrhythmias[3]CausesProblems with the electrical conduction system of the heart[2]Diagnostic methodElectrocardiogram, Holter monitor[5]TreatmentMedications, medical procedures (pacemaker), surgery[6]FrequencyMillions[4] Heart arrhythmia (also known as arrhythmia, dysrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat) is a group of conditions in which the heartbeat is irregular, too fast, or too slow.[2] A heart rate that is too fast above 100 beats per minute in adults is called tachycardia and a heart rate that is too slow below 60 beats per minute is called bradycardia.[2] Many types of arrhythmia have no symptoms.[1] When symptoms are present these may include palpitations or feeling a pause between heartbeats.[1] In more serious cases there may be lightheadedness, passing out, shortness of breath, or chest pain.[1] While most types of arrhythmia are not serious, some predispose a person to complications such as stroke or heart failure.[2][3] Others may result in cardiac arrest.[3] There are four main types of arrhythmia: extra beats, supraventricular tachycardias, ventricular arrhythmias, and bradyarrhythmias.[3] Extra beats include premature atrial contractions, premature ventricular contractions, and premature junctional contractions.[3] Supraventricular tachycardias include atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.[3] Ventricular arrhythmias include ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia.[3][7] Arrhythmias are due to problems with the electrical conduction system of the heart.[2] Arrhythmias may occur in children; however, the normal range for the heart rate is different and depends on age.[3] A number of tests can help with diagnosis including an electrocardiogram (ECG) and Holter monitor.[5] Most arrhythmias can be effectively treated.[2] Treatments may include medications, medical procedures such as inserting a pacemaker, and surgery.[6] Medications for a fast heart rate may include beta blockers or agents that attempt to restore a normal heart rhythm such as procainamide.[6] This latter group may have more significant side effects especially if taken for a long period of time.[6] Pacemakers are often used for slow heart rates.[6] Those with an irregular heartbeat are often treated with blood thinners to reduce the risk of complications.[6] Those who have severe symptoms from an arrhythmia may receive urgent treatment with a controlled electric shock in the form of cardioversion or defibrillation.[6] Arrhythmia affects millions of people.[4] In Europe and North America, as of 2014, atrial fibrillation affects about 2% to 3% of the population.[8] Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter resulted in 112,000 deaths in 2013, up from 29,000 in 1990.[9] Sudden cardiac death is the cause of about half of deaths due to cardiovascular disease or about 15% of all deaths globally.[10] About 80% of sudden cardiac death is the result of ventricular arrhythmias.[10] Arrhythmias may occur at any age but are more common among older people.[4] Arrhythmia may be classified by rate (tachycardia, bradycardia), mechanism (automaticity, re-entry, triggered) or duration (isolated premature beats; couplets; runs, that is 3 or more beats; non-sustained= less than 30 seconds or sustained= over 30 seconds). It is also appropriate to classify by site of origin: These are also known as AV blocks, because the vast majority of them arise from pathology at the atrioventricular node Continue reading →

A note about pre-requisite learning: A clear understanding of human acid-base physiology is necessary before you begin this learning activity An introduction to acid-base imbalances will facilitate your understanding of the contents within this tutorial. Continue reading →

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) of the female-to-male (FTM) type is hormone replacement therapy and sex reassignment therapy used to change the secondary sexual characteristics of transgender and transsexual people from feminine (or androgynous) to masculine. Usually called “cross-sex hormone therapy” (XHT) or “hormone therapy”, it is one of two types of HRT for transgender and transsexual people (the other being male-to-female), and is predominantly used to treat transgender men. Some intersex people also receive this form of HRT, either starting in childhood to confirm the assigned sex or later if the assignment proves to be incorrect Continue reading →

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) of the male-to-female (MTF) type is hormone replacement therapy and sex reassignment therapy used to change the secondary sexual characteristics of transgender people from masculine (or androgynous) to feminine. It is one of two types of HRT for transgender people (the other being female-to-male) and is predominantly used to treat transgender women Continue reading →

Palm Springs Life Extension Institute is the only clinic in the country that owns a U.S. Patent for growth hormone and other bio-identical hormone replacements. It is the only clinic that offers a cash reward of $25,000 to the public for non-patients who can show a difference of greater than 27 years between the persons biological age and calendar age. Continue reading →

Current or recent past users of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) have a higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Before the link between HRT use and breast cancer risk was established, many postmenopausal women took HRT for many years to ease menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, fatigue) and to reduce bone loss. Continue reading →

I went in to premature menopause in 2008 and I was 38 years old at that time. Continue reading →