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THE TRUTH ABOUT HORMONES & YOUR HEART ABOUT THE TRUTH YOUR HORMONES HEART According to the latest research, hormone replacement therapy offers no protection against cardiovascular disease and can actually cause it. "Steer clear of prescribing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for the sole purpose of preventing heart attack and stroke in women who already have cardiovascular disease." his warning, which was sent out by the American Heart Association, reversed its previous guidelines recommending hormone replacement therapy for heart disease. In effect, the AHA withdrew its approval of HRT as a treatment for women at risk of heart disease. This was after a recent study published in the journal Circulation in July 2001, which further validated a growing body of evidence showing that women who have had heart disease, bypass surgery or angioplasty should not start hormone therapy for the purpose of cardiac protection because HRT can actually cause heart attacks and strokes.’ Once again, medical science has blundered. When it comes to hormones and wom- en's health, there is a long history of inappropriate, dangerous and life-threatening treatments. Half-baked theories and untested hypotheses have jeopardised the health of millions of women. The use of HRT for preventing heart disease was never sub- stantiated by fact. In a reckless desire to extend the reach of the billion-dollar hor- mone industry, the pharmaceutical companies and the medical profession have in fact contributed to the spiralling incidence of cardiovascular disease in women. Heart disease and stroke are known as cardiovascular diseases. Stroke, like heart disease, is a vascular disease, a disease of the blood vessels. In both cases, the blood vessels become narrow either through spasm or through atherosclerosis, a narrowing of the arteries that feed the heart, therefore not enough blood gets to a critical place. In the case of heart disease, it is the heart; with strokes, it is the brain. Cardiovascular disease also encompasses high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. The hormones which comprise HRT—oestrogen and synthetic progesterone—have always carried warnings that they increase the incidence of blood clots, strokes and high blood pressure. In total disregard of that knowledge, the hormone industry enthu- siastically embraced HRT for the heart. THE OESTROGEN DEFICIENCY MYTH In the face of the side-effects which have been known for over 40 years, why was HRT enthusiastically embraced by the medical community to become a universally recommended treatment for heart disease? To answer that question, it is first crucial to understand that women's physiology has been grossly misunderstood by medical science. Myths and misinformation about the hormonal nature of women have fuelled a multibillion-dollar industry. Women's nat- ural life changes have been medicalised and pathologised for profit. The two key ingredients of hormone replacement therapy—oestrogen and progestin—have been listed by the US Government as known cancer-causing drugs.’ The argument is made that deaths due to heart disease in women are uncommon prior to menopause, but after menopause they sharply increase. A declining level of oestrogen (known as oestrogen deficiency) in the menopausal woman has been blamed for this increase. It was therefore recommended that menopausal women should be by Sherrill Sellman © 2001 GetWell International PO Box 690416 Tulsa, OK 74169-0416 USA Email: golight@earthlink.net Website: www.ssellman.com GetWell International PO Box 690416 Tulsa, OK 74169-0416 USA Email: golight@earthlink.net Website: www.ssellman.com NEXUS + 23 WHY HRT CAUSES CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE by Sherrill Sellman © 2001 DECEMBER 2001 — JANUARY 2002 www.nexusmagazine.com