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University of British Columbia, conducted a study in which she reduction strategies can women successfully and naturally found that natural progesterone was protective to blood vessels protect their cardiovascular system. by restoring normal vascular tone. Previous findings have The greatest challenge for women is finding valid, trustwor- found increased risk of heart disease in perimenopausal women thy sources of information that will enable them to make truly who have high or normal oestradiol informed decisions about their but low progesterone levels. Dr health. Prior's study concluded that "proges- For many women, doctors have terone may play a role in protection been the primary source of their from cardiovascular disease in pre- education and guidance. However, menopausal women".'* it is becoming more and more evi- dent that doctors are heavily biased Progesterone is also beneficial to the heart in many other ways. It in the options they offer. After all, supports healthy thyroid function, The use of hormone it is an acknowledged fact that doc- increases the burning of fats for replacement therapy tors receive their information cour- energy, has anti-inflammatory . tesy of the drug company marketing effects, normalises blood clotting, for the prevention departments which are totally improves lipid profi es, balances and treatment of focused on the bottom line. a blood sugar levels, improves sleep- . . In addition, the specialists who ing patterns and moods, supports the cardiovascular disease train doctors as well as lecture to the production of stress hormones, and public often have financial ties to the normalises zinc/copper levels. All has always been an pharmaceutical companies through of these actions are cardioprotective. experiment, and the research grants, travel arrangements ATA and paid consultancies. LIFTING THE VEIL OF millions of women The hidden agendas created by IGNORANCE & ARROGANCE using it long-term have vested interests are great deterrents ile it is undeniable that heart . to openmindedness about effective, disease is a major cause of death been the unknowing safe alternatives. among women, evidence clearly guinea pigs. When all is said and done, the use reveals that neither menopause nor oestrogen deficiency can be assigned the role of villain. It is alarming to realise that HRT not only contributes to heart disease but actually can cause it. Switching from HRT to cholesterol-lowering drugs is by no means the answer, of hormone replacement therapy for the prevention and treatment of car- diovascular disease has always been an experiment, and the millions of women using it long-term have been the unknowing guinea pigs. Once again, pharmaceutical giants have placed profit before sound since they too can increase the risk of heart disease by compro- science and have knowingly put women's health at great risk. mising liver function and depleting other important heart nutri- The time has now come for women to awaken from the spell ents like coenzyme Q10. of false promises from seductive advertising campaigns and Only by incorporating a healthy diet, proper nutritional and heed the latest warnings: "Steer clear of HRT for the heart." herbal support, natural progesterone, exercise and stress- oo Endnotes "Randomized trial of estrogen plus prog- About the Author: 1. Rhonda Rowland, CNN Medical Unit, estin for secondary prevention of coronary Sherrill Sellman is a psychotherapist, lec- July 13, 2001. heart disease in postmenopasual women", _ turer, women's health advocate and author 2. Journal of the American College of Journal of the American Medical of the best-selling book Hormone Heresy: Cardiology 2001 (July);38:1-7,8-9. Association 1998;280:605-8. What Women MUST Know About Their 3. Mather, KJ. et al., J. Clin. Endocr. 9. Moynihan, Ray, "Unhealthy Signs: Hormones, now available in a revised and Metab. 2000;85:4644-49. New doubts over hormone drugs", The updated 4th edition (see review this issue). 4. Tunstall-Pedoe, H., "Myths and para- Australian Financial Review, January 25- She US &! contributing writer to many inter- doxes of coronary risk and the 28, 2001. national Aone onawomen 4 pealth menopause", Lancet 351:1425-1427, 1998, 10. ibid. issues, and has written a number of feature ; . are ; articles for NEXUS (see particularly quoted in Australian Doctor, November 11. Day, Phillip, Health Wars, Credence mr . aA Hormone Replacement: A Cause of 13, 1998. Publications, Kent, England, 2001, p. 54. . : ne “ae Cardiovascular Disease" in 6/02). Her free 5. Sellman S., Hormone Heresy: What 12. ibid., p. 61. monthly HormoneWise e-Digest is avail- Women MUST Know About Their 13. ibid., p. 59. able via her website, www.ssellman.com. Hormones, Get Well International, 14. Collins, P., "Estrogen replacement Sherrill can be contacted by e-mail at Melbourne, Australia, and Tulsa, therapy and exercise performance in post- _golight@earthlink.net. To order her book Oklahoma, USA, 2001, p. 37. menopausal women with coronary artery and other educational products, telephone 6. ibid., p. 17. disease", American Journal of Cardiology +1 (918) 437 0731, 1-877 215 1721 (toll 7. ibid., p. 67. 1998;81(2):259-60. free in North America), fax +1 (918) 437 8. Hulley, S., Grady, D., Bust, T. et al., 15. Mather et al., ibid. 0781, or visit her website. replacement therapy for the prevention and treatment of has always been an experiment, and the millions of women using it long-term have been the unknowing guinea pigs. 26 = NEXUS The use of hormone cardiovascular disease www.nexusmagazine.com DECEMBER 2001 — JANUARY 2002