Health & Well-Being Pre-Menopause and Beyond

I was watching Oprah the other day, when an audience member asked Dr. Oz this question (how long will hot flashes last without HRT), explaining that her night sweats were driving her crazy.

For those of us trying to find out more about our menopause symptoms and treatments, he gave a very easy-to-understand explanation of hot flashes, akin to misfiring ovaries. He said that during this time, ovaries are intermittently secreting estrogen. Estrogen dilates arteries – arteries open, therefore causing the 'rush of blood' to areas such as the face – hence the hot, flushed sensations. Just as suddenly, the flow of estrogen shuts down.

He said that the whole process usually lasts less than five years – then they got into a discussion of hormone replacement therapy. He seems to be pro-HRT and wanted to get into the different forms, but it sounded like that would be another show altogether. He seemed to be waiving a caution flag regarding alternative herbal therapies, saying herbal was not necessarily better – pointing out that it is an unregulated area and the tendency for herb's potentcy to variate, among other things.

It will be interesting to see the show on that subject.