Texas Health CDS

High Cholesterol: A Condition With Few Clues c onsider this scenario: Two women both exercise, try to eat well and look healthy. But one of these women has high cholesterol. Which woman are you? You may think you'd be able to tell if you had high cholesterol, but the condition doesn't normally affect how you look or feel. In extreme cases, plaque buildup in coronary arteries can cause chest pain, yellow patches around the eyes or gray rings around the edges of the cornea, but these symptoms are rare. If you're a woman age 55 or older, you already have at least one risk factor for high cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends having your cholesterol checked at least every five years to protect yourself from this silent condition. Improve Your Life With Hormone Therapy A hormone imbalance can sap your energy and affect your mood, but help is available. "h ormone deficiencies result in an array of symptoms, including mind fog, night sweats, decreased sex drive and decreased happiness," says Berry A. Fleming, M.D., F.A.C.O.G, OB/GYN on the medical staff at Texas Health Center for Diagnostics & Surgery with more than two decades of experience. "Women can help relieve these symptoms with one of the most advanced and effective hormone replacement treatments available — the biodentical hormone pellet." More Than the FOR WOMEN OF ALL AGES Women in menopause most commonly benefit from hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but Dr. Fleming has treated women as young as 27 who have deficiencies in estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. A simple blood test measures hormone levels. "Many people, including the young, can benefit from HRT," Dr. Fleming says. "It is a lifestyle choice. It can improve mood, concentration, memory, sleep and your quality of life." Insertion of the pellet is minimally invasive. During a oneminute office procedure, the pellet is placed under the skin on the side of the hip, according to Dr. Fleming. It releases natural — not synthetic — hormones based on what the body needs. MEN CAN ALSO BENEFIT "Low testosterone levels are an issue for many men, and the biodentical hormone pellet can help them, too," Dr. Fleming says. "The pellet keeps men's testosterone levels where they should be, and it improves libido and energy while helping build muscle." To find a physician on the medical staff, visit www.thcds.com and click on "Find a Physician." 2 fall/winter '13 a Blues ccording to the American Psychological Association, women are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression. Prolonged stress and a family history of the condition put people at a higher risk, but hormonal changes can make women particularly vulnerable. As women age and move through the natural reproductive cycle, hormone levels fluctuate. Many women suffer postpartum depression after giving birth, and others become vulnerable to depression during perimenopause and menopause due to a significant reduction in estrogen. These hormonal changes, coupled with the physical and emotional stresses that often accompany major life changes, can result in depression. No matter your age or stage of life, you don't need to suffer in silence. If you are living with constant fatigue or feelings of hopelessness or you're having difficulty sleeping, call your primary care physician.

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