Hormone Therapy - What You Should Know

Hormone therapy uses medicines to help slow or stop the growth of cancer cells. This type of treatment can be used for a specific time or for as long as a person lives. This kind of medicine is also used to help prevent cancer by preventing hormones from making cancer cells grow and divide.

Some people may have a higher risk for certain health problems when they take functional wellness doctor Dallas hormone therapy, such as blood clots, heart attacks, strokes or diabetes. This is because the use of hormones can cause the body to change in ways it normally would not, including gaining or losing weight and redistribution of fat deposits. However, this increased risk is usually offset by the benefits that people receive from hormone therapy.

There are several different kinds of hormone therapy. The kind that is right for you will depend on the symptoms you have and your health history. You should discuss the different options with your ob-gyn. For example, some women have the most success with systemic hormone therapy, which contains estrogen in a pill, skin patch, gel, ring or cream that is absorbed throughout the body. For this treatment to be most effective, it must be combined with progestin.

Another type of hormone therapy is cyclic estrogen and progestin, which gives a woman the benefits of systemic hormone therapy for 10 to 14 days each month. This type of hormone therapy may be more effective for a woman with mild menopausal symptoms.

Most of the time, side effects from hormone therapy are minor and go away when you stop taking the drugs. Some, like breast growth and changes in how the skin looks or smells, can be permanent, depending on how long you have been using the medications. In addition, hormone therapy can cause the body to change in other ways, such as causing your liver to work harder, which may increase the risk of liver injury. It can also slow the flow of bile through the gallbladder, increasing your chance of developing gallstones.

A functional wellness doctor can evaluate your hormone levels, provide you with the best possible treatment plan and teach you how to avoid or minimize any side effects of your hormone therapy. These doctors can also treat your other chronic health issues, such as digestive disorders and autoimmune conditions, with natural treatments that often work well in combination with traditional medicine.

Functional medicine is a revolutionary paradigm that goes beyond treating symptoms to identify and address the underlying causes of health issues. A functional wellness doctor will look at your overall health, including genetic factors, lifestyle choices, environmental influences and emotional well-being. This holistic approach allows your functional wellness doctor to create personalized treatment plans that promote sustainable wellness and foster long-lasting health improvements.