November 2000 Healing News

ADHD Overdiagnosis in schools

Anti-psychotic drugs may cause blood clots

Conflicts of interest in drug approvals

Full Spectrum light builds energy and health

Herbal remedy for cancer

HIV drug scandal

Hormone replacement therapy can be harmful

How to be medication smart

Women and doctors missing signs of ovarian cancer

Peace prayer for the Middle East

Raffle for vacations to help Wendy

Red Raspberry and cerival cancer

San Joanquin Psychotherapy Center

Shopping discounts

Data Shows Hormone Replacement Therapy Harmful

A new report is reiterating the fact that women receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT), rather than having a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease as was previously presumed, are actually at increased risk.

Dr. John A. Blakely, MD, of the Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, notes that the Heart and Estrogen/Progestin Replacement Study, a large randomized trial, observed a 1.4% first year excess of coronary events, which is well beyond the plausible play of chance.

Over the duration of the study, event totals were similar, but patients treated with HRT experienced them earlier.

"Since patients in the trial were preselected for satisfactory adherence to therapy, the net benefit in practice is likely to be even less," concludes Dr. Blakely.

He also notes that a previous review of prior studies (meta-analysis) also found harmful effects of HRT.

"Women with or at high risk of coronary heart disease should not start HRT," Dr. Blakely concludes, adding that there is the additional "risk that women without coronary heart disease might experience even greater net harm from HRT," as well.

Archives of Internal Medicine October 23, 2000;160:2897-2900

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT: The evidence just continues to pour in, smashing the long held traditional view pushed by the drug companies that hormone replacement therapy reduces the risk of heart disease. The truth is that it does not. Please review the links below to find the large number of recently published studies that document this.

Estrogen needs to be used very cautiously. Some women, such as women who have had their ovaries removed surgically, clearly benefit from it.

From Dr. Mercola's newsletter:http://mercola.com