By Monica Zatarski, PharmD, RPh Topical application of bio-identical hormone therapy continues to gain more popularity with patients and practitioners as a convenient, practical, and effective means of administration. One reason for this increase in popularity, is that there are more risks evident with the oral administration of estrogen. In addition, studies continue to show […]
MD News
What to Do When Stress Takes Over
By: Monica Zatarski, PharmD, RPh According to the Annual Stress Survey by the American Psychological Association, 75 percent of women experience moderate to severe stress, 49 percent report sleep problems, and more than 40 percent report physical symptoms as a direct result of stress. The problem is we rarely turn off! And neither does […]
A Discussion on Thyroid Dysfunction
By: Krista Borowski, RPh Thyroid dysfunction, specifically hypothyroidism, is commonly under-diagnosed, but can account for a wide variety of symptoms. The common symptoms of hypothyroidism are (but not limited to) fatigue, weight gain, brittle hair and nails, hair loss, cold sensitivity, constipation, depression, muscle and joint pain, and menstrual irregularities. There are several situations that […]
Hormonal Contraceptives and Depression: The Latest News
By Erin Orth Approximately 80% of sexually active young women in the United States use hormonal contraceptives, with additional use seen in pubescent and peri-/post-menopausal women for purposes other than prevention of pregnancy1. This gives some idea to the substantial scope of this issue, and why any link between hormone-containing contraception and a major health […]
Hormone Testing
By: Krista Borowski, RPh Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) has many advantages, one of which is the ability to have a product custom made for you. A provider can prescribe specific doses to optimize therapy to balance your hormones and alleviate any symptoms you may have. There are several dosage forms available with the most […]
The Importance of Vitamin D
By Krista Borowski, RPh Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that has several important functions, including regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorous for proper development of strong bones and teeth. If your body doesn’t get enough vitamin D, you are at risk of developing bone abnormalities such as soft bones (osteomalacia)or fragile bones (osteoporosis). […]
Sleep Deprivation and Its Impact
By Erin Orth, PharmD The effects of sleep deprivation are prevalent, powerful, and widespread throughout the human body, mind, and society. The cardiovascular consequences of lack of sleep are particularly concerning: the “MONICA” study from 2015 determined that men with a sleeping disorder had a 2- to 2.6-fold increased risk of heart attack and a […]
Symptoms of Poor Adrenal Function and What You Can Do About It
By: Krista Borowski, RPh Most everyone experiences stress in their everyday lives. The stressor may be a big life-changing event such as a death, divorce, serious illness, or accident; or it may be the daily stresses of life – busy family life, workplace pressure, unhappy relationships, poor diet, a lack of rest and relaxation can […]
Men and Testosterone: Why Adequate Testosterone Levels are Crucial for Survival
By: Erin Orth, PharmD Testosterone is a sex-steroid hormone found in both men and women, and it plays a large role in various biological processes, from muscle formation to stimulating libido. It also helps to keep the cardiovascular system healthy as well as improving our energy and mental clarity1. Due to these important functions and […]
DHEA, the Adrenals, and Their Impact on Libido
By Krista Borowski, RPh Many women experience stress in their every day lives and our adrenal glands are called upon to respond. For short-term stress, our adrenal glands produce cortisol and adrenaline to help give us the strength needed to overcome the stressors. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis controls our stress response. When a stressor is […]