Hormone Therapy

Dr. Laura Hoffmann, Naturopathic Doctor

Menopause Hormone Therapy continues to be the gold standard treatment for quality of life and symptoms of menopause.

Hormone Therapy improves metabolic health (heart health, blood sugar), reduces the risk of osteoporosis, and reduces cognitive decline.

It is also the best treatment to reduce hot flashes, night sweats, improve sleep, improve mood, and reduce brain fog in women going through the menopause transition.

Hormone Therapy is not right for everyone.  A thorough benefit-risk analysis will need to be done before starting Hormone Therapy.

This looks like assessing cardiovascular disease risk (cholesterol, blood pressure, weight), breast cancer risk, and fracture risk. Blood work, as well as a detailed history and physical exam will be done.

An informed consent discussion will be done with shared decision making to see if hormone therapy might be right to start.

Once Hormone Therapy is started, benefits can be seen within 3 months.  

Short term benefits include less hot flashes, less night sweats, improved sleep, improved mental clarity, improved mood, and improved libido.

There are also many long term benefits to using Hormone Therapy.  Long term benefits include protecting the bones, reducing the risk of osteoporosis, improving blood sugar and body composition, and reducing cognitive decline.

Monitoring while on Hormone Therapy is important.  After starting, the first visit will be done at 3 months.  After this, visits are scheduled every 6 months.

Blood work is completed 3-6 months after starting, repeated again at 6 months, and then done yearly after that.

If Hormone Therapy is not right for you, there are many other treatments (nutrition, lifestyle, supplements) that can help with easing the menopause transition.

You deserve to have treatment.

5 Ways To Avoid Backache While Caring For Your Newborn

 

Parents are continually faced with strenuous physical demands, such as lifting, feeding, comforting and chasing after children.  👶

As a parent, you may be lifting a seven to ten-pound baby 50 times a day. By 12 months, your baby weighs approximately 17 pounds, and at two years, that child has become a 25 to 30-pound toddler. Repeatedly lifting your child may put you at risk for back problems. 💪

👉 HERE ARE SOME WAYS FOR PARENTS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF BACK PAIN:

1️⃣ Lighten your load  - Choose a diaper bag that distributes weight evenly across your body to limit the stress on your muscles, such as a cross-body diaper bag or a diaper bag that can be worn as a backpack. 🎒

2️⃣ Stretch your body - When your baby is old enough for tummy time, join them on the floor and do some exercises to stretch your neck and back.

3️⃣ Feed comfortably - When nursing, avoid hunching and keep your baby close to you. Instead, choose a comfortable, upright chair with a pillow. 🤱

4️⃣ Keep your baby close - Don’t stretch your arms out. Bring your baby close to your chest before lifting. Consider wearing your baby on your front to alleviate the strain on your back.

5️⃣ Keep tub trouble at bay - Avoid reaching or twisting when bending over a tub. Be on the same level as your baby. When kneeling, use a non-slip mat to protect your knees. 🛁

Consult with one of our experienced health care practitioners so that you can stay on your toes and a step ahead of your toddler. 👍

📞 519-662-4441

📲  www.nhwc.ca

#backpain #parents #newborn #toddler #lifting #childcare #baby #stretch #spinalhealth #wellness  #chiropractic #physiotherapy #massage  #wilmot #newhamburg #baden #tavistock #wellesley #waterlooregion

How To Lift Your Luggage To Avoid Pain While Travelling

 

🛫GOING ON VACATION? READ BELOW❗

Over-packed luggage and improper lifting and carrying techniques are common causes of injury to the back, neck and shoulders. 🧳

Lifting your luggage can’t always be avoided, even if your luggage has wheels. But practicing safe lifting techniques can substantially reduce your risk of injury. ⚠

✅ Move slowly and, whenever possible, break the action into smaller parts. For instance, when placing luggage in an overhead compartment, first lift it onto the top of the seat.

✅ When lifting your luggage, first get close to the load and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.

✅ Bend at the knees and let your leg muscles, rather than your back, do the lifting.  

✅ Hold the load close to your body.

✅ Avoid twisting. Instead, turn your feet in the direction you are headed and turn your entire body in that direction.  

✅ Do not carry bulky luggage for long periods of time. Check heavier items when travelling rather than carrying them for the duration of the trip.

✅ Try to carry light pieces in each hand rather than a single heavy item on one side.

✅ When using a backpack, use both shoulder straps and the waist strap, and adjust them to minimize the bag’s movement.  

✅ When using a duffel or shoulder bag, switch sides often to reduce strain.

If you’re experiencing pain from lifting something heavy, visit one of our chiropractors!  

📞 519-662-4441

📲  nhwc.ca

🔗ONLINE BOOKING LINK IN BIO

#luggage #lifting #travelling #vacation #backpain #luggage #strain #neckpain #shoulderpain #healthtips #spinalhealth #wilmot #newhamburg #baden #tavistock #wellesley #waterlooregion