The U.S. Preventative Service Task Force (USPSTF) is recommending healthy post-menopausal women refrain from using hormone treatment as a preventative measure for chronic conditions after the therapies were found to increase the risk of stroke and cancer. The group published their report in the May 28 edition of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The task force conducted their research as part of the Women's Health Initiative, which surveyed 160,000 women over 15 years. They found hormone replacement therapy caused a slight increase in the risk of dementia, stroke, gallbladder disease and breast cancer while providing no change in risk of heart disease. The treatment also carries potentially life threatening side-effects including blood clots.
"There are no magic pills or magic bullets. Get off your butt, eat a healthy diet, don't smoke and lead a healthy lifestyle," Dr. Ranit Mishori, an associate professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine, told ABC News.
"If it's post-menopausal symptoms that bother you, talk to your doctor about short-term treatment with HRT."
by RTT Staff Writer
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