Hormones: Clear and Simple
Hormones are dangerous!
That’s the foregone conclusion you could reach when you do a quick Google search of the words, “hormones for menopause.” A bunch of medical authority sites pop up in your search, telling you that “estrogen increases breast cancer and heart attack risk,” “hot flashes can be treated with natural remedies” and “hormones should only be given at the lowest effective dose and should not be used for more than 5 years.”
Sleep is important. It’s really important.
If you deprive someone of sleep for several days to a week, it’s considered torture.
Sleep deprivation can actually kill a human being.
Beyond the threat of dying directly from lack of sleep, not getting your shuteye is known to have serious, even life-threatening, indirect effects including: [1. “10 Things To Hate About Sleep Loss” webmd.com]
Have you ever made an assumption about something or someone that turned out to be incorrect?
I make assumptions all the time.
I assume that the mild salsa is the same price as the medium or that the red bell peppers are the same price as the green.
Yesterday, I assumed that the email coupons were automatically added to our frequent shopper card.
I assume that the stranger coming to ring my doorbell is trying to sell me something.
I assume that someone who is not texting me back is upset with me or ignoring me.
Assumptions can be dangerous . . .
. . . like when I assume the blinking right turn signal on the car ahead of me means that car really is going to turn right at the next possible intersection.
When you and I make assumptions, they usually have fairly benign consequences. We may be embarrassed or have to apologize or just feel stupid. Our assumptions could lead to a fender bender or possibly something worse.
The medical science community is making some pretty big assumptions when it comes to hormones. As a pharmacist, I have a duty, in fact a legal obligation to tell my patients about the possible risks and benefits of medications they are taking. I want to make those risks and benefits clear and understandable, whether or not you have a Ph.D. in biochemistry. Here are some assumptions that drive the warnings you’ve heard about hormones.
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