X-rays of the knee, Osteoarthritis by Wikimedia Commons
Bioidentical Hormones Prevent Osteoarthritis
by Jeffrey Dach MD
For original article, click here
Degenerative osteoarthritis is a progressive joint destruction from years of wear and tear. Recent medical research shows that menopausal estrogen deficiency is causative in developing degeneration of the joints. Bioidentical Hormone Supplementation reduces risk for developing degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis.
Above left image: Xray of knee showing early osteoarthritis courtesy of wikimedia commons.
Mainstream Medicine Says Hormonal Decline is NORMAL
This is vehemently denied by Mainstream Institutional Medicine which clings to the politically acceptable yet incorrect thesis, that hormonal decline DOES NOT lead to degenerative disease, and does not require treatment. These "mainstream medical institutions" consider low hormone levels of aging to be "NORMAL".
Mainstream Medicine is a Vending Machine and a Mouthpiece for the Drug Industry
Mainstream medicine marches to the tune of the pharmaceutical industry, and a major source of profit for the drug industry comes from "Blockbuster Drugs" used to treat degenerative diseases, such as anti-inflammatory NSAID drugs for treatment of osteo-arthritis, such as the discredited Vioxx, Aleve, Ibuprofen, etc..
The drug industry views bio-identical hormone replacement as a direct threat to profits from its pipeline of blockbuster drugs. Since Mainstream Medicine serves as a vending machine and a mouthpiece for the drug industry, it is no surprise that bio-identical hormones have been neglected, ignored and even rejected by Institutional Medicine.
Deformity of Fingers from Osteoarthritis by Wikimedia Commons
Growing Baby Boomer Population in Hormonal Decline
We now have a growing population of baby boomer generation retirees, all over age fifty, on the path to hormonal decline and degenerative disease such as osteoarthritis, coronary artery disease, osteoporosis, immune and cognitive function decline.
Imagine the beneficial outcome if this entire population was given bio-identical hormones. These aging baby boomers and retirees would no longer need many of the drugs freely prescribed by their doctor for degenerative disease, eliminating a large chunk of profit for the pharmaceutical industry. In addition these people would live longer in good health, bankrupting the government Medicare and Social Security programs. Obviously, this is politically unacceptable.
Above left image: Typical changes of osteoarthritis of the finger joints, courtesy of wikimedia commons.
Osteo-arthritis and Estrogen Replacement
What is the medical evidence? Osteoarthritis increases dramatically in women after menopause suggesting that estrogen deficiency increases risk of osteoarthritis. Studies of women who take estrogen replacement therapy after menopause consistently report reduced risk for osteoarthritis when compared to women not using estrogen replacement. This suggests a role for estrogen supplements for prevention of osteoarthritis in women after age 50. (15)
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