Does Menopause Increase your Chances of other Medical Conditions?

Nameera Pervez Temkar • February 23, 2023

Does Menopause Increase your Chances of other Medical Conditions?

Menopause is the cessation of your menstrual cycle and usually begins in your 40s or 50s.

Now while menopause can bring a sense of relief and joy with no longer having to deal with cramps, mood swings, and bleeding, with it comes an increased risk of certain medical conditions.

Why does menopause bring about an increased risk of medical conditions?

Your menstrual cycle is regulated by estrogen, progesterone, Follicular stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone. During menopause, these hormones decrease, causing an increased risk of various diseases.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

Yes, with the start of menopause, you can say bye to menstrual cramps and mood changes, but menopause has its own symptoms.

Many of the symptoms are directly related to the hormonal changes in your body.

Based on an evidence review, several symptoms are evidence of menopause

Vaginal dryness
Vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flashes
Sleep disorders and insomnia
Depression

What health conditions are you at an increased risk for following menopause?

Osteoporosis

For bones to be strong, a balance of bone-forming cells, called osteoblasts, and bone-absorbing cells, called osteoclasts, is required. Estrogen deficiency in menopause activates both of these cells, but the bone-absorbing cells become dominant, leading to decreased bone mass in menopause.

Kidney dysfunction

A study found that increased follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) in post-menopausal women increases your risk for kidney problems.

Cardiovascular risk

Cardiovascular fat is the excess fat around the heart and the large blood vessel bringing blood to the body, the aorta. Evidence suggests cardiovascular fat increases your Coronary Heart Disease(CHD) risk.

This study shows how post-menopausal women are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

● Post-menopausal women have more visceral fat (fat on their abdominal organs) and less subcutaneous fat (fat present beneath your skin) in the abdomen.

● Visceral fat is metabolically active, which can affect your heart.

● Increasing visceral fat and the decreasing subcutaneous fat storage capacity indicate more fat is being deposited in other areas, like the heart.

● In women of reproductive age, estrogen teams up with fat tissue leading to protective cardiometabolic effects, meaning they protect the heart to some extent. Menopause leads to the partial reversal of this protective cardiometabolic effect.

Obesity

Estrogen plays a leading role in female obesity. Higher estrogen levels may restrain fat accumulation, and lower estrogen levels during and after menopause may lead to obesity.

Summary

Menopause is the cessation of the menstrual cycle, and with it comes an increased risk of certain medical conditions due to the decline in estrogen.

Hormone therapy has been used for women suffering from menopausal symptoms. Still, long-term use of hormone therapy comes with increased risks of cardiovascular conditions and cancer in women over 50.

Talk to your doctor about what treatments are best for your menopausal symptoms.

Sources:

Long‐term hormone therapy for perimenopausal and post-menopausal women - PMC (nih.gov)

Ovarian hormones and obesity - PubMed (nih.gov)

Menopause - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

Menopausal Symptoms and Their Management - PMC (nih.gov)

Mechanism Underlying Post-menopausal Osteoporosis: HIF1α is Required for Osteoclast Activation by Estrogen Deficiency (jst.go.jp)

Cardiovascular Fat, Menopause, and Sex Hormones in Women: The SWAN Cardiovascular Fat Ancillary Study | The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism | Oxford Academic (oup.com)

Thank you for reading Patient Education Essentials, the Write Shift RN blog.

Disclaimer: This article was written as a guest post for Write Shift RN LLC's blog. The information in it may not be wholly fact-checked or edited, allowing the reader to see the writer's work and skills firsthand. This information is not intended as medical advice. It is for informational and educational purposes only. Always talk to your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers about any questions or concerns you may have regarding medical conditions.

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Steroid Injections vs. PRP

By Kristina Van Winkle • October 7, 2024

A Comparative Overview for Pain Management Steroid injections and Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections are two commonly used pain management treatments. While both aim to alleviate pain and promote healing, they have different mechanisms of action and long-term effects . What Are Steroid Injections ? Corticosteroids are potent drugs used extensively across various medical fields to manage a broad spectrum of conditions, making them one of the most widely prescribed drug classes in the world. They can be administered via nearly every route, including direct injection into painful or inflamed joints. "Corticosteroids" typically refers to the class of drugs that produce glucocorticoid effects. Glucocorticoids are stress hormones that regulate numerous physiologic processes within the body. They have vasoconstrictive, immunosuppressive, and anti-inflammatory effects and play a role in metabolism. What do steroid injections treat? Corticosteroids function by suppressing the immune system and reducing inflammation within the body. They inhibit the production of the body's pro-inflammatory chemicals, leading to decreased inflammation and, consequently, pain. They are prescribed for hundreds of medical conditions, including: Allergic and autoimmune disorders Adrenocortical secretion disorders Infections and inflammation Pathologic hypoglycemia Organ and graft rejections Neurological disorders Hypercalcemia Blood disorders Skin disorders Shock What are the side effects of steroid injections? Although steroids are known to some as “wonder drugs,” they impact various bodily systems, including metabolism, water and electrolyte balance, the central nervous system, and blood cells. As a result, they are associated with many adverse side effects, especially when administered in large doses or over extended periods. Adverse effects may occur in up to 90% of individuals who take them for longer than sixty days. These side effects may include: Suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis Gastrointestinal disturbances Osteoporosis and fractures Psychiatric disturbances Carpal tunnel syndrome Cardiovascular disease Immunosuppression Cushingoid features Hyperglycemia Skin disorders Glaucoma Myopathy Cataracts Diabetes The risk of adverse side effects is particularly high when taken systemically. However, side effect occurrences vary when administered as local injections for pain management. Data indicates that steroid injections into joints and the spine can produce systemic effects that can last for weeks. When assessing the risk factors associated with steroid injections, healthcare providers must consider all types and doses of steroids the person is taking, including both oral and injectable forms. Additionally, special caution is advised for certain populations, such as those who may undergo surgery soon, postmenopausal women, and individuals with diabetes. What is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) ? Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections use an individual's own blood to promote cellular regeneration. Through the extraction and reinjection of platelets, growth factors, and other bioactive proteins from the person's blood, PRP therapy offers long-lasting improvements, sustained pain relief, and enhanced tissue function. What do PRP injections treat? PRP injections can stimulate healthy cell growth, reduce inflammation, promote tissue repair, form new blood vessels, rejuvenate the skin and hair, and accelerate recovery after a traumatic injury. It can treat a wide range of conditions, including: Pain resulting from traumatic injury or degenerative conditions such as arthritis and chronic back pain Musculoskeletal conditions Tendinopathies and tears Compressive neuropathy Scars and stretch marks Osteochondral lesions Rheumatoid arthritis Erectile dysfunction Muscular injuries Plantar fasciitis Vaginal atrophy Osteoarthritis Epicondylitis Infertility Psoriasis Wounds Bursitis Vitiligo What are the side effects of PRP? Since PRP is derived from the person's own blood, the risk of allergic reactions or rejection is significantly lower compared to other injectables, such as steroids. PRP typically does not cause major side effects, though you may experience some soreness or bruising at the injection site. In rare cases, potential side effects may include: Tissue damage Nerve injuries Bleeding Infection Comparison of Steroid Injections and PRP Injections A study in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research compared steroid injections with PRP injections in patients with mild to moderate symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA). The findings indicated that both treatments were safe and effective in improving short-term pain and functioning, with no significant differences observed. However, PRP therapy demonstrated superior outcomes in the long term, with benefits extending up to one year. Additionally, a literature review in Cureus Journal of Medical Science analyzed multiple studies comparing steroid injections with PRP in lumbar spondylosis and sacroiliac arthropathy. The review found that PRP was equally as effective, if not superior, to steroid injections in the short term. Neither treatment was associated with major complications, and there were no significant differences in minor complications between the two. The review concluded that both PRP and steroid injections are safe and effective for treating lumbar spondylosis and sacroiliac arthropathy, with some evidence that PRP may offer more benefits in the long term. Research has confirmed that both steroid and PRP therapy are valuable options for pain management and tissue healing. Steroid injections offer potent anti-inflammatory benefits that can provide immediate relief. However, their systemic side effects and limited duration of efficacy should be carefully considered, especially in high-risk populations. While PRP may take longer to show results, its long-term benefits make it an increasingly popular choice for treating various conditions. Ultimately, the choice between these treatments should be based on the specific needs of the individual patient, with careful attention to the patient's medical history. Thank you for reading the Write Shift RN blog. If you need an experienced RN writer for your health or healthcare educational content, contact me !