New Treatment for Menopause 

Menopause is a natural part of a woman's life, but sometimes it can be difficult. New treatment options now make it easier to deal with.

--(HISPANIC WIRE - CONTEXTO LATINO)--Keeping cool during a heat wave is especially tough. Imagine if you had to endure one all year long! That's often what it's like for some women who reach menopause, when symptoms can include hot flashes, night sweats, sleeplessness, irritability and others. However, scientists have come up with a solution to help women beat the heat and other symptoms of menopause.

"Every woman experiences menopause differently," says Lila Nachtigall, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at NYU's School of Medicine and primary author of an algorithm, or a systematic method of treatment, designed to take the guesswork out of treating women's menopause symptoms. "This algorithm is a conservative, comprehensive approach to treating the symptoms of menopause for a broad base of women."

For women who suffer from mild to moderate hot flashes, the algorithm calls for lifestyle changes -- exercise, not smoking, relaxation techniques -- and dietary supplements, particularly those made from the red clover plant marketed under the brand name Promensil, as a first line of defense. This is the first time that scientists have come out in support of dietary supplements -- non-prescription over-the-counter products readily available at grocery, health food, drug and retail stores -- as an integral component in treatment.

If flashes aren't alleviated, or if they're more severe to begin with, the algorithm continues to outline a gradual yet increasingly intensive course of treatment. This includes non- and hormonal replacement medications used individually and in combination with lifestyle changes and supplements for specific periods of time, after which the results are evaluated and the next course of action, if necessary, is determined.

Women normally reach menopause between the ages of 40 and 50. During this stage of a woman's life, declining levels of estrogen are often the culprit behind symptoms. The long-term effects of decreased estrogen include bone loss and increased risk of heart disease.

Since the Women's Health Initiative demonstrated the dangers to some women of hormone replacement therapy, in 2002, hundreds of new products have flooded the market claiming to treat the symptoms of menopause.

"While the algorithm calls for the use of supplements, only those that have been studied should be considered for use," says Dr. Nachtigall. "Red clover, or Promensil, has been shown to be both safe and effective in treating mild and moderate flashes in many studies."

For more information about menopause, the algorithm, and how to talk to your doctor about the use of alternative therapies, visit www.promensil.com.

SIDEBAR: If you're menopausal, here are a few tips to help you keep your cool: -- Exercise regularly. -- Don't smoke. -- Practice relaxation techniques. -- Dress in layers so you can remove clothing if you experience a hot flash. -- Consider using a supplement like Promensil. -- Always talk with your doctor or other health-care professional for advice on treatment.

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