Does menopause cause long-term health problems?
Unfortunately, the loss of estrogen after menopause has been linked to a number of health problems that become more common as women age. Many of these health problems do not produce symptoms. After menopause, women are more likely to suffer from: • Osteoporosis (brittle-bone disease) • Heart disease • Poor skin elasticity (increased wrinkling) • Some deterioration in vision, such as from cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye) and macular degeneration (scarring of the tiny spot in the center of the retina that is the center of vision) • Some weight gain Whether or not all of these problems are helped by estrogen therapy is still unclear. How can I prevent menopause symptoms and protect my long-term health? The common, quick answer is hormone or estrogen therapy (called HT or ET). However, it’s important to note that HT is not the primary preventive treatment for the health problems listed above. It is an adjunct (added) therapy that is prescribed with recommendations for maintainin
