Ask Dr. Marie

Once again women are thrown into a quandary by today’s BIG headlines about the possible competing health risks of alcohol. A large research study observing over 70,000 women in the Kaiser Permanente Health Plan of California found that women who drank between one and two alcoholic drinks per day increased their risk of breast cancer by 10 percent compared with light drinkers who drank less than one drink a day. The risk of breast cancer increased by 30 percent in women who drank more than three drinks a day. They found no difference between wine, beer or spirits in the risk of developing breast cancer.

Yesterday I appeared on Weekend Today speaking about mistakes women make in their 40’s and beyond. Last week I and did an interview for iVillage on the HPV test titled, “Low-Carb Love: A guilt free guide to manhandling – without the sugarcoating”. I share with you some excerpts from both interviews including the links so you can read more.

Want to be healthy over 50? Get these tests

Dr. Marie Savard on how to avoid common medical and health mistakes

TODAY

An article in today’s New York Times SCIENCE TIMES section by RANDI HUTTER EPSTEIN, M.D. describes how chronic stress may reduce a woman’s fertility. I guess that is why the message your mother or grandmother may have shared with you again and again when you were trying to get pregnant, “just relax, honey”, may really make good sense. According to the Science Times interview with the clinician and researcher, Dr. Sarah L. Berga, chronic stress may keep some women from ovulating and certain relaxation techniques may be a big help. We know that chronic stress alters brain signals to the hypothalamus, the tiny glandular powerhouse at the base of the brain that is the mastermind of hormone production in our thyroid, adrenals and ovaries (and testicles in men). Apparently chronic stress leads to more of the cortisol hormone but a reduced amount of the hormones critical for ovulation each month.

Just yesterday I sent out a newsletter summarizing the recent research about the benefits of low dose hormones for women just entering menopause. I also complained a bit that the media seems to highlight the bad news but less often the good news. Well – here I go again. Well there is more interesting news about hormones that again emphasize the fact that TIMING is everything – and I almost missed seeing it!