Blog — Hot Flashes

  As women, our bodies undergo various phases and transitions throughout our lives, each presenting challenges and changes. One such significant stage is perimenopause, the precursor to menopause. While menopause typically occurs around the age of 51, the perimenopausal journey often begins around the age of 46. This transitional period can bring about various physical and emotional changes, paving the way for the eventual cessation of menstrual cycles. In this blog, we'll delve into the intricacies of perimenopause, exploring the symptoms, challenges, and ways to navigate this natural phase with grace and understanding. Understanding Perimenopause: Perimenopause, often referred to as...

By Sherry LaBeck, ND. ZRT Laboratory. It is highly likely that women aged 60 to 90 have vivid memories of the astonishing healthcare news from 2002 when the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a comprehensive long-term national health study, was abruptly terminated earlier than expected. The initial trial results sent shockwaves through the medical community and had a profound impact on the lives of numerous women. Furthermore, this news fundamentally transformed the perception of routine menopausal hormone replacement prescriptions for years to follow. The WHI was launched in 1991 as a 15-year trial, one of the largest women’s health studies in the...

Perimenopause, also known as the menopausal transition, is a natural and normal part of a woman's life. It refers to the years leading up to menopause, which is defined as the point at which a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. Perimenopause typically begins in a woman's 40s but can start as early as the mid-30s. During perimenopause, the body's production of estrogen and progesterone, two hormones essential to a woman's reproductive system, begins to decline. This decline can cause a range of symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness,...

By Dr Candace Burch, ZRT Laboratory.  WhoThere are approximately 40-50 million menopausal women in the US today with about 3,500 to 5,000 more entering menopause every day. An estimated two million women in menopause have been seeking more natural treatment solutions after a major study (WHI 2002) found greater risks of heart disease, stroke, blood clots and breast cancer among hormone replacement therapy (HRT) users. What Menopause is not a disease but a natural process, resulting from diminishing hormones and the end of ovulation as women age. This is the ovaries’ final act: lacking eggs and female hormones, they can no longer perform their reproductive role. Menopause...

Cortisol should increase around %50 in the first 30 minutes on awakening then start to progressively drop the remainder of the day. Three, rather than one, early morning collections are what is needed to accurately assess the CAR; one immediately on waking, one 30 minutes later, and another at 1 hour. Diurnal Rhythm Assessment Thirty minutes after awakening from a good night's sleep, cortisol levels are at the highest they'll be all day. Following the morning peak, cortisol levels then fall to less than half that peak level by noon. They continue to drop to very low levels at night where...