Dr. Erika | Bioidentical Hormone Expert

How to stop the recession plunging you into a fatal depression

Suicide, murders and heart attacks are rising as the economy falls.

A new study by Oxford University, England, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine determined that a 3% rise in unemployment was linked with a 2.7% rise in heart attacks among men aged 30-44 and a 2.4% jump in murders and suicides in people under 64. Deaths from alcohol abuse also soared by 28% in the face of the economic downturn.

Another study, by the American Association of Suicidology in Washington, D.C., found jobless people are two to four times as likely to kill themselves. Losing a home also increases the chance of suicide.

The American Psychological Association reports 80 percent of people it surveyed say the economy is a significant source of stress. Calls to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline went from 412,000 to 540,000 in 2008.

The only bright spot in this economic depression: Traffic deaths will likely drop 4.2%, because more people are taking public transport.

Lead author of the Oxford University study Dr David Stuckler advises Government programs can help the economy and prevent rises in deaths.

But business leaders and individuals can also play a crucial role, says the Suicide Prevention Resource Center.

As a practicing physician who sees more than 50 patients a week, I have been listening and watching first hand the results of the economic crisis as it affects individual working class people. Since the doctor patient relationship is the sacred to me and my goal is to help people feel better, the advise I give is not always based on medical information but rather entertains social, psychological and lifestyle. As we all navigate through these troubled times, the goal is to survive and come out stronger and smarter at the other end. The economy will improve and with it, we must be prepared and healthy so we can take advantage of new opportunities that will open to us.

Here are some nuggets of advice I give my patients: 

•    Turn off the news channel on your TV set and stop reading alarmist news. If you insulate yourself from the often scary and alarmist information out there, your life will look a lot more manageable and your troubles will no longer be overwhelming.

•    Spend time with the ones you love. Share your feelings, fears and concerns with your spouse, friends and people who have your best interest at heart.

•    Surround yourself with positive people. Do not drown in someone else’s negativity. Avoid negative thoughts. If someone else said something negative, do not absorb it. It doesn’t belong to you.

•    Perspective is the key to survival. Avoid the victim mode. You are in control of your life. Regardless of problems, you have total control over your attitude and the way you react to people.

•    Engage in community activities that are stress relievers and help you feel better about yourself and your situation. Help people in worse shape than you and be kind.

•    Exercise Cardio and aerobic exercise increase hormone release that will make you feel better about yourself, give you better perspective and of course help your heart.

•    If you need to speak to a doctor or mental health practitioner do not wait. Go see one sooner rather than later and make sure he/ she is the right one for you. A positive, upbeat influence that provides reassurance and kindness.

•    Do not stay home and sulk. If you are out of a job, start looking for another job immediately. Be reasonable in your expectations. Sometimes it’s easier to get a lower level job and work your way up quickly.

•    Do not drown your sorrows in alcohol or other self-medications. They won’t solve your problems and will only serve to make you loose perspective.

•    Take a weekend off with the family and leave your immediate area and just get away. Even if it is an hour away from home. Change of scenery will give you a better outlook.

•    Be aware of the warning signs of suicide and helping those of may be in danger to get help. The warning signs can be downloaded at:  www.sprc.org/featured_resources/bpr/PDF/AASWarningSigns_factsheet.pdf.

•    If you feel suicidal, or know someone who is, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

While this is a tough time for all, we don’t have to sink. We can and should use the hard times to make us stronger and kinder to ourselves and one another. The sun will come out tomorrow!

It's all about the doctor-patient relationship!

More than thirty years of practicing medicine, significant personal media exposure and being an avid listener of those who deliver the care and those who debate it, I wonder what exactly is wrong with our country.

We are the leading industrialized nation in the world. Or are we? We boast the best standard of living, yet we have fallen behind in all health care parameters except spending.

A few nights ago I watched the CNBC program Round Table on Health Care and it was mostly more rhetoric and pundits listening to themselves talk. Unfortunately that is about all you get these days in the media when speaking of health care reform.

One exception at this round table was Michael Milken. Among doctors and politicians he told the truth, it’s all about Prevention.

Health care is never going to really help the millions of Americans who are obese, who smoke, who drink and don’t take care for themselves. Lack of Prevention will only help the drug companies, insurance company trusts, surgical suppliers and technological testing companies make more money at the public’s expense.

It’s all about prevention, but how can you even begin to address prevention when the real implementers of prevention aren’t even part of the discussion?

I’m referring to the doctor-patient relationship which ultimately makes or breaks the entire system. Remember Dr. Welby? Remember when doctors were beloved and patients were respected and cared for? Those were the days when the cost of healthcare was not prohibitive. In those days genomics and MRIs were scarce but good will and health were abundant. What changed?

Medical training in the US is funded by a combination of federal, state, endowments and special interest (primarily drug company) monies.

To become a doctor you have to work extremely hard for 4 years, then a few more years to train to be a clinician and specialist, you work non-stop, rarely sleep, eat junk foods and just try to survive. When you have completed this insane amount of training you are faced with a sad state of affairs. You have a pile of debt and work options are often decided on how much money you can make to catch up. Remember that at this point you are at least 30 years old.

While you were training to be a doctor something very important happened. A paradigm shift took place in your brain.

By the time you finish your training you no longer see the world from your original perspective of saving the world.  While you weren’t sleeping and diligently trying to be the best student and resident in your program, the indoctrination from the special interest groups who were paying for your education was going on full force.

The result: gradually you became a prescription drug pusher, a product utilizer, a physician who will send every patient for myriad of senseless and intimidating tests, surgical procedures and the ubiquitous hospital stay. Within 10 years from starting medical school you become a robot in the service of special interest.

I know it, I lived it and I watched all my friends live it also. I speak from a position of deep understanding, knowledge and experience. The outcome is often devastating.

While many physicians do not fall prey to this exact sequence of events, there are far too many who do. Fully trained doctors no longer see patients as human beings.

Malpractice threats, the business and politics of medicine have only served to rob too many a doctor of his/her most powerful healing tool, their humanity and have permanently changed the interaction with the patient.

The patient is another symptom or disease, a nuisance, someone to protect yourself from, to get rid of as fast as possible until the entire profession becomes a mere conveyor belt of human parts.

Bedside manner, listening to the patient and caring are not on the medical school curricula.

Medical training isn’t focused on encouraging physicians to become primary care practitioners, internists focused on preventing disease and maximizing health. There is no course in medical school on doctor-patient relationships, patient advocacy, compassion or learning how to listen to your patients.
I wonder why? Certainly the outcome is scientifically and common sense proven to be better when the doctor and patient work together and trust each other. It certainly is a lot less expensive to listen than to do lots of testing and write prescriptions for every patient we see…

Physicians have a one master; the patient. To serve the patients and no one else, to refuse to be brainwashed and to open our minds and hearts to providing the best care in kindness will save the healthcare system. Didn’t we become physicians to save, after all?

To change the present predicament physicians must focus on keeping the patients healthy, on prevention.

This involves learning nutrition to provide nutritional advice, lifestyle and exercise advice as well.  And one more thing: physicians must learn to take care of themselves. They must start to address their own diet, exercise, sleep, stress and lifestyle issues to become examples of healthy living and prevention. I bet that approach will help improve the health care system in a heartbeat.

Now let’s look at the patient for a moment.

When I went into private practice more than 20 years ago, a man came to see me. When I asked him what I could do for him, he said” how should I know? You are the doctor.” Herein lies the biggest problem the present healthcare system capitalizes on.  No one knows how you feel and what goes on inside your body better than you do.

No doctor will ever know you better than you know yourself. Until we know that fact, we will not be able to command better health for ourselves, and will run the risk of becoming victims.

If you want to learn please hear me!

The doctor has no idea how you FEEL.

The doctor has a lot of information that he/she learned in medical school, training and practice but all that information does not necessarily apply to you.

If you don’t explain how you feel and your doctor doesn’t hear you, you will never get the right care. That is an absolute fact.

No matter how great the doctor is, if you don’t take responsibility for creating a positive outcome you are at risk. If the doctor doesn’t listen to you and doesn’t pay attention to your complaints, leave. You are better off with no care than with bad, sloppy or uncaring care.

It all goes back to the doctor-patient relationship. Like every other relationship in your life, you must work at it and you cannot ignore it.

Your doctor must be your advocate, you two must be philosophically aligned.

If you believe in alternative medicine and your doctor doesn’t you are with the wrong doctor.

If you want to take bioidentical hormones and your doctor tells you they are a marketing term, don’t argue, change doctors.

If you trust conventional medical treatments and your doctor wants to give you supplements and herbal remedies leave.

If you are on the same page with your doctor you’re heading in the right direction.

Life is to be lived outside the confines of the health care system. The right doctor will understand that, help you stay healthy and live your life without fear or doubt.

If most of us doctors and patients heed this advice we will implement the health care reform we need in this country and set an example for the world to follow.

Then when we can say the US is the leading industrialized country in the world.

Improving The Healthcare System

Let's all of us step up and help president Obama really improve the healthcare system by focusing on what matters the most: the doctor patient relationship. Please share the information below with everyone. We are the ones who make the difference.

Please click here: http://www.foxbusiness.com/search-results/m/25236383/how-to-improve-health-care.htm#q=Erika+Schwartz+MD 

 

SHOULD THE THREAT OF SWINE FLU KEEP YOUR CHILD AWAY FROM CAMP THIS SUMMER?

Patients have called, community members have sent e-mails asking my opinion about the dangers of sending kids to camp amid the fear of swine flu.

Here’s what we all need to know about the topic and how the information will help you make safe, sound and fearless decisions.

Swine Flu caused by H1N1 virus is a mild flu with a name.

Regular flu kills up to 30,000 people a year. In the case of swine flu, 170 people have died in the US and approximately 300 globally. This is not a virulent flu. For those who have lost loved ones, statistics are meaningless and will never make things better. Statistics are useless when we are looking at each and every one of us as individuals. Do not use statistics when making health decisions. They only serve to scare us and most likely do not apply to the individual. The goal is to do everything we can to stay healthy and help raise healthy children.

Regardless of year, every time you send your kid to camp or any group activity that involves sleeping in close quarters away from home, the child will be exposed to many contagious agents. No matter how well protected, close living quarters cannot maintain the same levels of sanitation as individual living arrangements.  Small children living in the woods with lots of physical activity, water sports, heat and sun  are higher sources of risk then sitting locked up in an air conditioned room. Forget the risk being lower, the lack of fun alone is a killer.  If you can afford to send the children to camp to have fun and share summer time with their friends, there is no need to start worrying now. It may be the appropriate time to focus on prevention and information.

For years, I used to be camp physician at my youngest daughter’s camp. It was the only way I could spend time near my child without appearing too clingy a parent.

The camp had an infirmary and two nurses. As part of my job, I had to make rounds on a group of three camps every day (you can be sure my daughter’s camp got me there more than once a day….).

When a child came down with a cold, a sore throat or a fever, the child was immediately isolated. That was why there was an infirmary. Once, the kids got lice and the nurses scrubbed their hair and made sure the lice was gone before returning them to their bunks. That was a big emergency.

I did send a few kids home in my three years as camp doctor, but it was never for a serious contagious illness. We taught the kids to wash their faces and hands every morning, to take a shower every day, to brush their teeth after every meal and to wash their hands before each meal and after going to the bathroom. We taught kids to never drink from each other’s glass or cup. We taught them to go to sleep early and get up early.  We did not have Swine flu then, we just practiced prevention.

How can you protect your children and still let them enjoy the summer?

Do your homework and make sure the camp is clean and safe. No need to overdo hygiene, just clean water and plenty of soap will do. No need to disinfect every door knob.

Healthy kids are not bacteria or viruses, They don’t need disinfecting. Send your kids to camp when they are old enough to enjoy it. Sending kids to camp should not be your way of getting rid of the kid for the summer. Keep in mind camps are for the benefit of kids.

Make sure the camp feeds your kids healthy fresh foods. Stay away from camps that are junk food friendly. In my experience the camps with the healthiest fresh food are usually the ones with the healthiest kids.

Do not scare your kid. Tell her/him the swine flu is just the name for this season’s flu. Make sure the infirmary at camp is focused on helping kids feel better and has enough beds and lots of love.

Then, make sure your kid is healthy and excited to go to camp.  If he is well and sees you excited about his camp experience, send him to camp with a smile. This is just another summer and fun and learning good things is what childhood is about. Forget about the swine flu!

Cinergy Health

Dear All:

I am attaching a press release regarding my appointment as Medical Director to Cinergy Health.

I am very excited to team up with Cinergy. Together we will improve the health care system and help the public focus on prevention and patient advocacy.

Please read the release, and check out their website www.cinergyhealth.com.  I am happy to be affiliated with an insurance company who puts the patient first and has the goal of helping people focus on prevention.

My first media opportunity through Cinergy came last Friday and I would like you to watch it: Industrialized Health-Care Mess .

My clinical practice and contact with the patients and public will not be affected by this appointment.

To your health,
Dr. Erika

Cinergy Health Appoints Dr. Erika Schwartz as Medical Director

Provider of Affordable Health Care Insurance Will Draw on Physicians' Expertise in Preventative Medicine and Patients' Health Advocacy to Enhance Health Plans

AVENTURA, Fla., June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Cinergy Health, a nationwide provider of affordable health insurance benefit programs for the consumer market, today announced Erika Schwartz MD, as the company's medical director, a new position. As Cinergy Health's medical director, Dr. Schwartz will provide guidance on health care issues, ranging from the efficacy of emerging medical procedures to so-called non-traditional treatment methods, such as the use of nutriceuticals. In addition, she will engage the public in a dialog on ways they can optimize relationships with their own health care professionals.

"We are excited to have Erika join the Cinergy Health team, especially given her broad and deep experience as a patients' health advocate," said Daniel Touizer, CEO of Cinergy Health. "Her work in both hospital-based and private practice gives her a powerful perspective on the entire health care delivery system and what constitutes a proper and effective level of service - all for the benefit of Cinergy Health Plan members."

Over the past 30 years, Dr. Schwartz has personally taken care of more than 100,000 patients, treated more than 15,000 patients with various formulations of bioidentical hormones and has written four best-selling books published by Warner Books, Putnam and HarperCollins. In December 2008, the Medical Clinics of North America published an entire chapter written by Dr. Schwartz on the use of hormones in wellness and disease prevention, a first in the field of conventional medicine. She was invited by the chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Harvard to lecture at Massachusetts General Hospital on the topic of bioidentical hormones in February 2009.

"Cinergy Health is an insurance benefits company that actually puts the individual first. Its affordable health insurance coverage is as innovative as any medical breakthrough I've seen," Schwartz said. "Further, Cinergy Health plans are designed to encourage people to seek care, not delay it such that their condition could worsen. As someone who's been involved in patients' rights for years, I am proud to be associated with this company."

Schwartz received her MD from State University of New York Downstate College of Medicine, graduating cum laude, as a member of the prestigious AOA academic honor society. She served as Director of Emergency Medicine at Westchester County Medical Center (University Hospital of New York Medical College) in Valhalla, NY, a world-renowned trauma center. She has been in private practice, in Internal Medicine, for the last 17 years.

As one of the nation's most widely-recognized experts in the field of bioidentical hormones and an outspoken advocate for patients' rights, Dr. Erika Schwartz has testified before Congress, appeared on CBS News, Larry King Live, The View, The Montel Williams Show, CNN, MSNBC, Oprah Satellite Radio with Dr. Oz and many others. Her affiliations include: Board of Managers at SUNY-Downstate College of Medicine, the American Society for Internal Medicine, National Association of Medical Communicators (AMA), International Coenzyme Q10 Society and the Bioidentical Hormone Initiative.

About Cinergy Health

CINERGY HEALTH, Inc., with headquarters in Florida, is a nationwide provider of innovative and affordable health insurance solutions designed to meet the changing needs of American families. Recognizing the financial challenges for people who cannot afford or qualify for costly major medical insurance plans,

Cinergy Health designs and delivers lower cost alternative health plans that facilitate access to quality healthcare services and enable people to maintain better health. Cinergy Health Preferred Insurance Plans are limited medical benefit plans, which provide first dollar coverage for the predictable medical care people need most frequently. These insurance plans provide coverage starting with a member's very first doctor's visit without a deductible so that s/he doesn't put off important medical care. From doctor visits and diagnostics to maternity and surgery, Cinergy provides essential coverage that's easily within most people's budgets. Further, plan member can choose doctors and hospitals of their choice without being confined to a list.

NEWSWEEK'S ATTACK ON OPRAH WILL NOT HELP THE PUBLIC

This week's Newsweek cover story is a harsh and lengthy attack on Oprah and her ever-expanding health care advocacy choices. The article questions the legitimacy of her choices and points out that some of her doctors and “experts” are far out of the medical mainstream. 

I have never been on the Oprah Show, but last winter I was interviewed by Oprah's main doctor Mehmet Oz on his satellite radio show. Patients and e-mails flooded my office for months. This spring I was quoted in Oprah’s magazine as they interviewed one of my patients about bioidentical hormones. I learned first hand the power of Oprah and the success she brings to everyone she touches.

At times while watching her shows and reading about her choices of experts I wondered about the lack of balance. I even wrote to her producers when I realized by watching her that her thyroid was badly treated and I knew she was not getting good advice.

When she talked about bioidentical hormones I was thrilled. Her choice of experts and spokeswoman for the hormones, Suzanne Somers, left me cold. But it was Oprah who opened the door to bringing bioidenticals to the mainstream so I applauded her effort. When I gave my lecture on bioidentical hormones at Harvard in February 2, 2009, the first slide I showed was the one of Oprah with Suzanne Somers.

I asked the chairman of the department of ob-gyn, Isaac Schiff, MD and the rest of the physicians in the audience, “ How come Suzanne Somers and Oprah are the ones to teach the public about bioidentical hormones? What has the medical profession done with the information of the Women’s Health Initiative study?  Nine years later and women are still suffering and the medical establishment has not stepped up to the plate to help women find safe solutions to menopausal symptoms. Why are bioidentical hormones still controversial?” They had no answers.

Oprah did. She did what no conventional media or conventional medicine has done. She has stepped up to the plate. She has given the public the missing information. Instead of indoctrinating us with the party line, Oprah has opened the door to other options. And the public has spoken. Oprah is their leader, not the American Medical Association.

Granted, Oprah may not have always chosen the best “experts” or figured how to provide a balanced view of their opinions. But then, who does? At least she has had the courage to bring to the public new ways of looking at health and has sparked interest in options that others would like kept under wraps. Don’t let the naysayers stop progress! 

PERSPECTIVE ON SWINE FLU

The recent outbreak of swine flu and its rapid spread from Mexico into the US and other countries has caused many of our community members to ask what I think about the dangers of this new disease and the risk it poses to the population at large?

Here's what I know and think about it.

Swine flu is not a new type of flu. It is a known and recognized flu virus that causes pigs to suffer with symptoms similar to those that affect us humans when we get the flu. Most pigs just get over it the same way most of us get over the flu even if we are not immunized against it.

Transmission of the swine flu from pigs to humans occurs only rarely and it happens by droplet transmission. That means you have to be in contact with a pig who has the flu and sneezes on you. That situation is a very rare occurrence. But once humans do catch the swine flu from the pig, the disease spreads because humans transmit it to other humans much faster than the pigs do.

Swine flu is like other flu. It is characterized by fever, malaise, generalized pains and aches, sneezing. Runny nose, sore throat and occasionally diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pains. Overall the duration of the swine flu is the same as other flu 5-7 days.

Humans can protect themselves and everyone else from spreading the swine flu the same way we can protect ourselves from spreading communicable diseases in general.

To protect yourself from the swine flu you need to take the same measures you take to maintain a hygienic and clean lifestyle that support your immune system's optimal function: eat healthy foods, do not drink alcohol or other immune depressants, get 7-8 hours of sleep a night, exercise regularly, wash your hands frequently, do not come into contact with people who are sick and stay away from other people when you are sick. Common sense goes a long way and saves everyone who practices it.

A little perspective on the swine flu can help us learn not to react to the sensationalism associated with it:

1. In 2008- 37,313 people died in car crashes in the US.
2. More than 20,000 people die of the common flu in the US yearly in spite of flu immunization
3. There are approximately 15,000 murders in the US every year.
4. On the average 90 people die of lightening every year
5. Remember Anthrax? In 2001 we were all scared to death by it and 5 people actually died from the disease. I wonder how many died with heart attacks and strokes caused by the fear of Anthrax?

I am not being cavalier or trying to make light of a source of fear and confusion. I just want you to be smart and put things into perspective. Good attitude and good perspective are great tools for survival.

BIOIDENTICAL HORMONES: THE EVIDENCE IS HERE

It is sad and disturbing that in 2009 there is no formally-designated medical specialty in women's health. It is sad and disturbing that the role of hormones in wellness and disease prevention is unclear and confusing to the medical community and the public at large.

Physicians taking care of women and working with hormones are polarized; they either support bioidenticals to a fault or reject them cavalierly without scientific basis or knowledge of what they are or how they work.

Doctors pitted against doctors are a recipe for disaster. This untenable situation directly affects patient care. Women are suffering while desperately looking to their doctors for answers and reassurance. We can no longer stand by watching women be treated as second class citizens in our present health care system.

As a conventional physician who has worked successfully with bioidentical hormones for 14 years on 15,000 patients I find it hard to accept that if it weren't for celebrities touting bioidenticals, most conventional physicians would still think of bioidenticals as a dirty word or a marketing term. Shouldn't the goal of healthcare be for physicians to help patients feel better? What am I missing here?

I find it impossible to grasp the reality that millions of women who take bioidenticals might have to continue to be victims of shoddy practices by fringe elements and feel obligated to hide the fact that they are taking bioidenticals from their conventional doctors for fear of intimidation or belittlement.

It is time to eliminate the polarization. Together with a group of expert and caring clinicians we have committed to creating a better system of cooperation among doctors and between doctors and patients.

One year ago we created the Bioidentical Hormone Initiative, www.bioidenticalhormone initiative.org , a not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating physicians, educating lawmakers in Congress and providing scientific and referral resources to physicians and laypeople on all bioidentical hormone data on an ongoing basis.

The Bioidentical Hormone Initiative, is asking for physicians to join forces and experience and effectuate a positive change in women's health and learn the science behind them and consider the use of bioidentical hormones in their practices.

There are no good guys, there are no bad guys here. There only are women who suffer and need not do so. For goodness sake, this is 2009 after all!

When the focus is shifted entirely onto the women we will be able to create a better health care system that will lead to healthier and happier patients and more professionally-fulfilled physicians. Together with the founders and the members of the Bioidentical Hormone Initiative we will work to accomplish this goal. Please join us!

THERE IS Hope for Women's Health and Bioidentical Hormones After ALL

Today is a big day for us!

For us physicians who serve women no longer accepting status quo, physicians with the desire and knowledge to keep patients healthy and young, with the goal of always being cutting edge and safe in the information and treatments we deliver. Physicians who follow the science and the scientific evidence when treating patients with bioidentical hormones, physicians who dedicate their lives to the wellbeing of the patients we treat.

Today is a big day for us women! For the first time the mainstream media is acknowledging that women are suffering unnecessarily and that hormone imbalance is an overwhelming handicap that needs attention, legitimate treatments and can no longer be swept under the rug.

It took someone like Oprah Winfrey, who is obviously suffering from inadequately treated thyroid problems, menopausal hormone loss and its attendant weight gain and other unbearable symptoms to blast the hinges off the door to bioidentical hormone therapy.

Acknowledgement is always the precursor to enlightenment.

Maybe one day soon Oprah might even consider bioidenticals an important ingredient in her commitment to achieving true wellness.

For now, let's just celebrate the fact that bioidentical hormones are "coming out", and are finally being considered as viable treatments for feeling lousy. No longer are we hearing that "bioidenticals are just a marketing term". Now that is progress!

The next step involves training the doctors.

We must educate the medical community about the existence of bioidenticals, provide them with the scientific data and the studies about them. Teach them the difference between how bioidenticals and non-identical hormone molecules work in the human body. Inform them that bioidenticals are FDA approved and available at your local drugstore. Explain to them the role and usefulness of compounding. Help them understand that they must know and get involved with who compounds the hormones they prescribe.

Finally, balanced and honest studies must be undertaken on a large scale and in full view that compare the efficacy and safety of bioidenticals to their non-identical counterparts. The era of creating confusion and muddying the waters of hormone therapies has reached its end.

Teaching doctors the truth about hormones must start in medical schools and continue throughout their clinical careers. Women's health is indelibly connected to the knowledge and understanding of hormones and therapies associated with them. We can no longer treat women and their health as second class citizens.

While physicians like myself focus on opening the doors of knowledge to the medical community-(WebMD News Story and read my most recent article in the Medical Clinics for physicians) you, the patient must become vigilant about the care you receive, the treatment you accept from both conventional and alternative practitioners.

My hope is that you will now begin to demand that your doctors listen to you.

When you say you have hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, weight gain, depression, loss of sex drive, brain fog and everything else you know is hormonally connected, do not take a pat on the back,birth control pills,antidepressants or "you're just getting old honey" as answers. Do not allow anyone to scare you!

Do not hide the fact that you are taking or want to take bioidenticals from your Ob-Gyn, Internist or Endocrinologist. They need to learn about them now!

It's high time all doctors start representing your interests and become members of your team. When you no longer accept being taken for granted, will your OB/GYNs and Endocrinologists become true providers of health.

This is a new day and we must all celebrate. It's the day we took back our healthcare!

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Related topics :

1. Estrogen and Natural Hormone Therapy.

2. Hormones and Women 20-29.

3. Hormones and Women 30-39.

4. Hormones and Women 40-59+.

5. Progesterone Cream.

Do you ever feel like you are living inside someone else's body?

Do you remember:

-when you could eat and not gain weight?

-when you could sleep 8 hours without getting up during the night?

-when you had energy to go out dancing?

-when sex was really important?

Are you desperate for relief from exhaustion, insomnia, mood swings, loss of libido, hot flashes, stomach issues, rashes and all the other fun things that come with middle age? Whether menopause has crept its way into your life yet or not, there is no doubt your body is changing as your hormones slowly leave the building sometime between your late 30s and 50s.

The "change" doesn't come overnight...that's why we need to know how to prepare our changing body for the shock of its life! Finally...we have some new tools to help us fix the parts that feel like they really are breaking down.

This Friday night, WFOR-TV's 25-time Emmy Award winning Investigative Reporter Michele Gillen reports on "The New Menopause", delving into the medical weapon that's finally being used to bring our bodies back to where they were in our 20s and 30s, when everything worked like clockwork...when all our hormones were in balance. Rescuscitating them is quite simple really, if only women knew what to do and how to do it...


In her series airing on Miami's Channel 4 in its 6pm newscast, Michele takes an in-depth look into the safety and efficacy of Bioidentical Hormones, featuring Dr. Erika Schwartz, who she's calling a visionary in this ever-changing field, with Doctors from Harvard University crediting Dr. Schwartz for her trailblazing efforts to help women feel good again!


Check out "The New Menopause" this Friday night at 6, and then get the chance to ask your own questions to Dr. Erika Schwartz at 7-8pm in a live chat on the WFOR website. Just log onto cbs4.com, and click on the link on top that says join live chat.
.

It is worth taking the time to watch this...and let this internationally-reknowned MD answer the questions you've been wanting to ask about how to LOOK AND FEEL BETTER! You don't have to feel lousy anymore, no matter how old you are!

Dr. Erika lectures in Miami frequently, so if you are interested in learning more, 1-866-373-7452 for more information and dates, or e-mail seminars@drerika.com.