There were 2 news stories of interest:

New Research Shows Hormone Replacement Therapy may be Harmful
For decades it has been the standard of care for women to take estrogen and progesterone hormone pills when menopause begins (called Hormone Replacement Therapy, or HRT). Doing so not only eases some of the physical and emotional symptoms associated with the loss of the body's natural hormones, but it has always been thought that taking such hormones throughout the rest of a woman's life decreases the risk of stroke, heart disease and osteoporosis.

Two new U.S. studies published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine and a large British study published in The Lancet are causing the medical community to rethink decades of medical practice. One study of 16,000 women in Boston showed HRT actually INCREASED a woman's risk of breast cancer, heart attack, and stroke after 5 years of use. The study was actually ended early when these risks became apparent. Another study at USC showed that the arteries of women on HRT clogged just as quickly over the years compared to women NOT on HRT. It had long been thought that since HRT can lower cholesterol in some women, that this would help protect AGAINST heart disease.

The British study involved over 1 million women ages 50 to 64. The results showed that taking combined estrogen-progesterone HRT can double a woman's risk of breast cancer compared to taking no HRT at all. It has long been known that estrogen-only HRT increases the risk of uterine cancer, but combined hormone HRT was thought to be safer. However, the British study showed that combined HRT showed a 4 times higher rate of breast cancer versus estrogen-only HRT.

In light of this controversy, Germany and The Netherlands have already begun restricting the use of HRT.

Dr. Sears comments: these findings are obviously very concerning. Every so often a standard medical practice that has been accepted for years is found to be possibly harmful based on new research. Women need to discuss this issue in detail with their OB/GYN, and stay tuned for more information.

Study Shows Kids are Wearing Bike Helmets, but Not Properly A Massachusetts study showed that 80% of kids are wearing bike helmets, but when tested only 4% of kids knew how to wear a bike helmet properly. The main errors were wearing the helmet too high on the forehead, the straps not fitting around the ears in a "V", and the helmet on too loosely, allowing it to slide forward or backward. Such errors can cause serious head injury even if a helmet is on.

Dr. Sears comments: take the time to show your kids how to do it right.