Q: My friend is suffering from the symptoms of menopause, but she's afraid to take hormone therapy. I told her it saved me from a world of woes. How can I convince her it could be beneficial? - Beth P., Charlotte, North Carolina
A: First, your friend should be examined by her gynecologist to evaluate any risk factors she may have that rule out hormone therapy - a family history of breast, ovarian or endometrial cancer, or heart disease, for example. If she gets the all-clear and is 60 or younger, then HT for less than five years can pretty safely offer relief from menopausal symptoms without increasing cancer risk significantly. Also, it reduces the risk for osteoporosis and colon cancer, and a new study shows that HT can help preserve brainpower!
In the journal Neurobiology of Aging, researchers point out that HT (when introduced at the onset of menopausal symptoms) preserves the health of the hippocampus, the part of the brain that's responsible for memory and spatial navigation, and that may reduce the risk of dementia later in life.
So tell your friend that news, and that we recommend using bioidentical estrogen plus micronized progesterone. (You don't need progesterone if you've had a hysterectomy.)
Also, we say that two days before starting HT, you should begin taking two low-dose aspirins (a total of 162 mg) daily with a glass of warm water before and after. Aspirin lowers the risk for clots and several types of cancer. We think the omission from prior HT studies of the two-low-dose-aspirin-and-warm-water regimen is a key research error. Can't take aspirin? Ask your doctor what you can take to reduce clot risk.
Other smart moves to control menopause symptoms: Get eight hours of sleep nightly. Eat plenty of produce, including garlic and onions, and lean protein to help your liver process your hormones correctly. Aerobic exercise that triggers release of beta endorphins helps, too.
Q: My son graduated from college a couple of years ago (with $30,000 in debt), and his job started out as a minimum-wage internship. He's been living at home and doesn't seem like he's in any hurry to move out. I like having him around, but should I be concerned? - Liz H., Glen Cove, New York
A: If your son didn't have a job, was moody and sat around the house in a bathrobe watching TV, you'd have something to worry about. But your situation is becoming the new normal in the U.S. And guess what? It has important emotional and health benefits for many.
According to Pew Research, in the U.S., 32 percent of women ages 18-31 co-resided with parents, and 40 percent of young men did in 2012. Overall, a record 57 million Americans lived in multigenerational households (twice as many as in 1980). Whether it's an unexpected benefit of reduced economic mobility, a result of a divorce rate over 50 percent or high housing prices, intergenerational family support is helpful to many people.
When single parents live with their kids, it beats back loneliness, which is known to fuel depression and shorten lives. When costs are cut by pooling resources, kids with huge college debt, like your son (the average is $29,000), are under less stress and can make better long-term decisions about careers and life. And when young children grow up in a home with a broad adult support system, it helps defuse problems and teaches them to appreciate older folks.
Grandparents, parents and their children living under the same roof is a strong tradition in many older cultures. In southern Europe - Spain and Italy, for example - up to 60 percent of adults 18-32 co-reside with parents. So as long as your son is working hard at what he wants to do, enjoy your time together.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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