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  • Title: Estrogen's protection against heart disease may be overstated.
    Journal: Indian Med Trib; 1994 Jul 15; 2(11):6. PubMed ID: 12179178.
    Abstract:
    Several biases in studies of estrogen replacement therapy suggest that claims that estrogen replacement therapy reduces the risk of heart disease are exaggerated. Women who have taken part in these studies are usually healthier than the average woman. In fact, for many years, physicians had not prescribed hormones to women whom they considered to be in less than excellent health. Thus, women on estrogen replacement therapy would tend not to suffer heart disease. Even though hormonal therapy does protect against osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, physicians should not prescribe hormonal therapy just to protect women from heart disease. The American Heart Association reported in the autumn of 1993 that estrogen use has been linked to a 50% reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, but it also warns that one must be cautious when interpreting these studies, since physicians may prescribe hormones to primarily healthier women to relieve symptoms of menopause. Women must visit a physician before beginning hormone replacement, and they are more likely to enter heart disease prevention programs than women not on estrogen. Women on hormone replacement therapy have higher incomes and more education than women who are not on this therapy. In fact, higher income and education make women more healthy than poor, less educated women. Since 10 times more women die of heart disease in the US than of osteoporosis, we need to know whether hormone replacement therapy really prevents heart disease. The Heart Estrogen Replacement Study and the Women's Health Initiative have recently begun carefully controlled studies examining whether hormone replacement therapy protects against heart disease. They should produce results in 5-6 years.
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