Important in both the estrous and menstrual cycle, Estrogen is the primary female sex hormone. It is a group of compounds that are necessary for the development of the breast.

The incidence of men versus women who develop breast cancer is low at 1 in every 100 which is why Estrogen is suspected to be a cause, if not the leading cause of breast cancer. More than half of diagnosed breast cancer cases have no known causes; this is another reason why people are pointing fingers at estrogen. The chances of developing breast cancer are increased by the levels of estrogen in your body. The higher your levels of estrogen, the higher the risk factor. Given that women are exposed to estrogen throughout their lifetimes does not bode well for the fairer sex.

The Receptors

Estrogen is responsible for a number of functions in your body. Many of the cells, both cancerous and healthy contain estrogen receptors. A receptor is a form of protein which after coming in contact with estrogen stimulates cell growth. When estrogen comes into contact with a cancerous cell, it causes it to divide. These cells then accumulate in the body. Lack of estrogen would cause the cells to stop growing and eventually die.

17-Betaestradiol is known as the strongest form of estrogen. It can be changed into other forms most notably 2-hydroxyestrone, which is a weaker form or 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone, which is stronger.

The concern raised by researchers is that the 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone form might cause normal breast cells to form abnormalities which may eventually become cancerous.

A recent study carried out on post-menopausal women with breast cancer showed that they had a lower amount of 2-hydroxyestrone verses the 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone when compared to post-menopausal women without breast cancer.

Xenoestrogen – The synthetic Estrogen

Another reason why estrogen has been implicated has to do with xenoestrogen. This is a synthetic estrogen. Xenoestrogens can copy the effect of human estrogen as they have similar chemical structures. This allows them to fit into the estrogen receptors. They may cause an increase in cell division therefore contributing to the risk of breast cancer. Xenoestrogens are not easily broken down and therefore can accumulate. They are stored in the body's fat cells.

If you have a biopsy, your doctor will send the tissue sample taken to a lab for testing. If it contains significantly large numbers of estrogen receptive cells, then it is known as estrogen receptor positive. This is a good thing. The higher the number is the higher the likely hood that the cancer will respond to hormone therapy. Also known as anti-estrogen therapy, it is designed to starve the cancerous cells of the estrogen that they need to grow.

Conclusion

Estrogen metabolism is not simple or extensively studied; therefore it may be premature and unfair to blame estrogen for breast cancer. The question still remains; do some women have a genetic error which does not allow them to process estrogen or xenoestrogen? More studies have to be done to find the answer.

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a simple procedure that could reduce high blood pressure substantially and permanently while also allowing a patient to decrease their use of drugs? An operation which could actually do this is currently being tested on British patients. The Rox Anastomotic Coupler System or ACS Is not yet available in the United States. However, it is under clinical study as to its effectiveness for reducing blood pressure in patients who suffer from drug-resistant hypertension.

What happens during this procedure?

Two small introducer tubes are placed in the artery and vein in a patient’s upper portion of the leg. Catheters are then inserted through these introducers allowing a crossing to be made between the vein and artery just above the entry point. A small metallic Coupler is then put in place in order to keep a little hole open between both the artery and the vein. This allows blood to flow from the artery to the vein where it then returns directly to the heart and lungs. Thus, the procedure makes it possible to relieve some of the pressure in the arterial system by allowing it flow to the veins. Physicians will see an immediate drop in systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure.

How long will the benefits of this procedure last?

The procedure is actually effective for as long as the device is left in place. It is possible that a patient could need a follow-up to make sure that the blood vessels stay open and healthy. This is a fully reversible procedure as well.

Although not approved for use in the United States, international randomized controlled trials are being conducted on patients with resistant hypertension. There's a lot of excitement around the possibilities of this new device offering an effective treatment option in the future.

Can elevated blood sugar contribute to the risk of Alzheimer's disease? Research suggests there may be a link. For men and women between the ages of 65 to 74 there is about a 5% chance that they will develop Alzheimer's disease. However, the number jumps significantly after a person reaches the age of 85. It is suggested that perhaps as many as half of that population have the disease.

What causes Alzheimer's?

Among the scientific community, it is pretty well accepted that age and genetics are major contributing factors to the development of Alzheimer's disease. But some scientists also think that high blood pressure, cholesterol and even diabetes may be factors.

Do high blood sugar levels put people at risk?

Studies have been conducted to try and determine whether or not there is a link between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. It is surprising to note that about 26 million people have diabetes in the United States alone and a fair proportion of them don't even know they have it. Type II diabetes, in particular, can harm your brain. People who do not have diabetes are less likely to develop dementia. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease.

In addition, diabetes may also increase the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment. This condition causes people to have more problems that normal with thinking and memory. Mild cognitive impairment could lead to Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. And so it goes...

More research is needed.

At this point, doctors don't know exactly what causes Alzheimer's disease or how diabetes and dementia are connected. They do know that high blood sugar can harm the brain in a number of ways. The inability to absorb sugar may damage brain cells, while too much insulin may actually disturb the balance of chemicals needed for the brain to function properly.

As researchers continue to study the link between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, they have high hopes that their findings will also produce effective ways for early Alzheimer's interventions, perhaps as early as middle-age. Always remember that frequent forgetfulness, mood swings and other behavioral changes are not a normal part of the aging process. Seeking help is important to early intervention.

If you suffer from chronic heartburn, then you are not alone. Frequent heartburn is an uncomfortable disease with possible long-term health risks affecting many Americans. With all of the available treatments, ongoing research, studies and sometimes conflicting information, it can be difficult to decide what may or may not be at the root of your acid reflux dilemma.

Could your acid reflux be due to gluten intolerance?

The answer to that question is a bit murky, but 10% of the US population has some form of gluten intolerance according to doctors. Gluten intolerance is an allergic reaction to wheat or wheat products.

What is gluten?

Gluten is a protein. It can be found in wheat, barley or rye. A lot of our favorite foods like cereals, bread and pastas are full of gluten. Unfortunately, simply eliminating some of those favorite foods may not be enough. Much of the gluten that enters our diet does so in the way of fillers or preservatives in other foods. Therefore, it can sometimes be tricky to find the source.

Can eliminating gluten reduce my acid reflux

It does appear that there is a connection between acid reflux and gluten intolerance; however, there can be other causes as well. If you are interested in ruling out the possibilities of your own heartburn being affected by sensitivity to gluten products, here are a few things that you can try.

• First, begin by getting used to reading food labels pretty carefully. All the while, looking for any hidden gluten in products.

• Eliminate all wheat, rye and barley from your diet.

• Be careful of cross-contamination, for instance, oats are often processed in machines that may contain wheat.

• As you eliminate processed foods from your diet replace them with more fruits and vegetables, preferably fresh. If you are going to go the frozen or packaged route, once again, read the labels for hidden gluten.

• A food allergist may be able to help you decide whether or not you are allergic to certain foods. Food allergies can contribute to heartburn.

Gluten may or may not be part of your heartburn problem. Yet, sometimes, before rushing out and taking medications, it is worth our while to experiment with food eliminations and other natural lifestyle changes to help reduce the discomfort of chronic heartburn. If, however, after a period of experimentation, nothing that you try seems to be improving your condition, it is recommended that you consult your physician.

Obesity, although a common condition these days, continues to plague Americans at alarming rates. Being overweight has many consequences, but for the obese male, studies suggest that there may be a higher risk for future prostate cancer after a benign biopsy.

Is there a proven link between obesity and precancerous abnormalities?

Although there haven’t been a lot of studies on the topic at this point, a 14 year investigation of 6,692 men at the Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health suggests a correlation. This study focused on a significant number of men that were at a greater risk for developing prostate cancer after an initial benign biopsy.

Prostate cancer is actually caused by changes in the DNA of a normal prostate cell. Our DNA comes from our parents. Some of us actually look like our parents, but DNA is responsible for more than just our appearance. A small percentage of men who develop prostate cancer can blame their genes. However, prostate cancer may happen during a man's life with little connection to their parents. A lot more research is needed in order to do develop a clearer picture. At this point, we do not know exactly what causes prostate cancer.

Age, Race, and Nationality

Besides obesity, there are a number of other factors that may contribute to the development of prostate cancer. Some of them are controllable and others are not. A man's age is worth paying attention to because it is rare for men younger than 40 to develop this form of cancer. Also prostate cancer is more common in African-American men. Even nationality plays into the possible risk factors as prostate cancer appears to be more common in North America and Northwestern Europe.

Family History and Diet

But the lists of risk factors do not stop there. Family history, genes as well as diet can be a particularly potent combination. Men who eat a lot of red meat or high-fat dairy products seem to be at greater risk. These men also often eat less fruits and vegetables which the lack of those particular foods could be also be contributing to the problem.

Smoking

And then there's that old habit of smoking. It seems as though a lot of studies have found a link between smoking and prostate cancer. Smoking is linked to lots of other illnesses as well.

That brings us back full circle to the obesity question. Although most studies have not found specifically that being overweight contributes to a higher risk of prostate cancer, early studies are pointing toward the possibility that obese men are at greater risk for having more advanced prostate cancer and even dying from prostate cancer. The jury is still out on these findings, however.

Prostate cancer still has many unanswered questions. However, it is highly advised that as a man ages, he should have regular physical exams that include the checking the health of the prostate. Obesity should be considered a factor for more intensive follow-up after a benign prostate biopsy. Early detection and lifestyle changes as well as treatment are important factors when dealing with a positive diagnosis.