HRT and the effect it may have on AF

[Annaelizabeth]

Does anyone have any input as to whether HRT can have any effect on AF? There is a lot of information as to the general pros and cons, but never to AF specifically. Many of us must faced with taking that decision, any discussion would be hugely helpful.

[jennydog]

I discussed HRT with my old and wise GP some 20 years ago. He advised against its use. He said that it merely delayed the symptoms. The thought of hot flushes etc at 60 didn't bear thinking about.

At that stage I did not have AF but I had had cancer in my left arm, hence my concern. The GP was able to assure me that my type of cancer was not hormone related and therefore not relevant to HRT.

[Annaelizabeth in reply to jennydog]

Thank you, my dilemma is that my dear mother had the most awful osteoporosis, and although there are many medications which can help, the best is HRT, using a mirena for progesterone and a topical oestrogel, my worry is though, will it affect AF?

[Polski in reply to Annaelizabeth]

I suggest you also research 'osteoporosis' very thoroughly, including from the 'alternative' point of view. I saw it very thoroughly argued that all the milk and dairy products we are told to consume actually make the problem worse! In some countries they are not consumed and osteoporosis is hardly known. The calcium in such products is actually poorly absorbed. In fact other minerals etc are needed in order to maintain the balance between calcium and magnesium eg magnesium, and I think Vit D is essential as well. So increasing your magnesium levels (without causing diorrhea!) may be the important thing. So perhaps add fresh raw seeds and nuts to your diet on a regular basis. There is lots of information out there, so please check these 'facts' and see what else you can find!

Unfortunately excess stress can be a serious culprit too. If you are under serious stress for a long time then three months of a really good multi-vit-and-mineral from a health food shop will go a long way to enabling you to handle the stress and maintain your health through it. This can be repeated if the problem is on-going, or perhaps repeated annually as a precaution.

[traveler65 in reply to Annaelizabeth]

@Annaelizabeth to avoid the calcium not going into your arteries and making sure it goes to your bones eat K2-NK7 foods and/or take 100 mcg of MK7 a day 10 hours separate from any bloodthinnner youtake. Foods high in MK7 are Brie cheese, most hard cheese especially gouda; lacto fermented vegetables such as kim chi; and natto has all the MK's of K2. To see which foods have these things and in what amounts look at a web site called foodscience.com and thescienceofeating .com

[Annaelizabeth in reply to traveler65]

Thank you traveller65 for your input.

[BobD Volunteer]

I had hormone treatment for three years after prostate cancer (Zoladex implants) which made me 90% female (no boobs thank goodness) which had no effect on AF. Slightly different no doubt but vaguely relevant.

[Annaelizabeth in reply to BobD]

Thank you, all grist to the mill and am sure very relevant, as are you dear Bob, boobs or no boobs!

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Annaelizabeth]

Lost all my body hair but the moustache stayed. lol

[PeterWh in reply to BobD]

Bob. They would be called "Moobs"!!

[Finvola]

There is no research into the possible relationship between HRT and AF that I have been able to find either. I have been using HRT for a very, very long time and my GP is not concerned by my continuing it - I use transdermal patches in the lowest dose possible and have PAF/SVT controlled by Flecainide and Bisoprolol.

I think the decision must take into account the severity of the need for HRT in the first place and the effects of that need on health and wellbeing generally as well as the usual considerations of risks, medical history etc, etc.

As there are bound to be many younger women with AF taking the contraceptive pill, the influences and effects of the hormone load on AF should have surfaced somewhere by now.

[Annaelizabeth in reply to Finvola]

Thank you very much for your post, it will help hugely in making my decision, all of which is based on helping prevent osteoporosis which had the most dire effect on my mother.

[Jay10]

I am on a low dose patch of oestrogen now and have been on HRT for the past 30 years due to a hysterectomy in my 30s. I found that when my doctor thought it best I come off it some 15 years ago my PAF got more troublesome. So I took the decision to stay on a low dose and had an ablation 8 years ago. No real problems since so I am a very happy bunny 😀😀.

[Annekw]

Hi ,been on low dose HRT for many years,my pharmacy and Doctors see no need to stop because of AF! Good luck!

[CTG99]

Hi Annaelizabeth,

I'm 8 weeks into HRT patches (oestrogen only) following a total hysterectomy. No ill effects so far, in fact I'm sure I've read somewhere that keeping the oestrogen levels up actually helps keep AF at bay, but I can't remember where and I can't find it again! My gynaecologist doesn't know of any link between HRT and AF and having seen me post-op he certainly knows about my AF now! He's happy for me to stay on HRT until I'm at least 51 (currently 45) and if menopausal symptoms appear, I can stay on it.

The one thing he is slightly concerned about is that I'm not on anti-coags. I don't know whether this is just from his GP days or whether there is a slightly increased risk of stroke from the HRT. My husband, who was in the consultation to pick up what I might later forget, says it was the latter. I had to promise him that I would speak to my AF nurse. I have done and am waiting to hear back from the EP but the nurse wasn't aware of any link or concerns about HRT.

Caroline

[CTG99 in reply to CTG99]

Just found this on the NHS site:

Blood clots

Blood clots can be serious if they become lodged in a blood vessel and block the flow of blood.

NICE says:

* taking HRT tablets can increase your risk of blood clots

* there's no increased risk of blood clots from HRT patches or gels

* It's thought the risk of developing a blood clot is about two to four times higher than normal for women taking HRT tablets. But as the risk of menopausal women developing blood clots is normally very low, the overall risk from HRT tablets is still small.

* It's estimated that for every 1,000 women taking HRT tablets for 7.5 years, less than two will develop a blood clot.

Heart disease and strokes

NICE says:

* HRT doesn't significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (including heart disease and strokes) when started before 60 years of age

* oestrogen-only HRT is associated with no, or reduced, risk of heart disease

* combined HRT is associated with little or no increase in the risk of heart disease

* taking oestrogen tablets is associated with a small increase in the risk of stroke, although the normal risk of women under 60 having a stroke is very low, so the overall risk is small

Caroline

[Annaelizabeth]

Well there we have it, thank you Caroline so much for finding this, really helpful reading. This is such a brilliant site, thank you all for helping me in making the what I am now certain, is the right decision for me.

Anna

[Hidden]

Good question Annaelizabeth. In 1986 I had a Hysterectomy, I was 39, a few months later I experienced the first of many heart palpitations, which lasted for 3 hours. When it happened again a few weeks later I went to see my GP who said it was time for me to go onto HRT, he said the palpitations were caused by the change of hormone after having the hysterectomy. I was on them for 15 years and for the first 8 years I was palpitation free, but then they came back , and after having two ECG's and a consultation with a heart specialist who told me my heart was fine and it was something to do with electrical impulses, I was left to live with them until they got worse last year and I was diagnosed with AF. I don't know if HRT has an effect on AF, as it's such an unpredictable condition as we all know, but that's my story.

[Annaelizabeth in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for taking the time to post your story. Who knows whether it affected you AFwise or not, as you say so unpredictable. I hope you doing as well as you can now.

[PatWalsh010]

Annaelizabeth- I'm 62 and still on HRT - Mirena coil and Estrogel. I have been using some form of HRT since my 40's and can honestly say it actually calmed my heart. Since being a teenager palpitations were always part of my PMT. As regular as clockwork they would come, quite strong and aggressive too and I knew my period would be along any day soon. My AF came proper in 2009 but I hardly notice my heart beating. So I think HRT has had a calming effect. I have wondered sometimes but no doctor or specialist has ever said stop using it.....thankfully! When you get the right combo it is wonderful. Good luck with it😀😘

[Annaelizabeth in reply to PatWalsh010]

Thank you, the general consensus is that if anything it helps!

[traveler65]

@Annaelizabeth Hi Do NOt use hrt. Please use bhrt. Hrt is sythetic hormone. BHRT is bioidentical. Find a good specialist where you live, you knows about bio identical hormone replacement therapy and who does not think women do not need testosterone. t

Icurrently use estradiol, estriol, progesterone, bhrt and testosterone cypionate(genetically engineered) subcutaneous injection weekly. 8 mg the other hormones are cream applied twice a day.

To monitor result, besides symptoms, I take an anuual blood test of hormones and also a urine test for metabolites of hormones.

. This is a urine test since it is the end products of hormone metabolism. The less extensive test is comparing the ratio of the endproducts: 2 hydroxy-estrone: 16 alpha-hydroxy-estroone. this ratio should be about 2:1 If the 16 alpha is too high you do not have cancer now but are going toward it because this is too high. So you take 2 T. of ground flax seeds every day over cereal or yogurt or in a protein shake because it shifts the ratio to 2:1. You can do this preventatively anyway. if the 2 hydroxy estrone is way too high you are heading for osteoporosis, and muscle and joint pain. It is not only the hot flashes you are avoiding. The bio identical hormones keep you healthy____

In bothmen and women the greatest number of testosterone receptors are first in the Heart, 2nd the Brain, 3rd the Bones , then the muscles--libido is tthe last concern. Testosterone also keeps estrogen from being too high. The estradiol is required for your heart , your bones, your skin, your hair and many other things. the progesterone airate the lungs and boosts T3 free thyroid hormone. Since the Testosterone loweres T3 , testosterone and T3 and progesterone have to be in balance with each other.Taking these hormones will prolong your HEALTHY longevity. Synthetic hormones will lower your life span and make much of it spent in grave illness.

I am 70, have hypertension, hypothryoidism, and afib. I currently take all the above hormones, plus very small amounts of afib and hypertension meds.; and a natural thyroid hormone called WP Thyroid which is made by the company naturthroid.

My bp is 110/70; my sinus rhythm is normal and everything is very good. Also mu skin and hair and nails look like that of a much younger woman; my dexa scan shows great bone density such as 4 standard deviations greater than a normal healthy 30 year old. I have no areas of bone deterioration on the scan. The gp discussing hormones with you probably does not know about these things. Look at the following website to get a description about BHRT hormonerestoration.com