ERIKA SCHWARTZ, M.D.
YOUR MEDICAL QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Weight Gain Worries: Prostate Meds at Fault?
I’ve gained a lot of weight since I started taking megestrol after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. My doctor put me on it after having radiation treatment. I’ve gained 25 pounds since using this drug. Can I discontinue it? My PSA is low. — Ralph R., Carlsbad, Calif.
Usually, PSA levels are high with megestrol therapy. It is given to men receiving treatment for prostate cancer to control hot fl ashes. You should talk to your doctor about the possibility of stopping the medication, depending upon the status of the prostate cancer.
My “bad” LDL cholesterol is quite high and I can’t seem to lower it with a vegetarian diet. Is a statin my only alternative?
— Christopher L., Nantucket, Mass.
Statins are drugs made from red yeast rice. Before you go on a statin, try a red yeast rice supplement, taking 60o milligrams twice per day. Then check your LDL again in two months. Also, increase the amount of fi sh
oils you take and consider other supplements — such as green tea extract and milk thistle — to help clear your liver of toxins and make it more effi cient in cleaning up the bad cholesterol. In addition, increase the amount of exercise you get, which will help
you bring up the levels of the “good” HDL cholesterol to balance the bad.
I know that red wine is good for the heart, but I don’t drink. Can I get the same benefits from grape juice? — Charles W., Wichita, Kan.
The benefi ts to your heart from red wine will likely be outweighed by the toxicity to the liver caused by drinking it, so you are safest without it. Grape juice doesn’t contain any
more resveratrol — the ingredient that may be helpful to the heart — than red wine. Enjoy grape juice if you like, but you can also take resveratrol as a supplement (400 milligrams per day). To keep your heart healthy, also
make sure you exercise regularly, sleep eight hours each night, eat organic foods and vegetables, and limit meat.
I am a 72-year-old man, and I suff er from emphysema. I’m very weak, with little energy or sex drive. Should I be tested for low testosterone? — Sidney A., Chicago, Ill.
By all means, have your total and free testosterone tested. But also make sure you do breathing exercises, undergo respiratory therapy to improve your lung function, drink lots of water, and focus on natural foods to help improve your general condition.
ERIKA SCHWARTZ, M.D., is the leading national expert in wellness, disease prevention, and bioidentical hormone therapies. Dr. Schwartz (
drerika@eshealth.com) has written four bestselling books, testified before Congress, hosted her own PBS special on bioidentical hormones and is the author of the bestseller, Don’t Let Your Doctor Kill You.
Then, as you start feeling better,
try to increase your physical activity. The more you move, the better your lungs will be, and having more energy will help improve both your health and quality of life. You should also have your blood
tested for DHT, a metabolite of testosterone that causes hair loss. If your levels are high, your doctor can give you a medication to block the production of DHT, which may slow the hair-loss process. Also, if you’re taking testosterone supplementation, make sure you take it in injectable form because it’s less likely to cause hair loss.
I’m exhausted! I can’t sleep well because I have to use the bathroom every couple of hours. I am 75. What can I do?
— Mabel R., Phoenix, Ariz.
Try taking a low dose of bioidentical estradiol and progesterone to help you sleep. Magnesium can also help you relax and get to sleep. In addition, you should stop drinking fl uids fi ve hours before bedtime to diminish bathroom visits. Have your doctor make sure your thyroid is functioning well. Low thyroid is another cause of sleep disturbance. Low doses of medications like Xanax or Valium may help you get back to sleep in the middle of the night, if you can aff ord to sleep uninterrupted for at least four hours after you take the meds. In addition, make sure you eat lots
of protein and fi ber and avoid sugars. Finally, exercise. The more you
move, the more good hormones you produce, bettering your sleep.
Note: All information presented in “Medical Help” is for informational purposes only. It is not specific medical advice for any individual. You should take no action solely on the basis of this publication’s contents. Readers are advised to consult a health professional about any issue regarding their health and well-being.
Questions for Dr. Schwartz? Email
askschwartz@newsmax.com and write “Ask Dr. Schwartz” in the subject line.
96 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | FEBRUARY 2024
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