Latest news with #symptoms
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The Silent Symptom That Could Be a Sign of Blood Clots
The Silent Symptom That Could Be a Sign of Blood Clots originally appeared on Parade. Your blood's ability to clot after a cut or injury is an important defense mechanism to keep you from bleeding too much. But blood clots can cause serious health issues like strokes and heart attacks when they happen outside of that. About 900,000 people in the U.S. develop a blood clot each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An estimated 60,000 to 100,000 Americans die from blood clot complications annually, making this an important health issue to be aware of. 'Awareness of blood clot symptoms is critically important because early recognition can be life-saving,' says, a pulmonologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. 'Recognizing symptoms early allows for prompt medical treatment.' That can help lower the risk of permanent damage to organs or tissues, he points the problem: Not all symptoms of blood clots are obvious, and one in particular can be easily mistaken for other, much less severe health issues. Here's what doctors want you to keep in mind about this symptom, why it can be confused with other things and when to take action. 🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊 How Do Serious Blood Clots Happen? Before we go over the symptom, it's important to first go over how blood clots can become serious. Blood clots that happen spontaneously usually start in the legs, explains , a vascular surgeon at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. 'They aren't life-threatening in themselves, but they occasionally dislodge and go to the lungs,' he says. This is called a pulmonary embolism. Related: With a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot gets stuck in an artery in the lung and blocks blood flow to part of the lung, Dr. Yi explains. There, it can cause permanent damage to the lungs, low oxygen levels in your blood, and damage to other organs in your body (from not getting enough oxygen), he says, adding, 'This can be life-threatening." The Silent Sign of Blood Clots To Know About, According to a Vascular Surgeon Back to that silent symptom: Shortness of breath is common with pulmonary embolisms. 'Shortness of breath is a hallmark symptom of pulmonary embolism because of how the condition affects the lungs and oxygen delivery,' Dr. Parson says. 'The blocked artery prevents blood from reaching parts of the lung, so oxygen can't be absorbed into the bloodstream efficiently, resulting in shortness of breath.' This blockage usually comes on suddenly, so the body doesn't have time to compensate for the lower-than-usual oxygen, he explains. That can lead to sudden and intense shortness of breath. Related: When Shortness of Breath Is a Sign of a Blood Clot Shortness of breath can also be a sign of a slew of other things, including being out of shape, having asthma or just having a cold, making this a tricky thing to pin on a blood clot. But doctors say there are a few key differences between 'regular' shortness of breath and feeling breathless due to a blood clot.'Standard shortness of breath usually comes with exercise or activity,' Dr. Yi says. 'With a blood clot, there is a sudden onset of shortness of breath where you feel like you can't catch your breath.' You may also start breathing faster than usual, he explains. Along with coming on hard and fast, shortness of breath from a blood clot tends to get worse with exertion or taking deep breaths, according to Dr. Other Signs of a Blood Clot and What To Do While sudden shortness of breath alone should raise concerns about a possible pulmonary embolism, there are other blood clot symptoms doctors warn should be on your radar: Fast breathing Chest pain (it usually gets worse when you cough or take a deep breath) A faster-than-usual heart rate Coughing, including coughing up blood Very low blood pressure Feeling lightheaded Fainting It can be tempting to write these signs off if you have one or two that can be explained away as something more minor. But doctors stress the importance of taking these seriously if you or someone around you has them. 'If someone experiences these symptoms, immediate medical attention is critical,' Dr. Parsons says. Up Next:Sources: How Does Blood Clot? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Data and Statistics on Venous Thromboembolism, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Christopher Yi, MD, a vascular surgeon at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA Pulmonary Embolism. US National Library of Medicine Dr. Jonathan Parsons, MD, a pulmonologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center The Silent Symptom That Could Be a Sign of Blood Clots first appeared on Parade on Jul 27, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
‘One tiny scratch from rabid puppy killed mum'
The daughter of a British woman who died of rabies after she was scratched by a puppy on holiday in Morocco has revealed the 'horrendous' symptoms she suffered. Yvonne Ford went months without realising she had been infected by a puppy that was underneath her sunbed in February, said her daughter Robyn Thomson, 32. Ms Ford, 59, from Barnsley, started suffering from a 'horrendous' headache and was admitted to hospital four months later. Within days, she could not walk, talk, sleep or swallow. She started hallucinating and developed a fear of water, classic symptoms of rabies. The grandmother of four was transferred from Barnsley to Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield where she was eventually diagnosed with rabies. She died on June 11. Her daughter, a neonatal nurse, said: 'There was no blood and no evidence of the dog being unwell. 'It was such a mild scratch and it never got infected so we just thought nothing of it at the time. Mum came home and everything was normal. We went to Florida as a family and she went fishing with my dad.' In June, the symptoms began and she 'came down with this horrendous headache'. She added: 'Soon, she couldn't sleep, she couldn't walk, she couldn't talk. She was hallucinating and had a fear of water. 'She couldn't swallow. She was choking on her own saliva. So doctors put her in an induced coma.' The UK Health Security Agency has warned that holidaymakers should exercise caution around animals in countries where the disease is present. Egypt, Turkey and Albania are among the destinations that the Government has ascribed as 'high risk'. It advises that all visitors to rabies-affected countries 'should avoid contact with dogs, cats and other animals wherever possible, and seek advice about the need for rabies vaccine prior to travel'. Costa Rica, Bali, Mexico, Vietnam and South Africa are also rated 'high risk'. It took a week for Ms Ford to be diagnosed. 'There's only one outcome for rabies once symptoms develop and it's death every time. So we had to turn off her life support,' said her daughter. Ms Ford's family later found out that it normally takes a few months for rabies symptoms to show – but the disease can incubate for up to two years. She added: 'Mum was the most loving person imaginable. She was a huge animal lover so for her to have died of rabies, it is just particularly horrendous.' Now, Ms Thomson wants to spread awareness and help stop it at the source via a charity mission in Cambodia. She is flying out to the south-east Asian country this October to volunteer with Mission Rabies – an award-winning charity that leads mass dog vaccination campaigns, rabies surveillance and vital community education across Asia and Africa. Their goal is to vaccinate at least 70 per cent of the dog population to achieve herd immunity and stop rabies at its source, while also educating children on how to recognise rabid animals and stay safe. To volunteer with Rabies Mission, Ms Thomson needs to raise money to cover the cost of travel, accommodation and project fees. She said: 'This is something I need to do. If I can save even one life through this work, or spare one family from going through the pain we have experienced, then it will be turning a terrible negative into something positive. 'I'm determined to transform my grief into action – helping vaccinate dogs, support surveillance efforts and deliver life-saving lessons in schools.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
People Are Reporting A Frightening COVID Symptom — Here's What To Know
A positive COVID-19 test result is not something that anyone wants to see — but now there may be an extra reason to avoid getting sick. COVID infections cause miserable symptoms such as fever, fatigue, congestion and more. Now, though, some people infected with COVID in China are reporting a very sore throat that's been nicknamed 'razor blade throat.' According to Google trends data, people throughout the U.S. are now, too, worried about this scary-sounding symptom and are searching for things like 'new covid variant painful symptom' and 'covid razor throat.' Just how worried do you need to be about a super-painful sore throat during a COVID infection? Below, doctors weigh in on the supposed 'razor blade' sore throat symptom: Some people with COVID are reporting a 'razor blade throat,' but you don't need to panic. It's nothing new. 'In the past, as new variants have come on the scene, there almost invariably have been questions about distinctive symptoms, and after a while, when you gather a lot of data, turns out not to be the case — all of these symptoms have occurred before,' said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine in the department of health policy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Meaning, the circulating COVID variants tend to produce the same sort of symptoms and disease as the ones from years ago, Schaffner added. 'Although the more recent variants, these omicron variants, are less severe,' he said. A very sore throat isn't specific to the circulating COVID variants, said Dr. Carrie Horn, the chief medical officer and chief of the division of hospital and internal medicine at National Jewish Health in Colorado. Instead, it's a symptom that has been associated with COVID infections for a while, Horn said. Schaffner had not heard of the 'razor blade' sore throat symptom particularly, but has heard of people having a severe sore throat with COVID infections. While some people can have a very sore throat that could be described as razor-like, it doesn't mean it's going to happen to everyone — and it also isn't some new, scary symptom that is associated with new COVID infections. There is not one outstanding COVID symptom that marks an infection, said Dr. Mark Burns, an infectious disease expert at UofL Health in Louisville, Kentucky. 'A sore throat is a symptom of this, but also fever and cough and fatigue, these are all symptoms as well,' Burns added. 'To sum it all up, the symptoms, including sore throat, are really no different. There's no increased intensity based on sore throat or anything like that,' added Burns. Here's how you can protect yourself from a COVID infection: COVID tends to surge twice a year — once in the winter and once in the mid-to-late summer, Schaffner said. 'And so there has been a longstanding recommendation by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices that people who are at increased risk of getting severe COVID should actually get two COVID vaccinations a year. Obviously, one in the fall to prevent the winter increase, but another right now in order to help prevent serious disease during the late summer and early fall,' Schaffner said. This goes for people 65 and older, younger people with underlying chronic medical conditions and pregnant people, he said. 'The recommendation is take special precautions and get that extra dose, because if we get infected ... we get that extra protection and to help keep us out of the hospital,' Schaffner said. Wearing a mask in indoor spaces, social distancing, washing your hands often and increasing ventilation when possible are more ways to protect yourself from COVID and other respiratory viruses, too, said Burns. If you do get sick, there are treatments available. If you have any COVID symptoms, such as sore throat, fatigue, cough or fever, take a test to see if you have COVID. If you are infected, get in touch with your doctor, particularly if you're high-risk as there are treatments available, said Schaffner. It's important that you talk to your primary care provider as the guidance will vary depending on your age, underlying conditions and other risk factors. COVID is a miserable infection, Horn added. 'Over-the-counter meds help — Ibuprofen alternating with Tylenol, if you're able to take those ... there's no reason to be miserable,' Horn said. 'So, take the medicine that you are able to take to help,' she said. It's also important to stay hydrated when you're sick even if you do have a painful sore throat. A sore throat can make hydration feel like more of a chore, but it's important to drink water and herbal teas as dehydration can further irritate the dry membranes in your throat, Horn said. 'If you are sick, it's best to keep your germs to yourself,' said Horn. This means canceling the dinner plans, not going to the party and calling out of work if you can — if you can't, wearing a tight-fitting mask is key, Horn added. 'Preventing transmission is the biggest thing that we can do to help keep everybody healthy,' Horn said. Related... A New COVID Variant Is Here, And It's More Transmissible — Here Are The Signs And Symptoms RFK Jr. Wants To Take COVID Shots Away From Pregnant People — But You Can Fight Back CDC Changes COVID Vaccine Recommendations — But Doesn't Go As Far As RFK Jr. Wanted
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
If Your Body Feels Like It's Falling Apart After 45, It's Not In Your Head—It's A Medical Syndrome
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Of the more than 47 million women in the world who begin the menopause transition each year, more than 70 percent of them will experience musculoskeletal symptoms—and 25 percent will be disabled by them. Those startling stats are based on research by Vonda Wright, MD, an orthopaedic sports surgeon and author of Unbreakable. And yet, many women that Dr. Wright sees in her practice are only aware of more-talked-about symptoms like night sweats, hot flashes, and brain fog. The musculoskeletal symptoms—which includes arthritis, tendonitis, and osteopenia, and are linked to the drop in estrogen that happens during menopause—seem to come as a surprise. '[Women] come into my office and, without prompting, they'll say, 'I don't know what's happening, but I feel like I'm falling apart because it's not just one body part, it's multiple body parts,'' Dr. Wright says. Many of these female patients also mention being dismissed by their PCPs and having their issues chalked up to aging. "We are getting older, but that is not the end of the explanation," Dr. Wright says. She hopes that her paper—and giving these symptoms a name—helps to solve this problem: 'If the woman goes into a doctor's office and says, 'my knee hurts, my back hurts. I'm gaining weight'—that is a lot to talk about in 15 minutes. But with the power of nomenclature, a midlife woman who educates herself can say, 'I'm 46, I know my estrogen is going down. I think I have the musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause.' And that is something that you can wrap a conversation around versus trying to solve each problem individually.' This approach of using a name to label and identify a health issue has had success in the past. In 2012, a team of experts put forth the term genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) to describe symptoms including genital dryness, pain during sex, and urinary urgency or recurrent urinary tract infections. Like with musculoskeletal symptoms, 'if you go in naming five or six things [related to the genital or urinary organs], it's overwhelming, but if you give a name to it, then we can research it, and then we can talk about it with a common language,' Dr. Wright says. Other experts in the field agree that publicizing a term like this and getting the information out to more women and providers is important: 'Coining this term 'musculoskeletal syndrome' gave patients validity that this is a real thing that happens in menopause,' says Paru David, MD, an internist in Women's Health Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic Arizona. Dr. David sees many patients exhibiting the symptoms of this syndrome. '[They] will tell me 'I became postmenopausal and, overnight, I felt like I became an old lady... everything hurts.'' The good news is that understanding why this happens—and how to fight back—can help you treat or prevent these symptoms altogether. What Musculoskeletal Syndrome Actually Is The symptoms related to this syndrome all have to do with the loss of estrogen that leads to inflammation in the body. 'Estrogen is a potent anti-inflammatory, so without estrogen, we're highly inflamed,' Dr. Wright says. Estrogen sits on the receptors on every tissue in the body, including the musculoskeletal system, which includes tendon, ligament, bone, the discs in your back, cartilage, fat, muscle, and stem cells. Less of the hormone can lead to excruciating pain and loss of motion without an injury or event. Dr. Wright has patients come in knowing something is wrong but insisting nothing happened, exactly, to trigger it. 'As I explore their age and that they're perimenopausal, I know that means their estrogen has declined,' she says. How the Loss of Estogen Impacts the Body Tendons and ligaments: 'The ligaments and tendons become more brittle and are more susceptible to injuries such as tennis elbow, Achilles tendonitis, [and] plantar fasciitis,' Dr. Wright says. This weakening of the tendons and ligaments can also lead to tendon tears while lifting weights or playing sports—even if you lifted the same amount of weight you'd done in the past or didn't make any new moves, Dr. David says. Muscle: 'Although it's critical at this time of life to make muscle, we make it less effectively,' Dr. Wright says. In a 2024 systematic review in Muscles, researchers noted that the decline in estrogen during menopause leads to reduced muscle strength in addition to mass, although hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can mitigate some of this in addition to resistance training, and certain dietary interventions. (More on those soon.) Bone: Bone is dependent on estrogen for a process known as remodeling. 'Bone is in a consistent state of building and breaking down; every 10 years, we get a whole new skeleton,' Dr. Wright says. 'When the cells that break down bone [are] not controlled, then we have more breakdown than we do building, and that's when we become osteopenic, which is moderate loss of bone density, or osteoporotic, which means weak bone, [which] puts us in much more danger of fracture.' Dr. Wright says her personal 'hill to die on' is the fact that bone health is a lifelong concern. 'Yet none of us pay attention to our bones unless we're looking in the mirror at our gorgeous cheekbones or our clavicles,' she says. 'But the reality is that without estrogen, we're going to lose 15 to 20 percent of our bone density in the five to seven years surrounding perimenopause and menopause. And if we have not laid down enough bone by the time we're 30, which is very common, then we get to perimenopause and we rapidly start losing bone to the tune of one in two women will develop an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime.' Joints: 'Before age 50, men have a much higher incidence of arthritis usually due to trauma,' Dr. Wright says. But after 50, women are the ones typically experiencing rapid progression of arthritis in the knee and hip, she adds. This is because cartilage—which helps with shock absorption—has estrogen receptors and without estrogen sitting in those receptors, the cartilage starts to break down. That leads to women over 50 dealing with joint pain in their hands, knees, and hips. Similarly, the gel-like cushions between the disks in your spine can break down and cause back pain, which impacts 50 percent of women, Dr. Wright says. Frozen shoulder—when the joint becomes stiff and starts to hurt for no apparent reason—is another condition she often sees in menopausal women. 'The other thing from an inflammatory standpoint that women experience, which I think is often mislabeled as fibromyalgia, is arthralgia, which is total-body pain due to inflammation,' Dr. Wright says. 'It's not one joint. It is your whole body [that] feels inflamed and painful.' How to Know If You Have Musculoskeletal Syndrome There's no quick and easy test for this syndrome. 'You can't really do an x-ray or imaging that confirms and says, 'this is definitely due to the loss of estrogen,'' says Dr. David. Instead you need to work with your provider to put together a full picture. If a woman is postmenopausal and not on hormones and says she cannot exercise the way she has in the past, or that she's dealing with more injuries or pain, and/or other symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, those would be clear indicators, Dr. David says. Both doctors say that women tend to underreport symptoms—don't be one of them. 'Sometimes patients will say, 'oh, it's just in my mind,' and they're doubting themselves, but then when they come in, I tell them, no, this is a real thing that's happening due to that loss of estrogen,' Dr. David says. 'Don't feel like you can't come to your provider or to a menopause specialist to discuss this, because women need to have these things addressed.' How to Reverse (Or Prevent!) Musculoskeletal Syndrome 'What I want women to do to treat the musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause is multifactorial,' Dr. Wright says. Here, all the ways to empower yourself to prevent—and fight—back. 1. Stay educated. 'Number one, you have to be educated,' Dr. Wright notes. For this reason, she and her team decided to pay whatever money was necessary so that the paper on the syndrome would not be placed behind a paywall. 'I encourage people to print the paper, read the paper, print another one, take it to your doctor, [and] give it to five girlfriends so that everybody knows,' she says. 'The more literate you are in midlife, the more powerful you can be to feel better.' 2. Talk to your provider about hormone therapy—asap. "I encourage all of my patients to go on hormone optimization with estradiol [and], if they have a uterus, with micronized progesterone,' Dr. Wright says, adding that sometimes she gives them low-dose testosterone as well. 'Women just want to feel like themselves and do what they've always done, and these three things, I have found in my own life and [in] the women that I serve, can go a long way [in combatting] the root cause of some of the reasons we don't in midlife,' Dr. Wright says. Dr. David's patients, too, tell her they feel much better—they're joints and muscles don't hurt as much, for example—once they're on hormone therapy. That said, hormone optimization is a decision every woman needs to make for herself and with her provider, the doctors agree. But, Dr. Wright says to make that decision sooner rather than later. 'I think we should be making it in the critical decade, which in my book is 35 to 45 when most of us still have our estrogen flowing,' she says. That way, when you start feeling perimenopause, and possibly overwhelmed, you already know what you're going to do and where you're going to get it. 3. Start lifting heavy if you're not already. 'I have a lot of patients that think that they have to go into a gym and do heavy lifting, and I tell them small weights can really help preserve your bone density and probably help with keeping your muscle mass,' Dr. David says. 'Make sure that you're not doing more than what your body can do,' she says. 'Especially if you've had a period of time where you haven't done physical activity, you can't necessarily jump in and begin where you left off. You might have to build back up to that level.' 4. Follow the 80-20 rule of exercise. 'We can stop burning ourselves out with high-intensity interval training every day and do the 80-20 method,' Dr. Wright says. That means that 80 percent of the time, you work at a lower heart rate with activities like brisk walking, cycling, or using the indoor rower. Then, twice a week, you push your heart rate as high as your doctor says is safe for you—but for short (perhaps 30 seconds) periods of time with longer (say, one to two minutes) periods of recovery. Master these six exercises in your 60s for longevity Working at those ends of the spectrum, in addition to heavy lifting, is the key to changing body composition and maintaining muscle. Dr. David adds that stretching regularly is also important to prevent joint injuries. 5. Consider working with a physical therapist. If you're experiencing some of these symptoms already, working with a physical therapist can be very beneficial, Dr. Wright says, because they can assess you, understand where you are, understand your limitations, and then prescribe exercises that you can build upon. Dr. David, too, says finding a physical therapist that's educated around menopause can be a wise move during this time of life: 'I do get worried that sometimes patients will say, 'I just need to work out with a personal trainer, and that will really help me,' and they may not understand where you're coming from,' Dr. David says. 'A physical therapist, especially one who understands musculoskeletal syndrome, can understand where these patients are coming from, what they are able to do without harming themselves further, and then build upon that.' 6. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet. 'I prescribe anti-inflammatory nutrition,' says Dr. Wright. The key components of this, she says, are to avoid added sugar and to focus on protein and specifically fiber-rich carbs (e.g., whole fruit instead of fruit juice). 'For bone health, make sure that you're getting enough calcium [and] that you're getting enough vitamin D to help absorb that calcium,' Dr. David adds. The aforementioned 2024 review also notes that omega-3 fatty acids can be effective in supporting muscle health across all life stages. If this list has you feeling overwhelmed, fear not, Dr. Wright says. Just start with one thing. Maybe start by taking two walks this week, then cut back on sugar next week, then layer on protein, and finally, weight lifting. 'You layer on one at a time [and] it simply becomes your lifestyle,' she says. 'It's not a diet. It is not a six-week exercise program. It's just how you live—and all of these things will help your musculoskeletal pain stay in check.' And while the sooner you start some of these lifestyle habits, the better, it's also never too late: 'There is never an age when your body will not respond to the positive stress, the strategic stress, in the form of all the things on this list," Dr. Wright says. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
CTV News
23-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
B.C. clinicians underscore gaps in menopause care and celebrate recent progress
Clinicians in Canada are calling for a ramping up of care received by patients with menopause. (Getty Images) As millions of Canadians experience menopause, clinicians in B.C. are flagging opportunities to improve the care patients receive. 'I don't think there are enough resources for not only this, but nothing at all,' said Dr. Ana Teresa Armas Enriquez, a physician in Nanaimo. Armas Enriquez owns Women's Vita Medical Clinic, where she prioritizes menopause care. It can take up to six months for someone experiencing symptoms to get in to see her. 'If you wait for a year, you're actually postmenopausal by the time you come see me,' she said. Menopause is when a patient goes 12 months without their period, typically around the age of 50. Some people start experiencing the hallmark symptoms in their mid-30s, during a transitional phase called perimenopause. While mood changes, sleep disturbances, hot flashes, joint paint, vaginal dryness, and dozens of other symptoms present a challenge, Armas Enriquez said medical intervention isn't always required. In the case of one of her patients who spoke with CTV News, it was. 'It really felt like in one day there was a very rapid, massive change,' said Pam Shaw, who started experiencing symptoms a decade ago. Shaw is one of roughly 10 million Canadians – a quarter of the population – over the age of 40 affected by perimenopause, menopause, or post-menopause, according to the Menopause Foundation of Canada. She had hot flashes and insomnia, often waking up 15 times a night. At her job as an instructor at Vancouver Island University, she experienced brain fog and had a hard time keeping up with her 'bright-eyed, bushy-tailed' students. 'In the past, the symptoms of menopause have been treated kind of like a joke – that it's something trivial, not that important, something that women have to endure,' Shaw said. 'I was very fortunate to find a doctor with advanced knowledge on menopausal (and) postmenopausal symptoms and (who) was able to very quickly get me onto a treatment program that worked.' 'Old, outdated information' For the past 10 years, Shaw said her symptoms have been at bay thanks to a low dose of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which replenishes hormones that decline with age. Kassidy Delcaro, a nurse at Women's Vita Medical Clinic, said some clinicians are reluctant to prescribe HRT. 'There is a lot of very old, outdated information about hormone replacement therapy,' said Delcaro, pointing to old studies that link HRT to a serious cancer risk. The Canadian Cancer Society says the risk is low, and using HRT is a personal decision to be made with a clinician. 'There's definitely safe ways of going about it,' said Delcaro, noting there are various risk assessments to consider before prescribing HRT. 'People who are appropriate providers of menopausal care do know those different guidelines.' Next March, the provincial government said it will start covering the cost of HRT for treating menopause symptoms. For care providers, it's a positive step as conversations about menopause become more common. 'Menopause is definitely having a moment,' said B.C. Women's Health Foundation CEO Cally Wesson. 'Not every woman will have a baby, but every woman will go through menopause.' New clinic a first for Western Canada Wesson, Delcaro, Shaw, and Armas Enriquez agree education about menopause symptoms and treatment options needs to expand. 'A lot of times, we hear stories of women going to their primary care physician and not getting the care that they need,' Wesson said. That's unlikely to happen at the Complex Menopause Clinic in Vancouver, which opened earlier this year. It's the first of its kind in Western Canada, offering specialized care to people with severe symptoms. 'It… could become a standard of care that then other health authorities would adapt,' said Wesson. 'The more we get the right information out, not only to the general community but also to physicians, the better.'
