What's Behind the Staggering Rise in Suicide among Middle-aged American Women?

The New York Times reported on February 19, 2008, that suicide is on the increase among middle-aged Americans - up nearly 20 per cent from 1999 to 2004. The rate is even higher for women. For those aged 45 to 55, the rate leapt 31 per cent.

New York, NY (PRWEB) February 22, 2008 -- The popularity of prescription drugs and a sudden drop in the use of hormone replacement therapy are behind the staggering increase in suicide among middle-aged American women, according to the latest blog from Erika Schwartz, M.D. at www.DrErika.com.

She urges physicians to be more proactive in education and leadership in dealing with this crisis.

The New York Times reported on February 19, 2008, that suicide is on the increase among middle-aged Americans - up nearly 20 per cent from 1999 to 2004. The rate is even higher for women. For those aged 45 to 55, the rate leapt 31 per cent.

The Times described it as "a surprising and baffling public health mystery," but DrErika writes there are two clear and unmistakably explanations for this disturbing trend.

First: The huge increase in the use and abuse of prescription drugs - from anti-depressants, pain killers to Ambien to Viagra.

She writes: "We are bombarded with TV commercials extolling their dubious benefits, urging us to ask our doctors for prescriptions and leaving us with the impression that these powerful medications will solve all our problems. They won't. In fact, they create new problems which require additional medications, depressed and foggy thinking and diminishing quality of life."

Second, she says, is the sudden drop in the use of hormone replacement therapy in the wake of the Women's Health Initiative in 2002.

"The threat of heart attack, stroke and cancer scared many women and their doctors away from products like Wyeth's Premarin and Prempro. Rightful choice.

"But did anyone look at the effects sudden drop of hormones causes in women in mid-life?" asks DrErika

"The Government and big pharma abandoned these women - never explaining that hormones are crucial to their health and wellbeing - and never helping them seek out safe and effective alternatives to supplement and replace the hormones their bodies made naturally when they were younger.

"Instead women suffering symptoms of menopause are presented with brutal options: Keep taking the synthetic products which have been shown to cause deadly side-effects, go on anti-depressants - or go cold turkey. What happened to bioidentical hormones, conventional methods used all over Europe for decades with high degree of success and safety? They are being vilified and victimized by the politics of money.

"And we are surprised and baffled by this tragic outcome?"

DrErika warns we don't need another five years of research to figure out what is really going on. We need the truth and doctors must take their role as helpers and healers seriously and honestly!

Thousands of women are discovering a new website - www.DrErika.com - which helps women become strong, smart and healthy through education, empowerment and kindness.

Its founder, Erika Schwartz, M.D. says the site is dedicated to providing an honest view on health care topics and issues from a position of devoted patient advocacy.

Dr. Schwartz is an internationally-recognized patient advocate, practicing physician, expert in conventional and integrative medicine and a frequent guest on TV and radio. She has written four books, and lectures on health and wellness issues.

DrErika.com delivers straight talk, smart solutions - and has no hidden agenda. It is packed with vital information, smart advice and page-after-page of valuable resources from Dr Erika and her lively, worldwide community of contributors. It doesn't tailor its stories to suit it sponsors - it has no sponsors.

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