 |
|
page 7 | page 8 | page 9 | page 10 | page 11 | page 12 page 13 | page 14 | page 15 | page 16 page 17 | page 18 | page 19 | page 20 references | nursing assessment | patient handout table of contents | test Long-Term HRT BenefitsBecause short-term HRT is useful for treating menopausal symptoms, most women have their initial experience with HRT at this time. But the potential for benefit with HRT goes beyond symptom relief, particularly for a number of conditions that have long-term health implications. These conditions include osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease (CVD), Alzheimer's disease, and cancer. Preventive efforts, which might include HRT, can forestall some of these diseases and can preserve quality of life. Women should be counseled about the benefits of continuing treatment so they can make an informed decision about whether to reap or forgo the other benefits of HRT.Because short-term and long-term therapy have different rationales, counseling for each may occur separately, although ideally they should be discussed together. In any event, it is important to begin a discussion of long-term benefits by the time a woman is taking HRT for symptom relief. That is also an appropriate time to start assessing a woman's risk for CVD and osteoporosis. Monographs 2 and 3 will cover these topics in depth.
|
|
previous: Psychological Function next: Nursing Management of HRT |
© 2000 American Nurses Association