Int'l norms developed for 'handgrip strength'

These set norms can be used to track healthy aging by monitoring how handgrip strength changes over time

Hormone replacement therapy helps relieve postmenopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats by replacing hormones that a woman's body is not producing enough.

Researchers, including those from Uppsala University, Sweden, said that certain tablets containing both oestrogen and progestogen are associated with a higher risk of heart disease and rare, but serious blood clots, known as venous thromboembolism. However, tibolone - another hormone therapy - was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular conditions, including heart attack and stroke, but not blood clots. These drugs are available in India. The findings, published in The British Medical Journal, highlighted "the diverse effects of different hormone combinations and administration methods on the risk of cardiovascular disease".

The researchers said that while previous studies have looked at 138 previously published studies, involving nearly 9.2 lakh women in Sweden aged 50-58 years between 2007 and 2020, and had not used hormone therapy in the previous two years.