Risk vs Benefit

There are all sorts of situations where advice is given out on the basis of whatever agenda the person giving the advice is following. I’ll use the example of HRT – Hormone Replacement Therapy – offered to women to relieve symptoms around the menopause years.

The overall opinion is that ‘most women’ enjoy a ‘better quality of life’ – and numerous health benefits are suggested. Conversely some possibility of increased susceptibility to other diseases is suggested but for the pro-HRT’ers these are played down. The overriding advice to women is to use HRT for a smoother transition through your 50’s.

Some contraindications are offered – it would be unwise not to offer these. Again, these are covered with broad ranging statements.

But for you, as an individual, are these broad statements – averages, general overviews applying to the average person – statistics, if you will – are they enough for you? Do you actually owe it to yourself to take your personal state into deeper account?

In every case there is a personal risk vs benefit consideration to be made – and that consideration is your responsibility. You are not average and your health is not a game of roulette.