st turned 50, and you're juggling a full-time job, shuttling the kids to school and sporting events, and looking in on aging parents. You've been noticing some small, nagging physical and emotional changes that you think could signal the start of menopause, but you're not sure. Plus, you barely have five minutes a day to concentrate on your health needs. All this may be because you are turning to menopause.
As you get closer to stopping your period, your body may undergo some obvious changes. That's why it's often called the "change of life." The time leading up to menopause is called perimenopause.
Hormone levels begin to change during menopause. This can cause a variety of symptoms and the degree varies from woman to woman. Usual signs include
Changes in your period - heavier flow or an irregular cycle. You may have more "spotting" between cycles. If the spotting continues after you are in menopause, you should contact your physician.
Hot flashes - warmth and/or sweating in the upper body - face, chest and neck. May also include night sweats, which can make you tired or stressed.
Vaginal changes - the lining the vagina becomes thin during this time, causing sex to be painful and you may also have more vaginal infections. These changes can result in lack of interest in sex and/or sexual response.
Bone loss - some women develop osteoporosis or bone thinning.
Mood swings and lack of concentration - you may notice that you're more irritable or depressed; however, menopause does not cause clinical depression.
Weight gain or body fat around the abdomen
Thinning hair or hair loss
Urinary problems - some women have discomfort when urinating, or experience leakage when sneezing, coughing or laughing.
You may be nearing the menopause, and you are wondering how to protect your heart, bones, and memory in the long term. There are a c
Fact is, the most popular treatment for the menopause has been HRT. However, several major international studies have now been aborted due to the increased risk for participants of serious medical conditions such as heart disease, stroke, thrombosis, breast and ovarian cancer, and the like. Many women are understandably looking for an alternative. It is possible to overcome the symptoms of the menopause without resorting to HRT, which is a good news.
Just take into account that menopausal symptoms are not always related to with falling levels of estrogen. Just make sure that you start including a healthy diet rich in phytoestrogens, the use of scientifically based supplements, daily relaxation, and regular exercise in your routine.
The best sources of natural oestrogens are soya products and you need to eat at least 100mg of phytopestrogens a day to help alleviate symptoms. Back this up with multi-vitamins so that you get better results.
You need to learn to relax, more than ever. Exercise helps in alleviating depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Any activity that puts weight through your bones such as jogging or brisk walking are the best options. They help stimulate the regeneration of bone tissue and reduce calcium loss helping to protect against osteoporosis.
The fact that these options are there for you is extremely good news. Menopause is a sometimes an unpleasant fact of life. It is a period of aging that has its ups and downs, and millions of women have no choice but to endure it. This is when your sense of humor comes in handy because you can lower your stress level by looking at the situation as a mere stage in every woman's life. There is no substitute for learning to meet your body's needs especially at the time of the menopause. After all, prevention is better than cure.
Mike is a post graduate and is associated with medical transcription, medical billing services and development of MDCare EMR for more than 10 years.
