Posts Tagged ‘hot flashes’
Reviewing The Challenges Faced By Menopausal Women
Menopausal women often feel like they’re going through the toughest time of their life. The hormonal changes can wreak havoc with her body and emotions, and life seems like a never ending cycle of hot flashes, fatigue and mood swings. In this article, we’ve got some great advice to get you through this stressful time.
Menopause is a natural occurrence in women as they age and is not a physical disorder. Menopause is the absence of menstrual periods for 12 months and beyond, and most women begin menopause in their late forties or early fifties. Some women experience difficulty during this time because of the changes in hormone levels. While some women have few or no symptoms, others have many moderate or severe symptoms. The clearest sign of the start of menopause is irregular periods, and when blood flow becomes lighter or heavier.
Women going through the change of life can experience a variety of symptoms or no symptoms at all. To predict what your experience may be like, look at the history of the women in your family. Medical evidence shows that genetics may be a factor in how mild or severe your symptoms are. The symptoms can include weight gain, hot flashes, insomnia, night sweats, vaginal dryness, joint pain, fatigue, short-term memory problems, bowel upset, dry eyes, itchy skin, mood swings and urinary tract infections. Most of the time, these symptoms will lessen or go away after a woman has finished menopause. Research has shown that the severity of symptoms can be related to many things, including genetics, diet and lifestyle.
Menopausal women don’t have to suffer in silence. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, then talk to your doctor about treatment options. There is also a lot of social support available to women now. Learn about menopause through books, articles and other reading materials, talk to friends and relatives who have already gone through menopause, or join a menopause or midlife support-group in your area. To combat the symptoms and boost your mood, enjoy a nutritious diet and regular exercise. It really does make a difference in your quality of life.
No matter how busy their lives are, menopausal women must invest some time in themselves. Lifestyle changes can greatly improve your overall sense of wellbeing. Instead of loading up on junk food, opt for more nutritious snacks. Also, if you don’t already exercise regularly, then introduce some more physical activity into your routine. Join a swim club, grab your spouse for a daily walk or take up rollerblading with your teen. The endorphins released during exercise are a natural antidepressant, so you’ll feel better immediately. You’ll find that not only will your discomfort wane, but you’ll enjoy life a lot more.
What Are Common Menopausal Symptoms?
Menopause can be a dreaded time of life for women. Menopausal symptoms affect about 70% of women approaching this change in life. Typical menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes or night sweats, are caused by changing hormonal levels in the female reproductive system and can be physically, mentally and psychologically challenging. In this article, we’ve got some great advice for menopausal women to help them get through this tough time.
There are a variety of menopause symptoms and women can experience any of them in varying degrees. Some women are lucky enough to experience no symptoms of all. About 75 to 85% of American women get hot flashes during the change, which are a sudden, transient sensation of warmth or heat that spreads over the body creating a hot flush, which is noticeable on the face and upper body and is the body’s reaction to a decreased supply of the hormone estrogen. Night sweats are the evening cousin of hot flashes, but typically are more intense.
Menstrual irregularity is common in the mid-forties as women approach menopause. A lack of hormonal balance or a decrease in estrogen production is the main cause of it. During this time, women may also experience low libido and vaginal dryness. When your estrogen levels drop, your vaginal tissues start drying and become less elastic. Sex becomes uncomfortable, you may be more prone to infections, your vagina is frequently itchy and easily irritated, and on the emotional side, you may feel older.
Fatigue is one of the most common menopausal symptoms, which is defined as an ongoing and persistent feeling of weakness, tiredness and a lowered energy level. Chronic fatigue can have a drastic impact on a woman’s quality of life. She may find herself withdrawing from relationships and experience reduced work productivity. Fatigue goes hand in hand with menopause sleep disorders. When you begin going through the change, you may suffer from insomnia or find that your sleep is less restful.
Weight gain, specifically a thickening around your middle, is another sign of changing hormones. While a number of doctors claim that menopause has nothing to do with weight gain, it occurs in menopausal women because they’re older and their metabolism is slowing down. Some studies indicate that hormone levels are tied to weight gain and redistribution of fat. Changes in diet and exercise can help rev up your body’s metabolic rate. Women who are generally healthy are apt to have fewer menopausal symptoms than women suffering from poor nutrition and lack of physical exercise. Regardless of your symptoms, a healthy lifestyle is always a good choice and will inevitably make living with the change easier.
You Should Take Note Of These Health Experts Menopause Tips
During menopause, a woman can experience a myriad of symptoms like depression, anxiety, insomnia, dizziness, hot flashes and weight gain. Since health experts have not been able come up with a “magic pill” to erase these symptoms, women have to take an active role in managing the discomfort of menopause. This may mean making significant changes in the way you live. In this article, we’ll show you some simple ways to make changes that will improve your quality of life while your body adjusts to the changes associated with menopause.
Hot flashes are related to the low levels of estrogen in your body, but studies show that medication may not always be effective. There are some products that are recommended to help minimize the onset of hot flashes and night sweats. Alcohol, caffeine, diet pills, spicy or hot food, and overly warm environments all can trigger hot flashes. Studies have shown that changes in diet and relaxation therapy can have a significant impact. Try breathing exercises and yoga and meditation. If your symptoms persist, speak to your doctor about antidepressants, mild sedatives and estrogen therapy.
Lack of sleep is a common short-term problem associated with menopause. Sleep loss can cause lack of concentration, memory loss, irritability, fatigue, and joint and muscle pain. Experts suggest that women experiencing these symptoms should try to maintain a regular schedule, abstain from caffeine and alcohol, stop smoking and exercise. You should also examine your sleeping environment to make sure that is as comfortable as possible. Make sure that it is quiet, dark and free of all distractions. Consider wearing earplugs and a sleep mask. Wearing cotton nightclothes and using cotton sheets will help to keep you cool and comfortable.
A balanced diet is very important during and following menopause. Eat fruits, vegetables and whole grain cereal products, especially those high in vitamin C and carotene. These include oranges, grapefruit, carrots, winter squash, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower and green leafy vegetables. These foods are good sources of vitamins and minerals and the major sources of dietary fiber. Fiber helps maintain bowel mobility and may reduce the risk of colon cancer. For women who can’t eat an adequate diet, health experts recommend supplements that are high in vitamins and minerals, especially calcium. However, you should seek the advice of a dietician before you begin taking these supplements. Vitamins A and D in large doses can be particularly dangerous.
In addition to eating a healthy diet, there are certain products that you should avoid or consume in moderation during menopause. Most health experts find that caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods can trigger menopause symptoms. Since many menopausal women are concerned about weight gain, it is also important to get regular exercise. Strength-training exercises may offer special help in maintaining muscle mass and controlling weight. By working with your doctor, you may even find yourself in better health than you were in prior to menopause.