Getting to Know the New You (Again)
Menopause & You
 Over our lifetimes, we women experience many changes in our bodies. From the curves we developed as teens, to the weight gain many middle age women battle, to the inevitability of menopause, we are always changing and adjusting ourselves.
Menopause is one of those natural, inevitable changes. While not all of us experience the same degree of these physiological changes - discomfort, hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, mood swings, sleep disturbances, memory lapses, weight gain, etc. - most of us have endured some of these symptoms.
For women dealing with work, family, and finances, coping with all their bodily changes can be overwhelming. Because the hormones central to menopause are also associated with moods, it is not uncommon to go through periods of sadness and sometimes feel depressed. However, only 8% to 15% of women actually are diagnosed as clinically depressed. The preconception that menopause is ‘the beginning of the end’ is simply not true. The fact is, over a third of a woman’s life occurs after menopause. And since 4,000 women begin menopause every day, you are certainly not alone.
Although science has not discovered a Magic Menopause Pill, research is continuously
being conducted. In the last several decades Hormone Replacement Therapy was
widely popular, but it became evident that the use of synthetic hormones carried risks. Anti-depressant medications help some women cope with mood disturbances and hot flashes, while vitamin supplements such as calcium and vitamin D are aids to controlling weight gain and bone loss.
Another factor that affects the length and severity of menopause is genetics. Have you asked your mother how she coped, or what worked for her? There’s no need to suffer silently in the closet anymore, because we live in a different day and age and now have access to a plethora of helpful information to keep our minds and bodies healthy.
While menopause may cause some discomfort, in exchange we get to live longer, and enjoy whole new freedoms that come with aging. Allow yourself to adjust instead of fighting the changes, and you will find that life can be every bit as rewarding as you make it, offering even brighter futures brimming with more choices. After all, we live in an age when the new 50s are the old 40s, and a woman at 60 years of age can run for the Presidency of the United States. The new you can be BETTER than ever…Again!!SPW
Lifestyle Tips to
Reduce Menopause Symptoms
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Diet: Boost your intake of fruits and vegetables in order to increase potassium and balance sodium. Add soy products which contain phytoestrogens that may reduce menopausal symptoms.
Exercise: Maintaining a consistent exercise program is crucial. Swimming, walking, yoga and dance are all beneficial.
Rest: Try natural sleep aids such as chamomile tea, warm milk, soothing music or ask your doctor if a non-addictive sleep aid may help.
Educate yourself: The following resources provide useful information:
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Another Alternative
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Bio-identical hormones offer relief for some women. According to Dr. Lee B. Elber, “Many women think bio-identical hormones are no different from the controversial synthetic hormones. In fact, bio-identical hormones seek to match the hormones a woman has had all her life. They are used to bring a woman’s hormones back into their natural balance. While they do not stop the aging process – nothing does – they can help many women to live better.”
Dr. Elber recommends two easy-to-understand books:
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause: The Breakthrough Book on Natural Hormone Balance
by John R. Lee and Virginia Hopkins
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause: Balance Your Hormones and Your Life from Thirty to Fifty
by John R. Lee, Jesse Hanley, and Virginia Hopkins |
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