When some women enter the MEN--O--PAUSE stage they tend to take a break (pause) from Men.  Not true with most of us!   Menopause signals a FREEdom from "my friend" visits, the constant worrying if we miss one month and the age of Spontaneous Sex.  But, are we truly ever FREE. . . .
 

What Is Menopause?
Menopause is a normal condition that all women experience as they age. The term menopause is commonly used to describe any of the changes a woman experiences either just before or after she stops menstruating, marking the end of her reproductive period.

What Causes Menopause?
A woman is born with a finite number of eggs, which are stored in the ovaries. The ovaries also produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which regulate menstruation and ovulation. Menopause occurs when the ovaries are totally depleted of eggs and no amount of stimulation from the regulating hormones can force them to work.  Menopause, when it occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, is considered "natural" and is a normal part of aging. But, some women can experience menopause early, either as a result of a surgical intervention, such as hysterectomy, or damage to the ovaries, such as from chemotherapy. Menopause that occurs before the age of 45, regardless of the cause, is called premature menopause.

How Does Natural Menopause Occur?
Natural menopause is the permanent ending of menstruation that is not brought on by any type of medical treatment. For women undergoing natural menopause, the process is gradual.

Perimenopause
Perimenopause begins 8-10 years before menopause, when the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen. Perimenopause lasts up until menopause, the point when the ovaries stop releasing eggs. In the last one to two years of perimenopause, the decrease in estrogen accelerates. At this stage, many women experience menopause symptoms. Menopause is diagnosed when a woman has gone without a period for 12 consecutive months.

Premature menopause can be the result of genetics, autoimmune disorders or medical procedures.

Postmenopause.
These are the years after menopause. During this stage, menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, ease for most women. However, health risks related to the loss of estrogen increase as the woman ages.
What Conditions Cause Premature Menopause?
 
 

 

What Are the Symptoms of Menopause?
All women going through menopause will experience hot flashes, a sudden feeling of warmth that spreads over the upper body that is often accompanied by blushing and some sweating. The severity of hot flashes varies from mild in most women to severe in others. Other common symptoms include:

Irregular or skipped periods
Insomnia
Mood swings
Fatigue
Depression
Irritability
Racing heart
Headaches
Joint and muscle aches and pains
Changes in libido (sex drive)
Vaginal dryness
Bladder control problems

Not all women get all of these symptoms. In fact, less than 2% of women get symptoms severe enough to interfere with daily activities.

What is "Old Age Heat" ?
aka - Hot Flash: A momentary sensation of heat that may be accompanied by a red, flushed face and sweating. The cause of hot flashes is not known, but may be related to changes in circulation. Hot flashes occur when the blood vessels near the skin's surface dilate to cool. This produces the red, flushed look to the face. A woman may also perspire to cool down the body. In addition, some women experience a rapid heart rate or chills. Hot flashes accompanied with sweating can also occur at night. These are called night sweats and may interfere with sleep.
 
 

There are a number of steps women going through menopause can take to stay healthy and feel better. It's as easy as remembering your ABCs, and D, E, F, and H.

• Avoid smoking, caffeine, alcohol, excess salt and sugar.
• Balanced diet -- Nutritionists recommend grains, cold pressed oils, leafy vegetables and nuts for relief of hot flashes. Soy has also been shown to ease mild hot flashes.
• Calcium and minerals.
• Clonidine (Catapres transdermal patch or pill), for help with hot flashes.
• D vitamin, also Vitamin C, B5 and E.
• Exercise -- Weight bearing, daily, 45 to 55 minutes.
• Fat -- Choose foods that are low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
• Herbal medicines and teas, including cranberry juice for urinary tract infection; Passion flower, valerian, and black cohosh for hot flashes and irritability.

Tips for Easing Hot Flashes

• Avoid getting too warm by dressing in layers and sleeping in a cool room.
• Avoid eating hot and spicy foods.
• Do not drink alcohol as it can trigger hot flashes.
• Reduce stress.
• Eat a serving of soy a day and consider taking a supplement of black cohosh. There is some evidence these alternative treatments may relieve mild hot flashes, although their effects may take several weeks to realize.

Tips for Reducing Vaginal Dryness

• Vaginal lubricants and moisturizers available without a prescription can help lubricate the vagina and make sexual intercourse more comfortable.
• If over-the-counter treatments don't work, ask your doctor to prescribe estrogen, available in creams, tablets, or in a vaginal ring. This type of estrogen will not improve other symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, but it won't cause any side effects.

Tips to Reduce Risk for Osteoporosis

• Get adequate calcium and vitamin D.
• Exercise.
• Ask your doctor if you need to take special medicine to strengthen your bones.

Tips to Reduce Risk for Heart Disease

• Get your cholesterol and blood pressure checked regularly.
• Take steps to reduce cholesterol and lower blood pressure if they are too high. If lifestyle changes is not enough to keep your cholesterol at a healthy level and your pressure normal, talk to your doctor about prescription medication.
• If you are diabetic, control your blood pressure.

 

Your boss is driving you crazy, you're in hot water with your honey, and the jerk in the little red car just cut you off. Wouldn't it be great if there was a stress buster as simple to use as a vitamin pill? Well, there are plenty of products out there that claim to reduce stress. The problem? There isn't a lot of rock-solid evidence that stress-busting herbal and nutritional supplements actually work.  "Kava kava, valerian, and chamomile tea have all been advocated for reducing anxiety, St. John's wort is used for mild depression, and a blend of natural herbs called adaptogens are very popular in Russia and Eastern Europe for relieving stress," says Dr. Paul Rosch, president of the American Institute of Stress.

Religion
Some studies have suggested that people who use "religious coping" -- seeking God's help, finding comfort in religion -- have lower blood pressure than those who use alternate stress relievers. The simple act of praying for stress relief might be enough to achieve your goal. Rediscover your spiritual self

Forgive Someone
A recent study found that those people with a propensity to forgive others tended to have -- you guessed it: lower blood pressure than their less-forgiving peers. Isn't it time you gave up that grudge, if only to gain the health benefits?

Sleep
About 60 percent of people who are stressed say they don't get enough sleep, according to a National Consumers League survey. If falling asleep is your trouble, it's time to start a calming bedtime routine. Start with a soothing shower and some lavender body wash. Then slip between the covers with a light novel and you'll be asleep in no time.

Vacation
Can't find the time or money to plan a lounge on the beach for a week? A vacation can be as simple as a quick weekend trip, or a special event near home. All that's necessary is that you spend an extended period of time not thinking about those things -- work, money, relationships -- that are making you crazy.

Sex
Is it the snuggling with your honey or the act itself? Either way, sex is a time-tested stress reliever, and it's well worth taking the time to do it.
 
 
 

Important Note:
The information on this page is F.Y.I only. It is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding you or your family's condition.
 
 

 

SEND THIS PAGE TO A FRIEND!

 

[ Email ] ~ [ Index ]