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Saturday, 31 of July of 2010

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Managing menopause

Women approaching their 50’s usually are expectant of menopause.  What they don’t know is that as early as their mid 30’s, they’re probably experiencing it already except that the symptoms don’t directly point to them being part of the menopausal stage.  For instance, at this point in their lives, they’re already probably experiencing slight changes and variations in their menstrual cycle.  Before, when they usually have a 4-5 day menstrual cycle, when they reach their mid 30’s, this period can become shorter or longer.  The menstrual flow can even become lighter or heavier.  Some may attribute it to childbirth, stress or health reasons, which in some cases may indeed be a factor.  But, generally these changes are a precursor to menopause.

In a few more years, your menstruation will eventually stop and this condition is the actual menopause that most people commonly know.  With this event, your ovaries will no longer be producing eggs and so will it no longer produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone.    The changes in your body are due to the
loss of these hormones.

One of the more common symptoms is hot flashes or hot flushes.  This is usually characterized by a sudden feeling of intense heat that starts from the upper body and then extends to the lower extremities.  This can be very uncomfortable especially if they happen at night.  They can sometimes cause you to lose sleep.  However, these symptoms are treatable or at least you can try to lessen the frequency with which they occur by taking vitamin supplements or herbal medication, whichever you prefer.  These medications may come in the form of teas, pills or tablets.

Another side effect from losing estrogen and progesterone hormones is having mood swings.  Associated with this, women also tend to become more irritable at unpredictable times. Just like hot flashes, you may also take herbal medications like hawthorn and damiana tea.

But, in general, doctors tend to prescribe Hormone Therapy as a way to alleviate most of the symptoms in one go.  You have a choice of taking in synthetic estrogen or progesterone (depending on your needs) in either cream, pill or patch formulations.  Although some women have reported experiencing PMS-like symptoms when taking these pills, they still prefer to take them because these mild symptoms far outweigh the severity of their hot flashes and mood swings.  You also have to be aware that taking these pills may increase your propensity for heart disease and breast cancer.  Also, if you have a history of blood clotting, you may have to think twice before taking these pills because this also increases your chances for deep vein thrombosis.

As an alternative therapy to synthetic Hormone, there is now a newer type of treatment called bio-identical hormones.  Based on plant extracts, these are more similar to the body’s natural estrogen and progesterone hormones.  Treatment is tailor-fit based on your body’s needs.  The drug is prepared depending on your required strength and dosage and has fewer side effects, if none at all, compared with taking synthetic hormones.

At the very least, you need to take calcium to prevent osteoporosis which is also a disease related to the loss of estrogen hormones.  Daily exercise will boost your body’s defense against heart disease and the endorphins released from the exercise will help your mental health as well.

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