Know Signs of Menopause

Many women and those who love them often are afraid of the changes going through menopause will bring. If menopause is understood and there is a basic understanding of what occurs, it could make menopause easier to go through. Menopause brings about a number of changes; physical, mental, and emotional. Some changes are permanent others might not be.

Menopause Explained

Menopause is the time when your period stops and fertility is ended. There are stages of menopause. They are Perimenopause and it occurs anywhere from 2 to 10 years prior to menopause. Menopause is said to have occurred when you have not had a period for 12 or more consecutive months. Post-menopause is the period from menopause to death.
Most women will begin the menopausal process between the ages of 40 and 50.

Signs of Menopause

You will begin to have irregular periods and bleeding and may begin to miss one here and there. You may also experience excessive bleeding. The most common complaints are the hot flashes and night sweats, mood swings that can include unexplained irritability. Feelings of aggression, anger, and bouts of sudden tears have also been noted.

Sleep problems may occur with or without night sweats. Some concentration issues and confusion may occur. You might experience forgetfulness, fatigue and feeling like you are moving in slow motion, which has also occurred in many women.

You may experience incontinence-urine leakage and an urgent need to go. Dry, itchy, and creepy crawling skin can make you uncomfortable. Body aches and pains including muscle tenderness. Weight gain can occur as a result of either over-eating or water retention. You may experience vaginal dryness that can lead to painful intercourse.

Hair growth changes have also been a common complaint. Your hair may begin to thin out and you may experience hair loss over your body including pubic hair. On the other hand, you can experience excessive facial hair growth.

Treatments for Menopause

For some women, some simple life style changes may be all that's needed. These include dietary changes including reduced sodium and fatty foods. Exercise is important and can also lift your mood. Learning relaxation and meditation techniques will help you to learn to reduce your stress level. Yoga is also a popular path many women take.

Pharmaceutical treatments include HRT- hormone replacement therapy. Anti-inflammatories and anti-depressants may also be prescribed. Pain medications both prescribed and OTC - over the counter are also a possible treatment.

These medications all have some serious side effects including increased risk of heart attack and stroke. HRT also increases the risk of breast and uterine cancer occurring and may be fatal. At the very least, they may lower your sex drive.

Supplements including herbal supplements are an increasingly popular option. They have fewer if any side effects. They are very effective in relieving menopausal symptoms.
Herbal supplements are not regulated so to guarantee quality and safety, the supplements should be extensively tested.

The metabolic paths of the ingredients at the molecular level should be examined as should the interactions of these ingredients. Standardized herbal extracts should be used because they are where the most active ingredients are found and this helps to guarantee consistent quality and dosing from capsule to capsule. They should also have been made according to pharmaceutical grade standards.

While herbal supplements are safer and have few side effects, do not add them to your health regimen without talking to your doctor. Some herbs can affect the performance of medications you may be taking for other health conditions.

Conclusion

Knowing the signs of menopause may actually help you to go through it with less difficulty. Knowing them can also help you to talk to your doctor about what is happening. If you are experiencing any of these signs, it is advisable to track them and be examined by your doctor. This is to rule out anything that may be more serious.

Why not use the best? Your health depends on it.

 

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