Menopause Challenge: How to face it?
Menopause is a difficult
stage in the life of women with usually occurs around the age of 50. A
woman experiences various body and health changes during this phase
apart from emotional changes. A change in lifestyle, good nutrition and
herbal remedies can make this transition smooth.
Menopause
is a natural phenomenon and there are many health problems associated
with it.
Menopause
is that stage in a woman’s life when the monthly cycles or
menstrual cycles stop. There are no monthly periods once a woman
reaches menopause which happens at the age of 50 on an average. This
phase signify that a woman is no more fertile i.e. able to produce kids.
Menopause
is not a disorder as believed by many. This is a natural stage or a
biological process that occurs in every woman’s life when she
reaches a certain age. However, there are many myths associated with
menopause.
Myths Related to Menopause
Menopause
can make a women feel sad and depressed and may also experience a
feeling of loss. Such feelings are the results of many myths that
surround menopause. Many women think that menopause signals end of
life. This is not true. In fact menopause is the beginning of a second
innings of adulthood when women can enjoy life without any tensions
about menstrual cycles. It should rather be seen as a liberation.
Again
menopause is not just about hormonal changes. After a woman reaches
menopause, her ovaries stop producing eggs and production of estrogen
and progestin also reduces significantly.
Many women
believe that once they reach menopause they will definitely gain
weight. It is true that many women gain weight post menopause but the
reason is slow metabolism with age. However, with exercise you can
surely stay in shape and maintain your weight.
|
|
And
lastly, menopause has nothing to do with femininity and
sexuality. It
is true that menopause may result in health problems that may affect
one sex life but gain saying that sex life is
totally over
would be wrong. With extra efforts, you can surely enjoy physical
intimacy too. |
However,
emotional intimacy helps in improving overall
health during this stage of life.
Menopause Symptoms and Health
Problems
Signs and
symptoms of menopause are irregularity in periods, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, mood
swings, thinning of hair, increase in abdominal fat, sleeplessness.
Within 2 to 5 years of the onset of menopause, with change in lifestyle
like exercising, yoga, meditation and diet you can make a positive
difference to the way you feel.
·
Hot
flashes are a common symptom experienced by almost 75% of
women. During this a woman may feel heat on face, neck and chest. One
might also experience sweating and palpitations.
·
Sleep
disturbance and insomnia is also common. This may be due to anxiety.
Further, disturbed sleep can lead to getting irritated, weak memory and
poor concentration.
·
Low
estrogen results in vaginal dryness which can be stressful
for many women as it might result in discomfort and itching. Low
estrogen may make the vagina thinner and atrophic. Menopause also
results in frequent urination and urinary infections.
·
Most women also experience weight gain that is the result of slow metabolism.
Low
oestrogen also results in concentration of fat from hips and thighs in
abdomen area. Menopause also results in joint pains, stiffness in the
body.
·
Other physical changes include reduced elasticity in the skin. The skin
might either become too dry or oily. There might be a change in the
skin’s tone, thinning of skin, thinning of hair and increase
in facial hair.
·
Also after menopause, women might suffer from health conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease.
Osteoporosis occurs due to bone loss and makes one prone to fractures.
Menopause: Diet Checklist
·After
menopause a woman’s diet must be high on iron and calcium.
You must
eat dairy products, fish,
broccoli and legumes.
·
To ensure you take enough iron, you must have poultry, fish, eggs,
green vegetables, grains, nuts and red meat.
·
You must also have fiber in the form of cereals, pasta, fruits and
vegetables. |
|
·
If you are over weight, then you must surely watch what you eat to have
a perfect body weight.
·
Avoid fatty foods and drink plenty of water. Also eat salt and sugar
moderately.
Natural
remedies are very effective in improving a woman's female reproductive
health not just during menstrual cycles but also during the
premenopause and menopause stage. It should be understood that
menopause is a phase in life and not a disorder. Though the
transition is a bit difficult with the right attitude you can make it smooth.
Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter for useful health, lifestyle and product information, |
Subscribe to Nature Always cares by Email
