Symptoms of Menopause, How to Spot And Reduce Them?

Understanding Menopause:

There are millions of women who do not comprehend the real meaning of “what is menopause” and become silent sufferers of the problem without seeking appropriate help. Every woman should understand her body well to note the subtle changes that keep happening especially when she is approaching menopause.

The responsibility for menopause symptoms is solely due to the hormonal changes taking place within the female body at the age of approach of menopause. Estrogen hormones are released from the eggs of the ovaries every month. Estrogen is said to be responsible for our reproduction capabilities and also for other factors such as bone development, facial hair, etc.

Hence,

When estrogen hormone starts to reduce and slowly cease the menopause symptoms get more prominent. Prior to menopause attainment, one may or may not suffer menopause symptoms some of which could be a matter of concern. Bone density gets reduced and dryness of the skin is a typical symptom.

Mood changes, depression, and other few symptoms also manifest making it rather challenging for the woman to cope. One should get to the root cause of “What is menopause” to relate to the stage in a more positive manner.

There are  three stages of menopause:

• A. Peri-menopause – the stage from the beginning of menopausal symptoms to post-menopause.
• B. Menopause – the last menstrual period.
• C. Post-menopause – the time following the last period, usually defined as more than 12 months with no periods in someone who has their ovaries or immediately following surgery if the ovaries are removed.

 

The menopausal period is the point in a woman’s life when her periods become more irregular and infrequent and then eventually stop.

At The Stage Prior to Menopause,

The person might develop a greater tendency for attacks from various health-related diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, fibroids, etc. Hence it is important to have a body check and gynecological check done at this stage. Regular exercise and intake of a healthy diet can make things easier toward such diseases during the stage before menopause.

Menopause is defined as,

The permanent cessation of menstruation and ovulation due to ovarian failure. “Spontaneous” menopause occurs after 12 months of amenorrhea as ovarian hormone secretion diminishes, on average around the age of 51 years.

Menopause may be induced prematurely (before age 40 years) or early (before age 45 years) through medical interventions such as surgery (e.g., bilateral oophorectomy with or without hysterectomy), chemotherapy, or radiation. In the United States, the number of women entering menopause each year is estimated to be approximately 2 million.

The menopausal transition is,

defined by variability in menstrual cycle length, followed by periods of amenorrhea lasting 60 days or longer. Peri-menopause is defined as the entire menopausal transition phase, extending into the first 12 months of the early post-menopause stage. Early post-menopause lasts from 5 to 8 years, from the final menstrual period to stabilization of low estradiol levels.

Approximately 85 percent of women report experiencing symptoms of varying types and severity during menopause.

Signs and Symptoms of Menopause:

Women may have different signs or symptoms at menopause. That’s because estrogen is used by many parts of your body. As you have less estrogen, you could have various symptoms. Many women experience very mild symptoms that are easily treated by lifestyle changes, like avoiding caffeine or carrying a portable fan to use when a hot flash strikes. Some women don’t require any treatment at all. Other symptoms can be more problematic.

Here are the most common changes you might notice at midlife. Some may be part of aging rather than directly related to menopause.

Types of symptoms experienced may include:

I. Vasomotor symptoms:

Hot flushes are recurrent, transient episodes of intense heat in the face and upper body, sometimes followed by chills. These symptoms can occur while sleeping, producing intense perspiration. Individual hot flushes may last from 1 to 5 minutes. After irregular menses, vasomotor symptoms are the second most frequently reported peri-menopausal symptoms.

II. Sleep disturbances:

Lengthy times to fall asleep, inability to sleep through the night, or inability to resume sleeping when waked prematurely are signs of insomnia. Sleep apnea symptoms range from slight airflow reductions causing snoring to the periodic cessation of breathing.

III. Psychological symptoms:

Depressive symptoms, anxiety, and mood disturbances may occur. Depressive symptoms can range from a depressed mood to clinical depression. A depressed mood may not require treatment, but if clinical depression is suspected, assessment and treatment are recommended. Symptoms of anxiety may include tension, nervousness, panic, and worry.

IV. Urogenital problems:

Urinary incontinence and vaginal atrophy may occur. Vaginal atrophy involves vaginal walls that are thin, pale, dry, and sometimes inflamed. These changes cause discomfort and potential trauma during intercourse and pelvic examinations.

V. Sexual function effects:

Dyspareunia (pain during intercourse) and decreased libido are also reported by peri-menopausal and postmenopausal women.

Longitudinal studies have shown that during early post-menopause, the prevalence of vasomotor symptoms among women ranges from 30 to 80 percent, depressed mood occurs in approximately one-third, and sleep disturbance occurs in more than 40 percent.4-6 Vasomotor symptoms generally begin 2 years before the final menstrual period, peak during the 1 year after the final menstrual period, and then diminish.

Urogenital atrophy symptoms increase during the late post-menopause stage:

Differences in symptoms have been found among subpopulations of women. In the Penn Ovarian Aging Trial and the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation, researchers report differences in prevalence and duration of vasomotor symptoms among women depending on ethnicity and body mass index (BMI).

Other symptoms experienced during the menopausal period by some women are:

• Itchy skin, sometimes with the feeling that something is crawling on them.
• Lightheadedness/dizziness.
• Tingling in the arms and legs.
• Burning sensation in the mouth.
• Tinnitus.
• Breast tenderness (and they may shrink slightly!).
• Fatigue.
• Gastrointestinal upset such as indigestion, diarrhea, wind, and bloating.
• Increase in allergies.
• Change in body odor.
• Bleeding gums.
• Changes in the fingernails.
• Feelings of unspecified fear and dread.

Early and Premature Menopause:

Before the age of 45, menopause is referred to as early menopause, and menopause that starts before the age of 40 is called premature menopause. Both early and premature menopause may also be referred to as premature ovarian failure and about 1% of women under 40 and 5% of women under 45 will be affected.

In many cases, there is no cause but premature ovarian failure can be caused by such things as:

• Hysterectomy.
• Certain types of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
• In rare cases some infections such as TB, mumps, malaria, varicella (the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles), and shigella (a type of bacteria that causes dysentery).
• Certain medical conditions such as enzyme deficiencies, Down’s Syndrome, Turner Syndrome, Addison’s Disease, and hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid).

 

Women affected should see their GP for possible referral to a gynecologist as treatment may be needed to ease menopausal symptoms and prevent osteoporosis; they will also be able to discuss fertility issues (a small number of women who experience premature menopause may still have intermittent ovarian functions so they may still be able to conceive).

Causes Of Menopause:

Menopause Can Result From:

1. Natural Decline of Reproductive Hormones:

 As you approach your late 30s, your ovaries start making less estrogen and progesterone the hormones that regulate menstruation, and your fertility declines.

2. Hysterectomy:

A hysterectomy that removes your uterus but not your ovaries usually doesn’t cause immediate menopause.

3. Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy: 

These cancer therapies can induce menopause, causing symptoms such as hot flashes during or shortly after the course of treatment.

4. Primary Ovarian Insufficiency: 

About 1 percent of women experience menopause before age 40 (premature menopause).

Here’re 10 Easy Tips to Deal With Menopause Symptoms!

1. Keep an Eye on What You Drink:

• Drinks contain caffeine, alcohol and nicotine can instigate menopausal symptoms.
• It is good that keep a diary of what you are doing or drinking if a hot flash or night sweat occurred so that it can help you to identify your triggers.
• Switching your morning coffee or tea to an iced tea and drink more ice-cold water throughout the day will help you relieve these symptoms.

2. Relieve Your Stress:

• During menopause, some women claimed that they having more hot flashes if they feel stress.
• One of the ways to reduce your stress is mind-body techniques such as meditation will help to build resilience to symptoms of menopause.
• Having regular deep breathing will help to regulate your body’s temperature and relieve your menopausal symptoms effectively.
• You can also do some meditation in order to boost your mood and taking in Vitamin B6, licorice, ginkgo, and ginseng.

3. Boost Your Sexual Function:

• More than 40 percent of sexually active women claimed that they having vaginal dryness problems while having bedroom activities during menopause.
• However by using a personal lubricant, this menopause sign-able to be treated and made sex more satisfying and pleasurable.
• You may use personal moisturizers like Replens to sustain moisture on regular basis and not just during sex.

4. Drink Lots of Water:

Try super greens supplement, it’s a salad in a glass, looks like swamp water, and is easily absorbed into your tissues and organs. Drinking water will help get moisture to where the body lotion and KY jelly can’t reach. You should also do well to increase your consumption of water in order to reduce the toxin levels which can lead to the creation of premature aging and organ malfunctions.

5. Exercise Regularly:

Although you think that you are hot and sweaty enough while dealing with these menopause symptoms, however, exercise really can help to dial down the menopausal heat. Most women find those physical activities able to be helpful in addressing the symptoms of menopause, especially hot flashes.

Besides health benefits, exercise also can help to reduce the emotional menopause signs of depression and irritability. Moreover, there is the need to get regular exercise in order to balance the levels of progesterone and estrogen in the body.

Studies,

Showed that participating in an exercise regimen can completely do away with menopause symptoms in as many as 55% of women. If you can do some lightweight training your bones will thank you! There was a study done that showed that women who strength train for as little as twice a week actually gain bone density. Women who don’t exercise or participate in any strength training typically lose 2% of their bone density per year.

6. Stay Away From Processed Foods:

especially prepackaged frozen diet meals. They are full of salt and preservatives that do nothing to help with the water weight gain and bloating.

7. Back off From Caffeine and Alcohol:

(even though you think that cocktail or glass of wine is the only thing that can get you through each day).  Spicy foods may also be the “trigger” that brings on a hot flash. And smoking has been shown to also contribute to hot flashes and night sweats.

8. Try to Keep From going to Bed Already Hot:

• Take a shower in the morning, as well as blow-drying your hair then.
• Avoid a long hot soak in the tub right before bed as well.
• Natural sheets and jammies in cotton, silk, and bamboo are cooler than polyester blends.

9. Cut Dietary Fat:

High-fat foods are loaded with calories, leading to weight gain and increase your risk for cardiovascular diseases. To lose weight and prevent cardiovascular diseases, limit your fat intake to 25 to 30 percent of daily calories. Vitamin E, Vitamin C, omega 6, folic acid, motherwort, red clover, rose hips, black cohosh, and ginger.

You should consume more whole grains like millet, buckwheat, amaranth, quinoa, wheat pasta or whole grain, brown rice, and wheat bread. This is a good natural menopause treatment as it helps for better control of weight and this proves to be very challenging when going through menopause.

You should also,

increase your energy levels by consuming more different varieties of yellow foods, colorful fruits, vegetables, and dark green fruits. Take in more beans, legumes, bulgur, barley as a good treatment to boost your energy levels and make it more consistent.

10. Experiment With Herbs:

Herbal remedies are becoming more accepted as a natural menopause treatment. Herbs are safe, affordable, and inexpensive. They are a lot safer than any sort of hormone replacement therapy. Look into herbs such as Valerian Root, Chamomile to help you sleep, relieve anxiety, and stabilize your mood.

Summing Up:

When relieving menopausal symptoms, lifestyle modification should always be your first-line approach. Although recent news about hormone-replacement therapy is once more acceptable for handling the symptoms of menopause. There are other ways that you can do to cope with those oh-so-annoying symptoms like mood swings and hot flushes. Always approach your doctor to get some ideas for dealing with menopause symptoms as boosting your health.

 

If you find this article useful, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family, as you might help someone in need. Thanks.

Disclaimer: “Nothing in this article makes any claim to offer cures or treatment of any disease or illness. If you are sick please consult with your doctor.”

Sources

Eat Healthy. Live Healthy!

Liked the article? Share the love!