HEALTHY LIVING TIPS

Menopause is not a disease or an illness. It is a transition between two phases of a woman’s life. Menopause occurs when a woman permanently stops menstruating (having periods). Many women experience a variety of symptoms as a result of the hormonal changes associated with the transition through menopause. Around the time of menopause, women often lose bone density and their cholesterol may worsen, increasing their risk of heart disease

Menopause is a natural process that occurs because of a decrease in the function of the ovaries, which also control estrogen production. In addition to a decrease in estrogen levels, menopause results in decreased progesterone levels, meaning that any eggs that are released are less likely to be fertilized.

Menopause management should encompass a holistic approach to include discussion on life-style and dietary factors, as well as specific menopause treatment options. For many women, hormone replacement therapies can provide very effective relief of distressing menopausal symptoms, significantly improving their quality of life, and can provide an important preventive role, reducing the risk of debilitating disease such as osteoporosis.

When does Menopause occur?

The occurrence of menopause is different for each woman. Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 40 and 55. The age of when menopause occurs is affected by several factors, including Nutrition. Malnourished women begin menopause about 4 years earlier than well-nourished women. Early onset of menstruation. Women who begin menstruation at an early age are more likely to begin menopause later

Menopause is a natural event that normally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.Once menopause is complete (called postmenopause), you can no longer become pregnant.The symptoms of menopause are caused by changes in estrogen and progesterone levels. As the ovaries become less functional, they produce less of these hormones and the body responds accordingly. The specific symptoms you experience and how significant (mild, moderate, or severe) varies from woman to woman.

Symptoms

Symptoms of the menopause can include hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, declining libido, osteoporosis, ageing skin, lack of energy, joint pains, weight gain, headaches and changes in hair quality. Interestingly, men also experience a lot of these symptoms, with irritability, a declining libido, changes in weight, ageing skin and hair, depression and anxiety.

Treatment

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was the main treatment for menopause symptoms. Many physicians believed that HRT was not only good for reducing menopausal symptoms, but also reduced the risk of heart disease and bone fractures from osteoporosis. However, the results of a major study called the Women’s Health Initiative has led physicians to change their recommendations.

Menozac is a herbal menopause treatment that has been specially developed to ease the transition period of perimeopausal and menopausal women and to smooth and eliminate symptoms of menopause and early menopause almost immediately. It contains special herbs for menopause and other natural botanical extracts and additives. Among them are: Soy seed, Damiana leaf, Black Cohosh root, and Vitamin E.

Estrogen

Pros: Helps prevent vaginal tissue from thinning; also helps prevent bone loss; very effective against hot flashes

Cons: Increased risk of breast cancer if taken with a progestin; increased risk of uterine cancer if estrogen is taken without progesterone; increased risk of blood clots.



By: samnickel6

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REGULATE HOT FLASHES

Menopause is an inevitable phase in a woman’s life. However, some experience this stage earlier than others. Normally, the average age of women who go through menopause is 51. This cessation of the menses is usually due to the depletion of eggs in the ovary.

In some cases, however, menopause is brought about by surgery, treatment for other diseases, ovarian failure or other problems. The condition wherein women younger than 50 find themselves facing menopause symptoms, regardless of the reasons, is generally known as early menopause.

If you are in your 20s, 30s or 40s and are already experiencing symptoms of menopause, then you are probably suffering from early menopause. To know more about the nuances of this condition, read on and learn:

Premature Ovarian Failure

Known more commonly as POF, Premature Ovarian Failure occurs when a woman experiences menopausal symptoms, including the ending of menses, before the age of 40. You will know that you have this condition if your hormonal tests show that your levels of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and estradiol levels are at post-menopausal stages.

The most common reason why women with POF experience the cessation of menses is the inability of the body to respond to calls for ovulation, even when eggs are still present inside the ovaries. Since this is the case, women with POF may still ovulate or even bear children, but chances are dramatically slim.

Reduced Ovarian Reserve

If your hormone tests show that your levels of FSH and estradiol are normal and that you experience periods every now and then but you are experiencing menopausal symptoms at an early age, then you are probably suffering from Reduced or Diminished Ovarian Reserve. Experts believe that this condition is a sign that you will be experiencing POF in the near future.

Early Menopause Due To Medications Or Surgery

Women who are undergoing radiation or chemotherapy treatments often find themselves undergoing signs of menopause. In this case, it is clear that outside forces are the ones causing changes in your ovulation or hormonal processes. If such treatments do not cause an ovarian failure, then there is a chance that your monthly menses will become normal again after a few months of stopping the medication.

Pelvic surgery or the removal of both ovaries can also cause early menopause. Some women who had undergone pelvic-related surgery may suffer from poor blood circulation. When blood flow to the ovaries is impaired, there is a big chance for an ovarian failure. Women who had both their ovaries removed also go through early menopause because they are no longer producing sex hormones.

Perimenopause

If you are suffering from menopausal symptoms prematurely but you do not have POF, or your hormone levels are fluctuating but can still be considered normal, or you did not undergo pelvic or ovarian surgical procedures, or you are not taking any treatments for cancer, then you are just probably suffering from perimenopause. This means that you just feel the symptoms of menopause at an earlier age. Women who are at this phase are actually still ovulating and can still bear children. Basically, this phase is a precursor to menopause.

It is common for women over 40 to experience perimenopause. Even if you are over 40, however, it is still wise to consult a doctor about your condition to rule out serious illnesses and conditions. Furthermore, you can also discuss with your doctor the best possible ways you can alleviate the nasty symptoms of menopause.

Although the treatment of choice when it comes to menopause is HRT, or hormone replacement therapy, many women are afraid to get this medication because of fear of side effects. If you are one of the many who feel uncomfortable with HRT, then you can always use natural supplements to help you survive early menopause symptoms. One product that many women are using to help them cope with signs of menopause is Menersa. If you are interested in this product, just visit http://www.menersa.com/ for more information.

By: Janet Martin

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REGULATE MENOPAUSE

For women, menopause is a dreaded phase on her life cycle. The common misconception of menopause is that the woman is no longer attractive and desired physically and sexually. Menopause is also a period of emotional turmoil when many women suffer from bipolar disorder and depression. Not to mention the endless uncomfortable physical symptom she has to battle with such as hot flushes and night sweats which keeps her awake at night, mood swings, and lack of interest in sex. Unfortunately, menopause is a phase which all women have to go through. It is encouraged that all women educate themselves on the issue of menopause so that they can help themselves go through menopause gracefully. This article will focus on one of the main area of menopause , that is the type of foods that should be eaten regularly during menopause.

First and foremost, if you have not been taking care of your diet. It is not too late to start making a change. Better late than never. For women during menopause, it is even more essential to take care of your body by making sure you are taking enough nutrients your body needs. Start with eating organics. Organic food is best for you as you can be sure of getting the freshest and best nutrients without contamination. Here are some of the most popular menopause super food which you should increase their amount in your diet, and yes, try get them organic if possible.

1. Soy Milk

Soy milk is very popular at one time due to claims that it can reduce post menopause symptoms such as “hot flushes” and prevent breast cancer. However, the American heart Association claimed that soy isoflavones does not have any effect in menopausal symptoms in their recent study. Despite that, it is also a well known fact that Japanese and some Chinese women suffer less severe menopause symptoms due to their rich diet in soy products such as soy milk, miso and tofu. Personally, I feel that all women should increase the intake of soy for cardiovascular and overall health benefits if not for the sake for menopause relief.

2. Flaxseeds

Increase flaxseed intake is recommended for its high content of lignans and omega-3 essential fatty acids. Omega-3s, often in short supply in populations with low-fish diets, promote heart health by reducing cholesterol, blood pressure and plaque formation in arteries. In addition, flaxseed oil is often recommended as a galactagogue. However, eating too many Flax seeds can also cause diarrhea in some people.

3. Fatty Fish

The most widely available source of EPA and DHA is cold water oily fish such as wild salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies and sardines. Oils from these fish have a profile of around seven times as much omega-3 as omega-6. Farmed salmon, being grain fed, have a higher proportion of omega-6 than wild salmon. Other oily fish such as tuna also contain omega-3 in somewhat lesser amounts. However, there is one thing you should be aware that the potential presence of heavy metals and fat-soluble pollutants like PCBs and dioxins which may accumulate in this cold water fish. So choose your fish carefully.

4. Water, Water, Water

Another important food to include is non other than water. Women during menopause should make it a habit to consume at least 6 to 8 glasses of water throughout the day. Make water the beverage of your choice. Increase the intake of fruit and vegetable juices as well.

Last but not least, cut down on all types of refined carbohydrates such as white bread, muffins, cookies, pasta, package cereals and cakes. Also totally eliminate processed food, caffein, alcohol in your diet. If you are a smoker, it is time to quit now. Your body does not need more burden of unhealthy habits. With these basic changes in your diet, you are on your way to a more comfortable and sweat free menopause. For more informative articles on menopause relief, head over to http://www.agematter.com.



By: Audrey Lynn

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REDUCE MENOPAUSE