Understanding And Coping With The Symptoms of Menopause
menopauseMenopause is a natural event that happens to every woman. It is the end of menstruation and reproductive life and normally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. In this article we will take a look at the symptoms of menopause and how to deal with them.
Menopause in an individual event. There are many symptoms and signs associated with it, but every woman experiences it differently. It’s important to understand that menopause is not a disease or an illness, but a natural phenomenon and an unavoidable part of every woman’s life.
Women in menopause may face multiple physical and psychological symptoms. These may include: hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness, reduced libido, irritability, depression, mental lapses, poor concentration, urinary incontinence, weight gain, joint pain, stiffness, fatigue, loss of bone density, indigestion, headaches, facial hair growth, dizziness, and more.
Women can use a variety of treatments that can help alleviate the menopause symptoms. There are two basic choices – medical treatments (hormone therapy) or natural treatments. There is no one treatment that will work for all women.
Hormone replacement therapies are designed to restore estrogen levels which the body itself after menopause no longer produces in sufficient quantities. Up until recently this was a standard recommendation for menopausal women.
However, in 2002, a large clinical study showed that there are serious health risks associated with it. Drugs used in hormone replacement therapies may increase the risk of breast cancer, heart attacks, strokes and blood clots.
Alternatives? There are many safe and natural approaches to deal with menopause symptoms. These may include nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, exercise, proper diet, and a number of holistic methods such as yoga, aromatherapy, acupuncture, and acupressure just to name a few.