Menopause, Just What Is It?

Author: Barbara C. Phillips, MN, NP

Just what is this thing called menopause? And what does it have to do with you?

Simply stated, menopause is a biological event that marks the end of a woman’s menses and hence her natural reproductive cycle. Perimenopause is defined as the period beginning with the signs of approaching menopause and ending about 12 months after “the menopause”.

Worldwide, menopause has as a variety of meanings. Each and every woman’s experience is based on her physical and emotional well being as well as her social and cultural environments. While some view menopause as a decline in status, others see it as a rite of passage. In other words, there are huge physical, emotional and social influences involved in your experience of menopause and aging.

That said, what you really want to know is – “What will I experience”?

This is tricky, as the answer is different for every woman. Some women barely notice a warm flush, while others have an intense reaction. So as you read some of the more common occurrences, please keep in mind – you will do you own thing.

• Power Surges, night sweats (they can be all day!) and chills
• Insomnia, and/or poor quality of sleep
• Urinary frequency, discomfort and sometimes leakiness
• Vaginal dryness, irritation and possibly discomfort with sexual activity
• Moodiness. Perhaps some irritation, nervousness, anxiety and depression.
• Diminished libido (sexual desire)
• Memory issues! Some women call this “the pause” (among other things).
• Joint pain and stiffness
  In case you think all the reactions are negative, take a look at some of the more positive and more important changes that happen to women.
  • Freedom
  • Joy
  • Greater sense of Creativity
  • A sense of peace that has not been previously been present.
  • Wisdom that only comes to those with time and conscious living.
    Just as there are many responses to the onset of menopause, there are many approaches you can take to meet these changes. As with anything, you must weigh any risk against the benefit (this is especially true when you consider hormone therapy), your belief system, and finally, you must find something that works for you.

    Most approaches are common sense and actions we need to take daily. Others are meant to challenge your thinking and open your mind. Possible ways to approach menopause include:

    • Healthy food and fluid intake.
    • Nutriceuticals such as vitamins and herbal supplements
    • Exercise at least 30 minutes daily.
    • Traditional Chinese Medicine such has acupuncture, Chinese herbs, Qi Gong and Tai Chi
    • Adjust your attitude! Laugh and have fun. Hang out with your girlfriends and delight in NOT being 25 again!
    • Meditation, visualization and biofeedback
    • Natural, Bio-identical and pharmaceutical grade hormone therapy
      This is a time of your life where you can count on change, and the growth that comes from it. As the power surges through our bodies, we grow into the women we are meant to be. We fulfill our goals and move on to make new ones. While our focus is inward, our outward gaze sharpens and our dreams are manifested for all to celebrate. It really is a magnificent time.

      About the Author

      ©2005 Barbara C. Phillips, MN, NP, a Nurse Practitioner with nearly 30 years experience is the Founder of OlderWiserWomen, LLC. She asks: Are you living with Vibrant Intent? Do you want to experience the Joy, Magic, and Wisdom of Successful Aging? You are invited to Celebrate with us as we explore these issues and more. http://www.OlderWiserWomen.com

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OSTEOPOROSIS

Author: Anonymous

Osteoporosis is the disease of brittle bones. As we age, bone mass loses density. Menopause can accelerate this process due to the loss in oestrogen levels. Oestrogen plays two important roles in bone metabolism: it facilitates the absorption of calcium from the blood into the bone and inhibits the loss of calcium from bone. Lack of oestrogen will slow down calcium absorption into bone and, instead, speed up calcium loss.

It is estimated that the average woman loses up to 10 per cent of her bone mass in the first five years of menopause. Research suggests that about half of all women over the age of 60 will have at least one fracture due to osteoporosis.

Dubbed the “silent disease”, osteoporosis reveals no physical symptoms. That is because bone loss causes neither visible signs nor pain. Osteoporosis can go undetected for years, until weakened bones cause painful fractures in the back or hips.

But does that mean every postmenopausal woman should sit back and wait for osteoporosis to set in? Of course not. Though they can’t stop oestrogen from decreasing, they can prevent osteoporosis by following these simple regimes:

1. Exercise: Bones tend to lose mass from inactivity. Exercise, especially weight-bearing ones like jogging, aerobics and tennis, have been proven to stimulate bone growth and improve strength.
2. More calcium: Calcium is needed for building bones. Bone mass needs at least 1,200mg of calcium daily to maintain density.
3. No smoking: Women who smoke generally experience menopause earlier than non-smokers, so they face a longer period of oestrogen deficiency and bone loss. Smoking also hampers efficient processing of calcium.
4. No alcohol: Consuming more than two alcoholic drinks a day can decrease calcium absorption and interfere with vitamin D synthesis.
5. Herbal remedy: Remifemin, the black cohosh-derived herbal remedy has been shown to have beneficial effect on bone to prevent osteoporosis.
6. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Research shows that HRT after menopause improves calcium absorption and prevents osteoporosis in 75-80 per cent of women.

About the Author

www.medical-explorer.com

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Menopausal Weight Gain Products. How Well Do They Work?

Author: Terry Santangelo

You don’t have to look far to find the numerous ads promoting pre-menopausal and menopausal weight loss products. These over the counter weight-loss products promote the fact that they can combat weight gain in women who are pre-menopausal or menopausal. Menopause is a natural step in a woman’s life cycle, yet the accompanying weight gain is an absolute concern. Recent studies have found for every two pounds of weight gained during menopause, the risk of high blood pressure increases by as much as five percent.

Menopausal weight gain also increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and has been strongly linked to increased incidence of breast and other hormone-related cancers post menopause. These healthcare concerns have led to the conception of specific products that target menopausal weight gain.

Estrin-Dâ„¢, one of the newer weight-loss products on the market, consists of a heavy mix of xanthine based stimulants (caffeine) such as, yerba matte, caffeine, guarana and a compilation of herbal ingredients such as damiana, ginger, DHEA, schisandra, scutellaria, and tibetan ginseng. All of these ingredients are intended to help curb appetite, provide a sense of fullness, contain hormonal swings, and increase resting metabolic rate. There is little doubt as to the quality of the product’s ingredients. However, one must be cautious, as there is a substantial amount of caffeine based stimulants in the product. For many people, consuming high amounts of caffeine can lead to elevated heart rate, increased blood pressure, nervousness, sweating among other symptoms. This is an obvious drawback with caffeine based products.

Estrin Dâ„¢, while being a quality thermogenic weight loss product, may not be the right product if you are experiencing menopausal weight gain. Women going through menopause should decrease their caffeine intake to relieve common symptoms of menopause. According to many physicians specializing in the treatment of menopause, increased levels of caffeine can make symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and insomnia precipitously worse. Caffeine can also increase the risk of osteoporosis that affects many menopausal women.

Zalestraâ„¢, another commercially popular menopausal weight-loss product, provides a more comprehensive approach in addressing issues relating to menopause. Ingredients contained in the Zalestraâ„¢ formulation, include black cohosh, mega soy extract, DHEA, Indole 3 Carbinol, borage oil and vitex fruit extract. These ingredients are intended to alleviate negative symptoms associated with menopause while providing the necessary protective properties for women in this stage of life. Zalestraâ„¢’s approach to weight loss is based on a three pronged approach - increased thermogenic output, thyroid support, and appetite suppression. Zalestraâ„¢ will increase energy levels without producing negative effects associated with caffeine stimulant based products.

Estroleanâ„¢, was one of the first menopausal weight loss products on the market. It’s formula is somewhat dated but still contains ingredients that have shown to be beneficial in alleviating menopausal symptoms. Like Zalestraâ„¢, the EstroLeanâ„¢ formula does not contain strong stimulant based ingredients. Estroleanâ„¢ addresses weight loss with a relatively small amount of thermogenic properties and ingredients that support the release of fatty acids from fat cells. Estroleanâ„¢ also contains naturally occurring estrogen which addresses the hormonal imbalance responsible for symptoms associated with menopause and weight gain.

Overall, many of the ingredients contained in these formulas can be beneficial in minimizing uncomfortable symptoms, such as weight gain, hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings, that are associated with the natural progression of a woman’s life cycle. Menopause easing ingredients, as well as, hormonal supporting nutrients can be coupled with standard weight loss components producing beneficial effects of both weight loss and symptom relief. We have to remember when looking at these formulas, hormonal imbalance plays a major role in the weight gain equation. Estrin Dâ„¢ targets primarily the symptom of menopausal weight gain alone. EstroLeanâ„¢ targets primarily symptoms related to hormonal imbalances such as hot flashes and night sweats, while being a mild weight loss product. Zalestraâ„¢, is a more comprehensive formulation addressing not only the weight gain but the symptoms associated with hormonal imbalances, such as hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings, seen in the menopausal woman. This being said, these products are definitely worth a try for women who are experiencing weight gain or other negative symptoms associated with menopause.

About the Author

Terry is currently a contributing writer for many health and fitness publications. Many of her articles can be found at the website http://www.ConsumerHealthDigest.com

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