Menopause
What Menopause Means
?
Menopause is the point at which women stop
ovulating. It happens when the ovaries stop releasing ovum
- usually a gradual process. Sometimes it happens all at once.
The menopausal period affects each woman differently. Some start
early, some start and stop, but most experience the change
around the age of fifty. It usually lasts up to five years.
Although estrogen levels drop during the post menopausal period,
the hormones do not disappear., The symptoms of hot flashes,
dizziness, headache, difficult breathing, shortness of breath,
heart palpitaions and depression may be caused by an estrogen
deficiency. If one is hypoglycemic, the symptoms are often mor
pronounced. Stress puts a burden on the adrenal glands, causing
them to overwork. Therefore, the adrenals produce smaller
amounts of the hormones that are needed to help reduce the side
effects of menopause. Hot flashes can be the result of
widespread blood vessl dilation.
Perimenopause is the period of gradual changes that lead
into menopause. It affects a woman's hormones, body, and
feelings. It can be a stop-start process that may take months or
years. "Climacteric" is another word for the time when
a woman passes from the reproductive to the non-reproductive
years of her life.
The ovaries' production of estrogen slows
down during perimenopause. Hormone levels fluctuate, causing
changes just as they did during adolescence. The changes leading
to menopause may seem much more intense than those during
puberty. The intensity may be affected by a woman's feelings
about aging, including her reactions to social judgments about
aging.
Induced menopause occurs if the ovaries are
removed or damaged as in hysterectomy or chemotherapy. In this
case, menopause begins immediately, with no perimenopause.
The time after menopause is called
post-menopause.
There’s a growing interest in the natural approach to
minimizing the effects of menopause. Many women are concerned
about the side effects of conventional medicine and are finding
herbal solutions meet their needs remarkably well. This is
something Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners have known
for thousands of years.
It has been shown that the loss of the body’s ability to
produce enough estrogen as it ages is related to a wide variety
of illnesses affecting women. Herbal formulations are designed
to increase the body’s ability to produce its own estrogen and
revitalize body functions. Additionaly we have found some books
that have become effective in assisting women through this
difficult time.
How Menopause Happens
During a woman's reproductive years, the monthly release of eggs
from the ovaries provides a continual flow of progesterone and
estrogen, hormones necessary to prepare the body for a
successful pregnancy.
With age, a woman's body no longer releases the stimulating
signals that induce ovulation of eggs from the ovaries. The
result is a measurable decrease in the associated hormones and
accompanying physical signs of normal menstruation.
Unfortunately, this decrease in hormones affects the body's
ability to maintain calcium levels and an increased loss of
minerals from the bones results. The net loss of calcium from
the skeleton is a combination of changes in calcium excretion
and calcium absorption
Symptoms of Menopause
As most women approach menopause, their
menstrual periods become irregular - they happen closer together
and/or further apart. Other common symptoms include
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achy joints
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hot flashes
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temporary and minor decrease
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changes in sexual desire in the ability
to concentrate or recall
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extreme sweating
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headaches
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frequent urination
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early wakening
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vaginal dryness
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mood changes
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insomnia
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night sweats
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conditions commonly associated with PMS
A woman may have one, some,
or none of these symptoms. Symptoms can be very unpredictable
and disturbing if a woman doesn't know they are related to
menopause.
A woman's experiences during menopause may
also be influenced by other life changes
-
children leaving homeo changes in
domestic, social, and personal relationships
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changes in identity and body image
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divorce or widowhood
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retirement
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increased anxiety about illness, aging,
and death
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loss of friends, loved ones, and
financial security
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increased responsibility for aging
parents
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anxiety about loss of independence,
disability, or loneliness
Increasing numbers of perimenopausal
women also have young children to care for.
Whatever the cause or circumstance, the
conditions women experience before and after menopause are very
real and sometimes need medical attention. While 10-15 percent
of American women experience no symptoms of menopause, another
10-15 percent become physically or emotionally disabled for
various periods of time by some of these symptoms of life
changes. And all women face increased risk of heart disease and
osteoporosis after menopause.
Benefits
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reduces drying and thinning of vaginal
tissue
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prevents osteoporosis
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eliminates hot flashes in some women
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improves energy, mood, and sense of
well-being
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improves levels of "good"
cholesterol
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may restore sexual desire
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may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's
disease
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may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer
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may improve concentration and memory
Risks
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may cause symptoms like PMS
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may increase risk for breast cancer
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may have other undesirable side effects,
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decreases insomnia including - vaginal
bleeding, bloating, nausea, loss of hair, headaches,
itching, increased cervical mucus, and corneal changes that
prevent the use of contact lenses
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may increase the risk of heart disease in
certain women
Healing options
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Ayurvedic Supplements
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Life Style
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That all depends on you.
Menopause is a natural part of life, not a disease
or a health crisis. However, menopause may occur
when many other changes are happening in your. For
instance, your children may be marrying or leaving
home, your parents may be ill or dying, or you may
be wondering what you'll do when you retire from
work. That's why it is probably more helpful to
think of how your daily activities and lifestyle
will affect menopause. For instance, making sure
that you exercise and eat right can make a real
difference in how you feel and can even help prevent
some of the long-term effects that are linked to
estrogen deficiency (like heart disease or
osteoporosis).
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Physical changes do occur with
menopause and with aging. But the changes that
happen during this period can be minimized by
healthy living and a sense of purpose in life.
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Yoga
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