Health n Fitness Care

HOW TO EASE MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS

As women approach menopause, a variety of physical and emotional symptoms can start to take over life.

Symptoms of menopause and perimenopause (the time leading up to menopause) can include:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Irregular periods
• Heavy periods
• No period (and you’re not pregnant)
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Irrational anger
• Depression
• Vaginal dryness
• Thinning hair
• Mood swings

If you have any of these symptoms and you’re in your 40’s or 50’s, talk to your doctor about getting your hormones tested.

If your symptoms are severe or are causing problems in your life, there are some treatments that you can talk to your doctor about.

(1) TRADITIONAL HRT (HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY):

Traditional HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) can help some women feel better, but may cause an increase in breast and other female cancers. Your doctor can help determine if HRT makes sense for you, based on your symptoms, your health history, and your family health history. Most traditional HRT formulas are synthetic. If you have a uterus, your doctor will prescribe both estrogen and progestin or progesterone. If you’ve had a hysterectomy, you will probably only take estrogen.

(2) HERBAL THERAPIES:

Herbal Therapies can include herbal compounds such as Estroven. Estroven comes in different formulas to zero in on different issues. But it will always contain:

a.      soy isoflavones to provide your body with phytoestrogens (plant based estrogens), that act like weak estrogens in the body.

b.      Black cohosh helps reduce hot flashes and is generally recognized as both safe and effective.

c.       Calcium – helps build strong bones and may help you relax.

d.      Boron – works with calcium to support bone health.

e.      Vitamin E – neutralizes free radicals

f.        B6 – can help reduce irritability

g.      B12 – helps regulate sugar metabolism

h.      Folate – may help mood

(3) PLANT BASED BIOIDENTICAL HORMONES:

There are plant based, bioidentical hormones that are available through compounding pharmacies. Compounding pharmacists formulate prescriptions that are either unavailable from pharmaceutical companies, or create blends of special compounds based on your specific needs. Compounding pharmacists usually have special training in women’s health and like to work closely with your doctor to design a program that best suits your needs.

a.      In order to best treat you, your pharmacist will want you to have blood work or a saliva test done.

b.      Based on hormone testing and your specific symptoms, you may be prescribed plant-based, bioequivalent estrogens, and a plant based bioequivalent progesterone. Your doctor may also prescribe you a small amount of testosterone if your sex drive needs a boost and your levels are low.

Other treatments that may help menopausal symptoms include antidepressant therapy. Even if you’re not depressed, some antidepressants have been shown to help mood, anxiety, irritability, and even hot flashes.

Supplements such as melatonin, can also help insomnia.

Overall, if menopause symptoms are bothersome, treatment is available. But whatever treatment you pursue, should be based on your specifics, your history, and your needs.

LET’S DISCUSS, WE NEED YOUR FEEDBACK:

If you are going through this phase of life, how do you handle menopause? What are your ways to manage menopause, please share your thoughts and views on the subject by putting your comments below.

If you like this post and want to have top health tips, fitness tips and fitness regime tips, you can subscribe to FREE Health n Fitness Care feed via EMAIL to get instant updates on health and fitness information.

This article is written by Kayla Block who lives  in the wild west of Nevada and is the owner of Make Up Deal of The Day and author of many blog articles on a variety of topics.

If you consider writing for ‘Health n Fitness Care’, please check out our guest posting guidelines.

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: