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Menopause can affect your mental health

admin — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 01:32:36 +0000

Around the time of menopause, most women are experiencing extra stress in life. They’re juggling raising teenage children, paying for college, career, and caring for their aging parents, and go through hormonal changes. Midlife is often considered a period of increased risk for depression in women. Some women report mood swings, irritability, tearfulness, anxiety, and feelings of despair in the years leading up to menopause.

But the reason for these emotional problems isn’t always clear. Research shows that menopausal symptoms such as sleep problems, hot flashes, night sweats, and fatigue can affect mood and well-being. The drop in estrogen levels during perimenopause and menopause might also affect mood. Or it could be a combination of hormone changes and menopausal symptoms.

But changes in mood also can have causes that are unrelated to menopause. If you are having emotional problems that are interfering with your quality of life, it is important to discuss them with your doctor. Talk openly with your doctor about the other things going on in your life that might be adding to your feelings. Other things that could cause feelings of depression and/or anxiety during menopause include:

Having depression before menopause
Feeling negative about menopause and getting older
Increased stress
Having severe menopausal symptoms
Smoking
Not being physically active
Not being happy in your relationship or not being in a relationship
Not having a job
Not having enough money
Having low self-esteem (how you feel about yourself)
Not having the social support you need
Feeling disappointed that you can’t have children anymore

Source: Womenshealth.gov

How bad is menopause?

admin — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 03:00:17 +0000

We often hear the stories of hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats, and many other terrible things about menopause from our friends, mothers, relatives, and co-workers. Some of us who are approaching the mid 40s are terrifying about the upcoming changes to our bodies. There are some women who start experiencing these symptoms as early as late 30s and while others early 50s. It all depends on individual woman. But one way or the other, everyone goes through it. It might not be as bad as they sound when it happens to you. Some women celebrate and welcome menopause. Others dread the happening.

One women states that she was thrilled because the years of cramps and bloating have ended. How nervous you feel, you will make it through. It’s just like child birth, no classes can prepare you for the real thing. When you go through it, it might not be all that nad. Menopause is part of a woman’s life. You should celebrate and embrace it as you’re going to enter a new chapter of your life.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Hot flashes may even last a few years after menopause

admin — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 03:24:36 +0000

Many women get got flashes as part of their menopause symptoms. If you didn’t get it, then you are one of the few lucky ones. For the rest of us, just about everyone talks about and goes through it.

Hot flashes happen around the time of menopause. They may be related to changing estrogen levels. Hot flashes may last a few years after menopause. A hot flash is a sudden feeling of heat in the upper part or all of your body. Your face and neck become flushed. Red blotches may appear on your chest, back, and arms. Heavy sweating and cold shivering can follow.

Flashes can be very mild or strong enough to wake you from your sleep which is called night sweats. Most hot flashes last between 30 seconds and 10 minutes. You may experience it even after menopause. The good news is that eventually the symptoms do go away.

Source: National Institute on Aging

Don’t underestimate the benefit of exercise during menopause

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:49:01 +0000

Most women notice menopause symptoms in late 40s. During this time, many women have busy lifestyle with children still in the house and aging parents to take care of. Just remember that maintaining an active lifestyle can lower your risk of early death from a variety of causes and help you maintain a healthy weight. The benefit of exercising is sometimes ignored by people who are busy. It can help with your menopause symptoms.

Regular exercise can also improve your mood and help you sleep better at night. Make an exercise plan and stick to it. It is recommended that older adults do 2.5 hours of moderate aerobic physical activity each week. You can also substitute it for 1.5 hour vigorous aerobic physical exercise. Keeping an active exercise schedule might be easier than you think. Even with busy schedule, most women can find 2 hours each week for themselves.

Some women have symptoms before the start of menopause

admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:36:10 +0000

Female menopause occurs in women, when they no longer get their period. There is no fixed age for the menopause. It may occur in forties or fifties in women, depending from person to person.

During menopause women undergo a lot of hormonal changes in their body. Some women have symptoms before the start of menopause while others will not have any noticeable changes. Normally during menopause, women have hot flushes especially at night. The body becomes warm and they sweat profusely. Other symptom is vaginal dryness. Doctor will prescribe some lubricants to deal with it. Another symptom is headaches, and depression. They get irritated for no reason at all. Skin become dry and looses its elasticity.

Extra care should be taken by using moisturizers. Women should prepare themselves for menopause. They should remind themselves that they are under going hormonal changes in their body, which causes uneasiness in them.

Women have a tendency to have osteoporosis, in which, their bones become brittle there is a chance of fracturing their bones easily on falling. Calcium supplement is what they need. One should start taking lots of milk once they have the symptoms of menopause.

Menopause and Mental Health

admin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:30:42 +0000

Midlife is often considered a period of increased risk for depression in women. Some women report mood swings, irritability, tearfulness, anxiety, and feelings of despair in the years leading up to menopause. But the reason for these emotional problems isn’t always clear. Research shows that menopausal symptoms such as sleep problems, hot flashes, night sweats, and fatigue can affect mood and well-being. The drop in estrogen levels during perimenopause and menopause might also affect mood. Or it could be a combination of hormone changes and menopausal symptoms.

Having depression before menopause
Feeling negative about menopause and getting older
Increased stress
Having severe menopausal symptoms
Smoking
Not being physically active
Not being happy in your relationship or not being in a relationship
Not having a job
Not having enough money
Having low self-esteem (how you feel about yourself)
Not having the social support you need
Feeling disappointed that you can’t have children anymore

If you need treatment for these symptoms, you and your doctor can work together to find a treatment that is best for you. Depression during perimenopause and menopause is treated in much the same way as depression that strikes at any other time life. If your mood is affecting your quality of life, here are a few things you can do:

Try to get enough sleep. Go to bed and wake up at the same times every day. Keep you room cool and dark. Use your bed only for sleeping and sex. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, large meals, or physical activity before bed.
Engage in physical activity for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
Set limits for yourself, and look for positive ways to unwind and ease daily stress. Try relaxation techniques, reading a book, or spending some quiet time outdoors.
Talk to your friends who are in perimenopause or menopause or go to a support group for women who are going through the same thing as you. You also can get counseling to talk through your problems and fears.
Ask your doctor about therapy or medicines. Menopausal hormone therapy can reduce symptoms that might be causing your moodiness. Antidepressants might also help.

Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/menopause/mental/

What is Menopause?

admin — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:19:25 +0000

Menopause is a normal change in a woman’s life when her period stops. It is often called the “change of life.” During perimenopause, a woman’s body slowly makes less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This often happens between the ages of 45 and 55 years old. A woman has reached menopause when she has not had a period for 12 months in a row, and there are no other causes for this change. As you near menopause, you may have symptoms from the changes your body is making. Many women wonder if these changes are normal, and many are confused about how to treat their symptoms. You can feel better by learning all you can about menopause, and talking with your doctor about your health and your symptoms. If you want to treat your symptoms, your doctor can tell you more about your options and help you make the best treatment choices.

Source: Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

How much physical activity should I do during menopause?

megdilts — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:54:57 +0000

An active lifestyle can lower your risk of early death from a variety of causes and help you maintain a healthy weight. It also might improve your mood and help you to sleep better. For older adults, activity can improve mental function. Health benefits are gained by doing the following each week:

2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity
or
1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity
or
A combination of moderate and vigorous aerobic activity
and
Muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days of the week

If you are not active, ask your doctor what’s okay for you. Activity is important for everyone.

Source: Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

megdilts — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:38:43 +0000

Menopause affects every woman differently. Your only symptom may be your period stopping. You may have other symptoms, too. Many symptoms at this time of life happen because you are getting older. But some are due to menopause. It’s not always possible to tell if symptoms are related to aging, menopause, or both. Some changes you might notice as you near menopause include:

Change in pattern of periods (They can be shorter or longer, lighter or heavier, or there may be more or less time between periods.)
Hot flashes (sometimes called hot flushes), night sweats (sometimes followed by a chill)
Trouble sleeping through the night (with or without night sweats)
Vaginal dryness
Mood swings, feeling crabby, or crying spells
Trouble focusing, “fuzzy thinking,” or forgetfulness
Hair loss or thinning on your head or more hair growth on your face

Source: Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

What is menopause?

megdilts — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:37:29 +0000

Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her period stops and she can no longer become pregnant. It is a normal change in a woman’s body. A woman will know she has reached menopause when she has not had a period for 12 months in a row (and there are no other causes, such as pregnancy or illness, for this change). This happens for most women after age 45.

Menopause is sometimes called, “the change of life.” In the years leading up to menopause, a woman’s ovaries slowly make less and less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. You might not be aware of the changes happening in your body. Or, you might have symptoms as you near menopause. Many women wonder if these symptoms are normal, and many are confused about how to treat their symptoms.

You will feel better by learning all you can about menopause and talking with your doctor about your health and your symptoms. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or concern, your doctor can teach you about treatment options and help you to make wise choices.

Source: Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.