There comes a time in
every woman’s life when she reaches the end of
those child-bearing years and finds that the next stage
of her life is upon her - and that stage is marked by
the menopause. It is a perfectly normal time and many
women welcome it because they do not have to worry about
unwanted pregnancies and they do not have to put up
with PMS followed by their period any longer. This is
often the first time in a woman’s life when she
can transfer her energies into being more creative or
start a new career or even just be her own person. Others
fear they are leaving their youth behind and perhaps
find it difficult to accept this new change in their
life.
A woman reaches menopause when she has not had a
period for 12 months and this usually happens between
the ages of 45 and 55 years. It is the time when the
function of the ovaries ceases. Menopause can occur
as early as the 30s or as late as the 60s. It has
been found that women tend to undergo menopause at
a similar age to that of their own mothers.
Menopause affects every woman differently. Some have
no symptoms at all and just sail through this time
in their lives. Others suffer from the well known
“hot flushes” & night sweats, vaginal
dryness, urinary problems, insomnia, mood swings or
memory problems. Treatments are available for alleviating
any of the more uncomfortable or distressing of these
symptoms so don’t be afraid to seek help if
you need it. Even if you do suffer from one or more
of these symptoms, they are usually for a comparatively
short time and will not last indefinitely.
Two serious conditions can be brought on by menopause
- osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease:
o Osteoporosis is the deterioration of the quantity
and quality of bone so that there is an increased
risk of fracture. Bone mineral density normally begins
to decrease in the 40s though it is accelerated during
menopause. Osteoporosis treatment and prevention measures
include smoking cessation, limiting alcohol, plenty
of exercise and adequate calcium and vitamin D intake
or supplements. In addition medications are available
that can stop bone loss and increase bone strength.
o Cardiovascular disease becomes more of a risk to
women after menopause (two to three times higher than
before). It is thought that this may due to declining
estrogen levels. However, although it is possible
to take hormone therapy as a preventive measure, it
is not usually thought to be advisable because of
other risks from such hormone therapy. Before thinking
about embarking on such a program, it is wise to do
research and to discuss it thoroughly with your doctor.
Tips to help you through menopause
Many of the symptoms of menopause and the medical
conditions that may develop as a result of the menopause
can be lessened or even avoided by taking steps to
lead a healthy lifestyle:
o Regular exercise can help protect against cardiovascular
disease as well as osteoporosis. It is also well known
that exercise has mental health benefits.
o Good nutrition with a healthy, balanced diet with
plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as whole
grains. Dairy products and dark green vegetables are
good for adding calcium to your diet. Plus almonds,
sesame seeds, prawns, anchovies, sardines, apricots,
figs and dates
o Smoking cessation will reduce your risk of both
cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.
To sum up, complications that women may develop in
the postmenopausal period include osteoporosis and
heart disease. Treatments are directed towards alleviating
uncomfortable or distressing symptoms and these treatments
are often customized for each woman so that menopause
which is a gradual process is made easier.
