Provider Content
Head To Toe Menopause Symptoms By Estroven
Headache
Hormonal changes can cause certain types of headaches, and these usually stop once menopause is reached and levels are stable. Other types of headaches may be caused by a lack of sleep and stress.
What you can do: Sit or lie down in a dark room and concentrate on relaxing all the muscles in your body. Give yourself a good ten minutes to imagine the headache leaving your body. If you still have serious and frequent headaches, see your healthcare provider.
Palpitations
It's fairly common to have palpitations — or a rapid heartbeat — during a hot flash. In the great majority of cases, this is not serious and has nothing to do with a heart attack, but it can cause a certain amount of anxiety.
What you can do: Breathe! Pay attention to your inhales and exhales, and make a conscious effort to slow down the breath. Also understand that this episode will pass quickly. But if your heart is still racing after the hot flash is over, consult your healthcare professional.
Joint Pain
Aging and lack of lubrication in the joints may make you feel achy. This is also a time of life when some women develop osteoarthritis, an inflammation of the joints.
What you can do: Exercise! To keep all systems working smoothly, it's important to move every day. Swimming and yoga are both great types of exercise for achy joints. Treat yourself to a massage (or get a loved one to do it!) every once in a while.
Loss of Bone Density
Estrogen helps to remodel bone so that new cells replace old ones and bones remain strong and dense. During and after menopause, there is less bone turnover, which means that bones may become brittle and can break more easily.
What you can do: Take a daily calcium supplement. The recommended daily intake is 1000 mg, but most women after menopause require 1200 mg to 1500 mg of calcium each day. Your healthcare provider may recommend a bone density scan (a non-invasive test that gauges how much bone you may have lost and how likely it is to fracture). If you do have low bone density, your healthcare provider may prescribe treatment. And exercise is vital to keeping bones strong!
Skin, Hair, and Eye Changes
Your skin is likely to become thinner, and wrinkles may appear because of lack of moisture. Your hair, too, may become thinner and lose its color (but only your hairdresser knows this!). However, eyesight may actually become better for some people who were nearsighted in early life. Some women do complain of dry eyes, and may find that it's harder to wear contact lenses.
What you can do: Stay out of the sun, or wear sun block and protective clothing as well as dark glasses. Be sure to wear a daily moisturizer with at least SFP15
Other Perimenopause and Menopause Symptoms
Tiredness is a big concern of many menopausal women, but lack of sleep and stress may account for this, as well as for the nausea, tingling toes and fingers, dizziness, and shortness of breath that some women experience. None of the symptoms above are life-threatening; most past quickly, and others can be eased with a variety of excellent solutions.
What you can do: Take it easy! This is a time of your life when it's crucial to take breaks and schedule time for just listening to music, talking with friends, reading a good book, and throwing yourself into activities you really enjoy. When you're doing something that gives you pleasure, you may find the energy for it!
For more information on menopause and treatment options visit www.estroven.com.
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