According to Stedman's Medical Dictionary, menopause is defined as the permanent cessation of menstruation. It marks the end of a woman's fertility and therefore, ability to conceive and bear children. Menopause is derived from the Greek words pausis -cessation and the word men -month. It means the end of monthly cycles
In the West, the typical age for attaining menopause is between the ages of 45 and 55 and the average age for last period ever is 51 years. In the East, however, the median age of natural menopause is considerably earlier, at about 44 years. Genetics has a lot to do with the age "when" menopause hits. If your grandmother got hers in the late 40's, chances are you will too.
Common symptoms
Common symptoms: Menopause, or the period after the last period, is marked by some physiological and psychological changes. The most well-known symptom of impending menopause is the "hot flash" or "hot flush", a sudden, temporary increase in body temperature. The "flash" sensation occurs as the body temperature rises sharply and almost instantaneously begins to slowly return to normal.
Along with the hot flushes is irregular, heavy, or prolonged periods and severe stomach cramps.
All of these combine to create mood swings and even depression.
Perimenopause problems
Perimenopause is the transitional period from normal menstrual periods to zero periods. This transition may take up to ten years. During the perimenopausal phase, you may experience a combination of PMS and menopausal symptoms. During this phase, many women undergo bodily changes resulting from hormonal fluctuation. Hot flashes may leave the sufferer feeling weak and break out in heavy sweating. Despite the discomfort, hot flashes are not considered harmful. Flashes can, however, be eased through Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and herbal remedies.
Common problems are
mood changes
changes in sexual desire
difficulty in concentrating
headaches
night sweats
hot flashes
sleep disturbances
joint and muscle aches
extreme sweating
frequent urination
similar symptoms as experienced with premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Even women who are free of the troublesome physical effects of perimenopause may suffer from psychological stress. Many women feel they will no longer be desirable once menopause has set in.
Post-menopause problems
Once the last period of a woman's life is over, many new problems crop up. Many women start experiencing symptoms of hormone imbalance anywhere from their early 30s to their late 40s. Levels of estrogen and progesterone - the essential female hormones - dip, triggering a range of problems.
Common problems are
Weight gain
Decreased sexual desire
Vaginal dryness
Increase in facial hair as testosterone is now able to exert more power
Incontinence as muscles surrounding the bladder weaken
Slowing down of mental processes
Reduced bone density
In the long term, post-menopausal women are at a higher risk of osteoporosis and more prone to heart attacks.
Coping with menopause
To relieve these symptoms, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is often recommended. But synthetic hormones often lead to breast cancer, strokes, heart attacks, and blood clots. More and more doctors recommend lifestyle changes and natural remedies to cope with menopause. These are primarily related to diet, exercise, and mental outlook.
Diet
Add soy to your diet. A half cup serving of soy milk and tofu gives out about 35 to 50 mg of soy isoflavones.
Avoid stimulants such as coffee, tea, spicy food to keep hot flushes under control.
Include herbal treatments such as ginkgo biloba, evening primrose oil, and black cohosh.
Have whole grains in your diet. Brown rice, corn, pasta, crackers and other whole grain foods contain antioxidants and multi-vitamins.
Include flax in your diet. Flaxseed lengthens the menstrual cycle. In doing so, it increases the estrogen-progesterone ratio and alleviates hot flashes. This is also rich in antioxidants, omega 3 fatty acids, and stabilizes cholesterol levels.
Cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli and brussels sprouts are good for you.
Green tea has antioxidants and phytochemicals. Three to six cups of green tea daily has reportedly contributed to weight loss.
Tomatoes and yellow fruits such as mangoes, oranges and vegetables like carrot are also recommended.
Drink lots of water
Consume at least three servings of low-fat dairy products every day for your daily calcium intake. Dark leafy greens are also a good source of calcium. This is important for building bone density.
Exercise
Exercise is particularly important for women as they age. Exercise is essential to the development of strong bones and a strong heart. Exercise, coupled with a healthy diet, helps to keep weight in check and contributes to a sense of well being and mood improvement. People who are not physically active tend to suffer with a variety of diseases such as coronary disease, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Depression, and even dementia, can be traced back to lack of physical activity.
Your routine should include:
Walking
Yoga for flexibility/toning
Weights for building bone density
A word of caution: consult your doctor before starting an exercise routine.
Mental outlook
Be positive. Menopause is inevitable so there's no point getting depressed. Chances are if you follow the correct diet and exercise routine, you will be upbeat and cheerful. Join a hobby class, go on a trip, get a new wardrobe… do what makes you happy.Problems associated with menopause can be greatly reduced by taking herbal supplements.
Herbal Supplements for Perimenopause and Post-Menopause
Menosan - An alternative to HRT for post menopausal women.
Author Resource:-
Neal Kapoor is a keen follower of trends in Ayurveda and Health Supplements. He also has professional interests in the field and manages a website called http://www.anytimeherbal.com
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