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| Menopause: Understanding Your Changing Body |
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| By petermarcantel |
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Every woman who goes through middle age will experience menopause. For
a fortunate few, this transitional time is relatively easy; for many
others, "the change" is marked by a number of physical and
psychological challenges that may leave them frustrated and physically
drained. As with any health issue, the more a woman understands the
process of menopause, the better she will be able to deal with it.
WHAT IS MENOPAUSE?
Medically speaking, menopause is said to be the stage of life when no
menstrual periods have occurred for a period of one year. This
cessation of menses is due to decreasing ovarian function. In the
United States, the average age is 51 years old; however, it can happen
any time from your 30s to your mid-50s or later.
It's important to understand that this process is not a disease; it's a
normal part of a woman's life. But just as puberty can be a scary and
confusing time for young girls, the entrance to this stage of adulthood
can leave us wondering why our bodies appear to be "rebelling" against
us or even questioning our own sanity! Our lifestyles can also be a
contributing factor in the severity of menopausal symptoms: stress,
poor diet, and lack of good exercise habits can often exacerbate the
problems we encounter.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
For some, the symptoms associated with the changing levels of estrogen
and progesterone in their bodies may be relatively mild. For others,
however, the physical symptoms can be moderate to severe and may
include hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, and atrophic vaginitis
(inflammation of the vagina due to thinning and shrinking tissues and a
decrease in lubrication) which can cause burning, itching, or bleeding.
Weight gain and changes in blood pressure can also accompany menopause.
Many women may also find themselves going through psychological
changes, as well. Fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, depression, memory loss,
mood swings, irritability, and an inability to concentrate are common.
TREATMENT
While this is a normal part of life, for many women it is very
difficult to deal with the symptoms as their bodies adjust to the
changes they are going through. The good news is that there are things
we can do-often through natural therapies-that can help. If you are
experiencing some of the symptoms listed above, you may want to seek
medical help in coping with the problems.
Many women who seek medical help for their symptoms (particularly for
anxiety and depression) may find that their doctors are quick to
prescribe drugs such as antidepressants or sleeping pills that simply
mask their symptoms and can lead to dependency or unwanted side
effects. This treatment can certainly be appropriate at times, but it
is often possible to approach the root causes of the symptoms in
natural ways that are ultimately more effective.
In my practice the first step, as always, would be a complete medical
history and physical exam. It's important to determine whether the
reported symptoms are really menopause-related or if there are other
medical conditions that need to be taken into account as part of the
treatment program.
Laboratory tests, if indicated, can be very helpful. For instance, if
FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) is markedly elevated and estrogen is
depressed, this constitutes a lab diagnosis of ovarian failure. A
salivary hormone evaluation would also include testing levels of
estradiol (E-2), progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, cortisol a.m. level,
and the ratio of progesterone to estradiol. These tests can help the
doctor develop an individualized protocol for bioidentical hormone
replacement therapy (BHRT), if needed.
There are a number of other things women can do along with BHRT to help
alleviate the symptoms of menopause and head off potential
post-menopausal problems like osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
A proper diet, a good exercise regime, and dietary supplements and
vitamins all should be part of an overall wellness program.
I believe a woman should be evaluated holistically. I spend time not
only teaching about the physical and mental aspects of menopause, but
the spiritual aspects, as well. For years we may have given ourselves
to the nurture and care of others. This change of life speaks to us to
return to self and embrace ourselves with kindness and love. An
important part of my therapy program is a reminder of the importance of
taking time for oneself and nurturing self during this transition. |
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About the Author
Dr. Tina Marcantel is a naturopathic physician in
Mesa, Arizona. She has over twenty-five years of experience in the
health care field including diabetes management, women's health, weight
loss, and mental health. She practices holistic, integrative patient
care. For more information please visit her site at
href="http://www.drmarcantel.com">drmarcantel.com.
Source: ArticleTrader.com
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