Menopause is a natural process of aging that typically affects women who are somewhere between the ages of 45 and 55. Below, we look at menopause and your health.
This titanic shift in the hormonal balance of a woman can result in a number of changes, depending on the individual case. Unfortunately, it brings with it a certain risk for the development of types of health issues.
Menopause and Your Health
If you’re approaching menopausal age or are already in the midst of this set of novel experiences, here is an overview of how menopause can interact with your health. We also cover some beneficial menopause health treatments.
What Is Menopause?
Menopause is the term given to a period in a woman’s life when she begins to lose her period and permanently stop producing eggs.
There is some variability as to when this period occurs exactly, with most women experiencing it sometime between the ages of 45 and 55. The Menopausal period typically lasts for about 3 years.
During menopause, a woman might experience a number of symptoms that are very common. Some of these include:
- Shivering
- Reddening of The Skin
- Hot Flashes
- Vaginal Dryness
- Trouble sleeping
- Mood swings
The primary factor that contributes to health changes in postmenopausal women is a marked decrease in estrogen production. This has a number of consequences that come with it.
Health Issues at Play
There are some serious health risks associated with the decreased estrogen production that comes with lower estrogen production during menopause. Some of these include:
- Heart Disease – Postmenopausal women have an increased risk of heart disease, on par with that of most men. Prior to menopause, women have a markedly lower risk of heart disease.
- Stroke – Every 10 years after the age of 55, your risk of enduring a stroke doubles. As virtually all women are finished with menopause by that age, they are at a higher risk for stroke.
- Osteoporosis – Osteoporosis is a term that refers to a loss of mass in the bones. Certain studies have shown that women who experience intense hot flashes during menopause are at higher risk for developing osteoporosis later in life.
- Lead Poisoning – With the risk of osteoporosis comes the additional risk of lead poisoning. This is due to the fact that lead is stored in one’s bones over the course of a lifetime – as the bones begin to break down, this stored lead is released into the body.
- Oral Issues – Postmenopausal women are also at risk for more frequent cavities.
- Urinary Incontinence – Many postmenopausal women experience difficulty with retaining their urine.
Of course, the menopausal experience is a highly personal one, and no two women experience exactly the same set of issues. However, the issues listed above represent some very common complaints.
Staying Healthy After Menopause
Staying healthy after menopause requires slightly more effort than before this life period. However, with proper care and maintenance, many women can enjoy similar levels of health that they enjoyed prior to menopause.
Some of the ways you can assist your health during the Menopausal process include:
- Eating Well: Eating well can help to arm your body with the nutrients it needs to stay healthy in the postmenopausal state.
- Quitting Smoking: Smoking is hazardous to your health in a number of different ways. The Menopausal process makes one more vulnerable to the harmful consequences of smoking.
- Being Active: Getting enough physical exercise can give one the edge in staying healthy during menopause. At least 30 minutes per day of light aerobic exercise can give one a boost in staying healthy.
- Practice Safe Sex: After menopause, one’s risk for contracting some kind of STI remains the same, even though you can’t get pregnant anymore.
- Talk To Your Doctor or Nurse About Dietary Supplements: There are several kinds of dietary supplements that can be useful in the fight to stay healthy post-menopause.
Taking a holistic view of one’s health post-menopause can help one to take realistic steps towards maintaining a high level of health despite the challenges of this pressing time period. Discussing with your doctor the ins and outs of your personal case can help to prepare you to take the steps you might need in order to maximize your advantages.
Talk About the Changes in Your Body
Harbor Health serves the residents of Tacoma and the rest of the Pacific Northwest with quality care and consultations for every stage of life. If you’re undergoing your own menopausal journey and are worried about the potential health impacts that come with it, contact us today in order to schedule your personal consultation at our Tacoma compounding pharmacy.