Medical Devices

What Is Menopause? What Are The Symptoms Of Menopause?

symptoms often suffered by menopausal and peri-menopausal women. *Gabapentin (Neurontin) - this medication is effective in treating hot flashes. It is commonly used for treating seizures (epilepsy). *Clonidine (Catapres) - can be taken either orally as a pill or placed on the skin as a patch. It is effective in treating hot flashes. The drug is commonly used for treating high blood pressure (hypertension). However, unpleasant side-effects are common. *Osteoporosis treatments - please see the article "What is osteoporosis?" which has a section on treatments. *Vaginal estrogen - may be applied locally using a tablet, ring or cream. This medication effectively treats vaginal dryness, discomfort during intercourse, as well as some urinary problems. A small amount of estrogen is released and absorbed by the vaginal tissue. *Soybeans - soy aglycons of isoflavone (SAI), a group of soybean constituent chemicals, have been shown to promote health in a rat model of the menopause, according to a study by scientists at National Chiayi University, Taiwan. *Exercise - a study found that slow exercise is better for post-menopausal women than fast exercise. Complications After the menopause it is common for the following chronic conditions to appear. Chronic, in medical English, means long-term, continuous (as opposed to "acute"). *Cardiovascular disease - a drop in estrogen levels often goes hand-in-hand with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Heart disease is not exclusively a male problem, it is the main cause of death among both men and women. In order to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease a woman should quit smoking, try to keep her blood pressure within normal levels, do plenty of regular exercise, sleep at least 7 hours each night, and eat a well-balanced healthy diet. *Osteoporosis - a woman may lose bone density rapidly during the first few years after menopause. The lower a person"s bone density gets the higher their risk is of developing osteoporosis. For more information on osteoporosis, go to "What is osteoporosis?". The absolute risk of a second clinical fracture is highest in the five years after any first clinical fracture for post-menopausal women, a study found. *Urinary incontinence - the menopause causes the tissues of the vagina and urethra to lose their elasticity, which can result in frequent, sudden, strong urges to urinate, followed by urge incontinence (involuntary loss of urine). Stress incontinence may also become a problem - urinating involuntarily after coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting something, or suddenly jerking the body as may happen when we temporarily lose our balance. *Low libido - this is probably linked to disturbed sleep, depression symptoms, and night sweats, a study found. *Overweight/obesity - during the menopausal transition women are much more susceptible to weight gain. Experts say women may need to consume about 200 to 400 fewer calories each day just to prevent weight gain - or burn of that number of calories each day with extra exercise. The chances of becoming obese rise significantly after the menopause, according to this article. *Breast cancer - women are at a higher risk of breast cancer after the menopause. However, as this article explains, regular exercise after menopause significantly reduces breast cancer risk. Self help Unless your symptoms are severe, you may find that some changes in your lifestyle and diet are all you need to deal with the symptoms. *Hot flashes and night sweats *Do plenty of exercise. *Avoid wearing tight clothing. *Make sure the bedroom is not hot. *Try to reduce your levels of stress. *Remember the following commonly trigger symptoms for susceptible people: spicy food, caffeine, smoking, and alcohol. *Sleep disturbance *Exercise regularly. However, do not exercise too late during the day. Exercising too late may keep you awake longer. *Go to bed and get up at the same time each day - even during weekends. *Cut out all drinks and foods that contain caffeine. *Learn how to do deep breathing, guided imagery, and progressive muscle relaxation. *Moodiness *Make sure you do not get tired - get plenty of rest. *Do regular exercise. If you can, do strenuous exercise - check with your doctor whether this is OK for you. *Practice yoga. Make sure you have a well qualified trainer. *Vaginal discomfort and dryness *Get some OTC (over the counter) water-based vaginal lubricants or moisturizers. *Stay sexually active. *Urinary incontinence Practice pelvic floor muscle exercises - Kegel exercises. If you practice three or four times a day you will most probably notice a difference after a few weeks. This review of studies explains that women suffering from urinary incontinence can benefit from pelvic floor muscle training. *Overweight/obesity and osteoporosis prevention Eat a well balanced diet that includes plenty of vegetables, fruits, wholgrains, good quality fats, fiber, and unrefined carbohydrates. Try to consume 1,200 to 1,500 milligrams of calcium and 800 IUs of vitamin D per day. Do plenty of exercise. Make sure you sleep at least 7 hours each night. Written by Christian Nordqvist Copyright: Medical News Today Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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