Tweet

Fitness during menopause

Menopause is that peculiarly traumatic time faced by all women without any distinction of colour, caste or creed. This stage in a woman`s life refers to the period when the body undergoes many changes, especially signalling the fact that the childbearing days are over. It is important to be well informed about this very turbulent period as almost one third of a woman`s life occurs after menopause.

Perimenopause- Common symptoms

Perimenopause, or pre-menopause is a�transitional stage of two to ten years before the menstrual period stops completely. On an average, it lasts for about six years, and can appear in women from 35 to 50 years�of age. You are going through perimenopause when you notice the following symptoms:

• Intermittent hot flashes or night sweats
• Unexplained fatigue
• Beginning of noticeable PMS
• Inability to sleep soundly
• Sudden weight gain
• Definite loss of desire
• Irregular periods
• Heavy bleeding during periods and maybe even fibroids
• Tender breasts with accompanying pain
• Unexplained mood swings and extreme irritability
• Sudden craving for sweets, hard drinks or carbohydrates
• Inability to digest properly
• Feeling of anxiety
• Sudden forgetfulness and hazy thinking
• Depression
• Urinary incontinence
• Unexplained hair loss
• Dry skin
• Stiffness and joint pains
• Migraine-like headaches which may be from mild to severe

So how can you keep fit during these years?

Simple. Just what you were advised to do during the earlier part of your life " exercise and eat healthy nutritious food. If you have followed this sensible advice and prepared yourself for menopause by keeping your body fit by regular exercise, believe me, this traumatic period will be a cakewalk for you and you will not have to face any complications. What is important is that you follow a regular pattern of exercise which will help control menopause symptoms like hot flashes, bouts of depression, insomnia, mood swings and extreme irritability. Exercise will also curb the risks of osteoporosis and heart disease which manifest themselves post menopause.

Hormone replacement therapy

Many doctors put post menopausal women on a hormone replacement therapy which is supposed to help them get through this period with little discomfort. It is certainly not a complete solution and many problems known to be associated with this treatment have surfaced. Estrogen which becomes in short supply during menopause is the hormone used in the replacement therapy and this has shown a marked increase in the prevalence of uterine cancer. If you do have a family history of cancer, it is better to discuss the pros and cons with your doctor before you begin this treatment.

Menopause has its share of mental issues that cause much trouble for some women. Post menopausal depression is quite common and is known to be behind the hot flashes that are experienced. Doctors sometimes prescribe low-dosage anti depressants to help women get over this depression. The drug Clonidine is also prescribed especially for women with high blood pressure and this also is quite effective in reducing hot flashes.

Eat healthy, live healthy

Nothing like eating healthy food to get over menopausal symptoms. Calcium and Vitamin D reduce the risk of osteoporosis by dealing with bone mineralisation, so it is important to include foods that are rich in these in your daily intake. Fresh fruits and vegetables eaten in plenty can help combat these symptoms and will increase your fight against the ill effects of menopause.

Women who are well prepared for menopause generally sail through his difficult period and suffer minimal damage to their health and attitude. They manage to do so purely because of exercise and right diet which sees them through without any major discomfort.