How Is Menopause Related to Bone Loss?

A woman who reaches menopause usually experiences osteopenia, running the risk of developing osteoporosis in time. Moreover, the onset of the decay of the bone leading to a weak structure causes body pain, predominantly in the back and joints.  

To answer the question raised, bone loss comes about because of the body’s need to balance between blood production and bone creation. When still young, the body is able to produce blood as well as create bones. However, upon reaching the age of 30, the body begins to lose bones faster than it can replace them.  

At the onset of menopause, bone loss dramatically becomes faster. Estrogen production stops after menopause. Once this happens, it means more bad news for the bones because the hormone is very vital in maintaining bone strength.  

Are All Women at risk for Bone Loss?

Yes. All menopausal and post-menopausal women do experience bone loss. However, there are certain groups who stand out as having the greater incidence of the condition as well as showing a very rapid bone loss. These groups include the following:

* Those who are thin or have a small body frames. Body mass is directly proportional to body size: smaller women will experience bone loss in its most severe form.
* Those who are taking steroids. Steroids interfere with the body’s natural production of hormones. As such, when menopause comes, the body is further impeded with what little amount of hormone it can produce.
* Those who consume low levels of calcium and Vitamin D. These two nutrients are very vital in maintaining bone strength. As such, when the body does not get enough of them, bone loss during menopause is predictably more severe.
* Those with sedentary lifestyle. Lack of exercise also leads to atrophy of the bones. On the other hand, those who exercise regularly develop strong bones.

Are There Ways to Prevent or Minimize Bone Loss?

Taking in enough calcium by eating fresh fruits and vegetables allow the bone to become strong in their structure, making them withstand the decaying effects of menopause. A menopausal woman needs about 1,500 mg of calcium each day. On the other hand, calcium will not be maximized if taken without Vitamin D. Vitamin D is the nutrient that makes calcium absorption easier. The best sources for the vitamin are eggs, fish, and milk. Moreover, exercising regularly will keep the bones strong, thus preventing bone loss.

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Menopause and Bone Loss

At Menopause, our body goes through changes, that can cause a list of symptoms, including menopause weight gain.

But if you are in good shape, have always watched your diet, and had no problems until this “special time”, then you may need to tweak your routines.

It only makes sense that if our bodies are going through changes, then our routines will likely have to change as well. Personally, I found all of a sudden certain foods did not digest as well as they did. Foods that I have eaten all my life, are now causing indigestion. I quizzed a few friends and found the same answers with them.

So, before you start reaching for those antacids, go to the doctor, get that long overdue checkup, and make sure all your systems are “go”, since there are many health issues that can strike at this age, such as thyroid problems, and gall bladder issues. If you get the all clear, then try listening to your body. It will definitely tell you what it doesn’t like.

In my case, I suddenly could not digest beef. I have eaten beef all my life, raised with the Sunday family dinners with Roast Beef and all the trimmings, and suddenly I can’t digest it without pain or indigestion. Instead of reaching for antacids that will just mask the problem, I decided to stay away from beef for awhile with some surprising results.

I guess my body had not liked digesting certain foods, especially beef for a about a year, because around that time my blood pressure started to rise, and I was bloated, and sluggish all the time. My doctor wanted me on blood pressure meds, but we decided to go the diet route to begin with. I saw a dietician, who said to me, “if you need to take antacids or digestive aids to digest a certain food (in my case beef) then maybe your body doesn’t want it right now”.

I came away from it, and concentrated on other proteins, like chicken, fish, eggs and nuts, and that was all I changed. One month later I am down 5 pounds, without really trying, and my blood pressure dropped 15 points down to normal. I was totally shocked, and so was my doctor. I no longer felt sluggish or bloated.

So, if you are having trouble with menopause weight gain, take a closer look at your diet, are some foods not sitting as well as they use to?. Are you just eating them out of habit?.. Do you find high fat snack foods cause indigestion?.. Then listen to your body and make some changes. Don’t just mask the problems, they will only get worse and possibly come out as other symptoms, as with me and my blood pressure, menopause weight gain, and sluggishness. You are in charge of your own health, listen to your body.

click here and get your menopause under control and feel fantastic!

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Menopause Weight Gain: Are you Bloated and Sluggish?

Menopause weight gain, is the number one complaint within my circle of women friends and family (Hot flashes were second!) . Yet weight gain at this special time, seems to be expected and accepted as a natural process, but why?

Why accept it?. There may not be much we can do about hot flashes, and other symptoms that seem to come out of now where, but we can control the menopause weight gain.

The key, I found, was to change up your exercise routine and diet. Your body is going through changes of its own, so what worked for you before, probably no longer works now. You hear women, going on about weight gain, when they haven’t changed much in their diet and blaming it on menopause. Actually menopause gets the blame for many unexplainable symptoms.

But, have you also noticed, that maybe you don’t sleep as well, and you are tired and cranky, and therefore pickup that extra snack or treat, a few extra lattes here and there to get you through your day? Then too tired to exercise, and this all adds up to weight gain, no matter what stage in life you are in!

If you do exercise, and you have a certain routine, now is the time to change it up. If you walk all the time, try adding a minute of jogging or trotting, or what I call “wogging” which is very fast walking. Get your heart up a little bit, then walk again, then jog again. If you walk outside, try jogging between telephone poles, then walk for the next one.

By adding these extra blips of cardio you will notice that your mood becomes a little brighter, you feel a bit more energized after your workouts, and your waistline will shrink.

Start looking at those 100 calorie snack packs out there, and if you must eat after 7 pm, eat only one of those 100 calorie pop corns, or treats and nothing else. Go through your day, and cut back on any sugary snacks.. they will just make you want more in an hour or two and make you feel sluggish. But personally I found adding some more cardio and zing to my workouts, helped me get rid of that menopause weight gain, and as a side effect, have a better outlook on this stage in my life.

click here for tips on dealing with menopause symptoms and feel great again! Article and website by Diane palmer

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Menopause Weight Gain: Is Your Waistline Expanding?

After the recent scares in the media about the risks associated with HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) there is a strong case for using alternative medicine to balance the body in menopause, especially when you get to supply your body with plant hormones rather than ones derived from horse’s urine. Recent research has highlighted the side effects of taking HRT to include breast cancer and heart disease. HRT has also been linked to gallbladder diseases.

Menopause is the point at which a woman stops ovulating and menstruation ceases, indicating the end of fertility. Many years before the menopause, levels of estrogen production slow down. This can start fifteen years before the menopause and is called the ‘circadian’. Apart from being a sex or reproductive hormone, estrogen acts on many organs and systems in the body. Cells in the vagina, bladder, breasts, skin, bones, arteries, heart, liver, and brain all contain estrogen receptors and require this hormone to stimulate these receptors for normal cell function. Estrogen is required to keep the skin healthy and contributes in the bone formation process.

Many women experience few if any symptoms during this time but others may suffer from some or all of the following; anxiety, hot flushes, dry skin, fatigue, feelings of bloating, headaches, heart palpitations, insomnia, irritability, decreased interest in sex, loss of concentration, vaginal dryness and weight gain.

Twenty five per cent of women go through the change without as much as a night sweat so not all menopause experience has the commonly known symptoms so it is possible to just sail through if you are in that lucky quarter.

The Menopause Vitamin E

Supplementation with vitamin E has been known to be effective since 1954 and reports from several authors say vitamin E eradicates most of the menopausal symptoms. Gamma-oryzanol, a nutrient derived from rice bran has been shown to be effective in treating symptoms of menopause. A daily dose of 20 milligrams reduced symptoms by 50% in 67% of the women studied.

When the menstruation stops altogether most of the acute problems a woman will face are over and a new balance between hormones is established. This is the stage when she may be vulnerable to potentially serious health problems such as cardio vascular disease, osteoporosis and vaginal atrophy.

Take StarGate Nutrition Calcium – Not Calcium Carbonate

Osteoporosis in particular is a major problem for women with an estimated 80% of all the 250,000 hip fractures that occur in the US being due to osteoporosis. Over 40% of women post menopause have alkaline somach fluid. Normally the stomach is slightly acidic which helps the absorbtion of calcium into the body. Calcium carbonate is actually not good for you as an isolated chemical. The calcium will end up in your heart and the carbonate in your bowl as cancer. You need to be taking a food state form of calcium as found in StarGate Nutrition Vitamin products.

Many GPs have recommended hormone replacement therapy HRT to control sever symptoms caused by estrogen deficiency in menopausal and post menopausal women. Basically a molecularly similar estrogen is taken by the woman but this estrogen is synthetic and only close to the natural estrogens produced in the body.

No Word For Menopause In Japan

Japanese women generally experience far fewer symptoms of menopause than western women. An article in The Lancet reported that the reason may be that Japanese women consume more phytoestrogens or plant estrogens. Plant hormones are very similar in chemical design to human hormones and may provide a safe alternative to the HRT that is being offered to women up to now. These estrogen like compounds are found in foods such as soybeans, tofu, miso, flaxseeds, pomegranates and dates. When these plant estrogens are eaten they act like the estrogens produced in the body. Plant hormones can be used in childbirth to start the contractions of labour!

Half of all postmenopausal women between the ages of forty five and seventy five show signs of some degree of osteoporosis. There is a connection being drawn to the possible cause of such high levels of the condition in these women. Forty per cent of all post menopausal women have a change in their stomach pH balance. In these women there stomachs become alkaline as opposed to being acidic. This cause’s poor absorption of calcium as it needs to be converted from the form we ingest, which is calcium carbonate, through the acidity in our stomachs to calcium citrate. This is the form of calcium the body finds most absorbable. Therefore you need to be taking calcium in the same form found in StarGate Nutrition products.

StarGate Nutrition The Vitamin Shoppe nutrient material has been designed to be 16 times more effective.

IT’S TIME TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX

• Vitamin C is not Ascorbic Acid
• Vitamin E is not Alpha Tocopherol
• Vitamin A is not Retinoic Acid

What you believe are vitamins, are in fact synthetic chemicals This is one of the reasons, why you should be enhancing your health through the consumption of a multivitamin and mineral in a food matrix.

StarGate Nutrition Vitamin nutrient material has been designed to be;

• 16 times more effective,
• 5 times more utilized and
• 6 times more retained than the vast majority (99%) of nutrient material on the nutrition market.
• We have studied our material through independent laboratories using a number of biological studies to see its effectiveness over a number of development years.

Our vitamin C technology is based and confirmed by over 77 scientific papers and by a number of medical and nutrition Professors and prestigious institutions.

We use 100% natural ingredients and deliver on optimum quality to our customers who are looking for vitamin they can trust to be real.

Our vitamins work in harmony with your biology.

This may go some way to explaining why there is such and increase of osteoporosis in post menopausal women and perhaps that we should readdress the need for HRT to combat osteoporosis and instead focus on bringing the stomach back to acidity or giving these women calcium citrate supplements. You can make calcium citrate by crushing up a calcium carbonate and mixing it cider vinegar.

Chinese Medicine

In Chinese medicine menopause is looked at as a period in which the energy of the kidney is declining. For the Chinese doctor the kidney has a corresponding emotion, tissue, sensory organ and element. These are respectively, fear, bone, ear and water. The adrenal glands on the top of the kidney are responsible for producing the hormones that the ovaries used to produce.

Chinese herbal medicine is one of the best ways of treating the menopause as the approach is holistic and this appeals to the condition as it very much a mind body spirit imbalance. The herbal formulas that the Chinese doctor will give will replace the estrogens that you are now not producing with plant estrogens. One of the formulas in Chinese medicine acclaimed for its beneficial effects for the menopause is called four things soup.

Ralph Quinlan Forde – CEO www.stargatenutritionvitamin.com the author and Holistic Medicine Consultant has contributed to the following publications over eight years, The Independent on Sunday, The Sunday Herald, IVENUS, Tescos Magazine, The Irish Examiner and The Sunday Tribune. He is also the founder of www.medicinebuddhafoundation.org. His book The Book of Tibetan Medicine is now in 11 languages http://thebookoftibetanmedicine.blogspot.com

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The Menopause Vitamin – Stop Taking Calcium Carbonate

During Menopause, so many changes are going on, that the list of symptoms you see on some websites is huge!

Some women manage to get through the process without even a hair out of place and others are dropped right in the middle of the worst symptoms.

I thought I was going to be one of those lucky ones, but NOT!

But with a few changes to your routines, you just may make it out the other end unscathed!

One of the symptoms that most menopausal women are familiar with is “hot flashes” or “hot flushes”.. either way, you get this intense heat, then the chills, and you are sure you are coming down with some kind of international flu..

Anything that can get you overheated, will quite often, trigger a hot flush which can be a real issue, especially if it is already hot outside. You have to be extra careful exercising, as you are more prone to heat related issues such as heat exhaustion etc… Personally cutting the lawn has always been something I enjoy, but now with the “extra heat” I have had to change my scheduling, or risk feeling dizzy and overheated.

I used to enjoy cutting the lawn during the day, but now I have to cut it at night, just before dark, armed with bug spray! The same with walking the dogs.. night or very early AM.

The family, of course look at me like I have lost it, or have been taken over by aliens as I weed my garden by moonlight, but I monitor all my activities based on the temps outside now. Right now it is summer here, so I garden at the crack of dawn, and take it easy during the hottest part of the day, which is probably what you are suppose to do anyways, but with menopause, these times can be extra special..

I was surprised to see other women in my age group, on my early morning treks, and we nod, in that “knowing” way, and realize that I am not the only one going through this “change” as my grandmother used to call it!

So, shake up those routines, and don’t let this menopause stuff get you down, this too, will pass.. They say you feel liberated when it is all done.. I am hanging on to that! But for now, I will garden by moonlight and keep the bedroom freezing cold!

click here for tips on dealing with menopause symptoms, and feel great! Aricle and website by Diane Palmer

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Menopause: How Do You Deal With The Heat Wave?

You might notice that a woman under menopause shows lesser signs of interest in sexual intercourse as compared to her previous condition. A women body produces many hormones and one of them is Estrogen. That hormone maintains the condition of the reproductive system and helps in maintaining sexual interest. Once Estrogen level starts dropping, a women’s interest in sexual intercourse drops eventually. This certainly doesn’t mean you are unable to carry out sexual activities but reaching a climax or having an orgasm can be very difficult for a women under menopause. These hormonal imbalance also brings fatigue and weakness thus loosing interest in sex completely.

Some women also experience bleeding and sexual pain during sexual intercourse, this is one of the main reasons why they avoid getting in any sexual contact. That can get unbearable at times and the bleeding may increase over time. As the estrogen levels have decreased, this causes drying of the vagina and decreases lubrication making sexual intercourse a painful experience. In addition to this, menopausal women also experience sudden anxiety attacks, anger, sadness, emotional stress etc. Women go through a lot of mixed feeling, hence concentration on sexual activities reduce drastically. One can not think of having sex if one is depressed or sad.

If you have been sexually active in the past and want to regain sex interest, there are many ways to do it. Emotional changes cannot be treated in a menopausal women. However women experiencing pain and bleeding while having sex can use several strategies to treat the dryness and fragility in vagina. You can use vitamin E cream or bland jelly for the healing. It needs to be applied during or before sexual intercourse. Other products like Replens are used daily especially for such conditions. Replens have effects that stay longer. All theses products are easily available at your nearest drug store even without a prescription.

If you experience menopause at an early age and want to resume your sexual activity after a long gap, you need to first strengthen and restore the vagina by using Hormonal creams that rejuvenate, moisten and thickens mucosal folds and even vagina lining thus improving circulation and restoring orgasm. You can also gently massage the opening and walls of the vagina with a estrogen cream in case you experience shrinking of vagina. This massage can be done for 10 minutes daily.

Menopause is a time when most women need support and understanding from family especially husbands or partners as she is going through a lot of changes.

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Sexual Pain at Menopause – How to Deal With It

* Menopause Defined

Menopause is defined as the time in a woman’s life when she has not menstruated for one year, indicating the end of fertility. Menopause typically occurs around the age of 50, but some women menstruate well into their 50s, while others experience menopause sometime in their mid-40s.

Perimenopause refers to the period of hormonal changes leading up to menopause; it can begin as early as the late 30′s. Women in perimenopause may experience such symptoms as irregular periods and hot flashes.

Menopause is not a disease — rather, it is a natural part of the aging process. The hormonal changes which accompany menopause are often responsible for a number of unpleasant physical symptoms, and women may experience some emotional distress as well.

However, it is important to remember that not all women have difficulty coping with the physical changes that occur during this time. Menopause does not signal an end to sexuality or femininity; in fact, many women embrace their new-found freedom from worries about becoming pregnant and the discomforts of menstruation.

For women who do experience uncomfortable symptoms during menopause, there are many options for treatment. While some women opt for hormone replacement therapy, a growing number of women are finding that lifestyle changes and natural remedies are highly effective in easing this mid-life transition.

* Causes of Menopause

As you approach middle age, your ovaries begin producing increasingly lower levels of estrogen and progesterone, two hormones that regulate menstruation and fertility. Fewer eggs are produced, and ovulation becomes less regular during this time.

Throughout this process, your periods may become unpredictable; eventually, your ovaries will shut down completely and menstruation will cease altogether.

Although some women menstruate every month until their final period, it is much more common to experience a gradual cessation of menstrual periods. This process can take several years, and it is not possible to predict which period will be your last.

* Symptoms of Menopause

Menopause symptoms vary from one individual to another; not all women experience the same indicators of the change of life, but the following are the most commonly recognizable signs:

- Irregular periods;

- Vaginal dryness;

- Hot flashes;

- Mood swings;

- Anxiety or depression;

- Sleep disturbances;

- Thinning hair;

- Increased abdominal fat;

- Decreasing fertility.

* Diagnosing Menopause

In the majority of cases, a description of the symptoms should be enough for your doctor to determine that you are going through the process of menopause.

Hormone tests can detect decreasing levels of estrogen and progesterone and confirm the diagnosis; in addition, hormone testing can rule out any other condition, such as impaired thyroid function (which can produce many of the same symptoms as menopause).

* Treating Menopause

In the past, many doctors treated women for menopause using hormone replacement therapy to replenish estrogen levels. However, amid increasing concerns about the dangers of hormone therapy (which include increased risks of heart disease and caner), women are more and more frequently turning to lifestyle adjustments and herbal remedies to treat their menopause symptoms.

- Lifestyle Changes and Home Remedies for Menopausal Women

Some simple adjustments in your day-to-day habits can alleviate many of the unpleasant symptoms and discomforts of menopause:

> Keep hot flashes under control. Dress in layers, so you can remove one or two when hot flashes strike. Exercise regularly, eat right, and try to identify and avoid things that cause them. Common triggers are alcoholic beverages, foods that are spicy, hot coffee or tea, hot rooms, and hot weather.

> Get plenty of sleep. Exercise during the day, but not too close to bedtime; this can increase melatonin levels necessary to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Avoid caffeinated beverages if you have trouble sleeping.

> Eat right. Good nutrition is more important than ever as you grow (gracefully) older, and getting plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lots of calcium can counteract many diseases associated with aging.

> Exercise regularly. Exercise reduces stress, helps to balance the neurotransmitters that regulate mood, controls hot flashes, and helps to prevent many age-related diseases. These include heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

> Don’t smoke. Smoking is never good for you. It increases stress levels, brings on hot flashes, and

contributes to heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. It is never too late to quit smoking.

> Combat vaginal dryness and discomfort with over-the-counter lubricants.

* Herbal Remedies for Menopause

Herbal treatments and natural supplements can effectively ease menopause symptoms safely, without the health risks associated with conventional medications. Many effective natural menopause treatments contain one or more of these herbal extracts:

- Ginseng increases the production of estrogen and protects against hot flashes;

- Dong quai helps to maintain reproductive system function, boosts heart health, and increases the efficacy of other herbs;

- Damiana increases libido and calms hot flashes;

- Black cohosh is a natural pain reliever;

- Aloe gel relieves vaginal dryness naturally;

- Sarsaparilla improves sexual desire;

- Calendula relieves vaginal dryness

- St. John’s Wort relieves mild depression.

In addition, many women find that soy products are extremely helpful in reducing hot flashes. Phytoestrogens are also helpful for relieving menopause symptoms, and they are often available in supplement form.

With herbal remedies and adjustments to your lifestyle, you can cope with menopause and enter the next phase of your life without undue distress or difficulty.

Visit http://www.HealthRemedies.com and receive FREE shipping on any order by entering the discount code FREE upon checkout. Valerie Balandra NP takes a naturopathic and functional medicine approach to help her clients achieve optimal health.

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Natural Remedies for Coping with Menopause

In the latest study that exonerates menopause as a cause of impairing the ability to recall, Taiwanese researchers compared the memory of hundreds of women before they had any menopausal symptoms to their memory as they entered menopause.

They found the women who were going through the menopausal process scored as well or nearly as well on five different cognitive function tests. Results of the study are to be presented Oct. 4 at the American Neurological Association annual meeting in Toronto.

“When women go into perimenopause, they don’t need to worry about cognitive decline,” said Dr. Jong-Ling Fuh, an attending physician at Taipei Veterans General Hospital and an associate professor of Yang-Ming University School of Medicine.

The researchers said the myth of memory loss during menopause is a perception some women have because as they went through menopause, they felt their memory wasn’t as sharp as it had been before. Studies suggesting that hormone replacement therapy might protect against dementia strengthened that belief. However, a large study later found that in older women, hormone replacement therapy not only didn’t help protect women from dementia, but could actually increase the risk.

To try to answer the question of whether menopause did have any effect on memory, Fuh and her colleagues studied nearly 700 premenopausal women living on a group of rural islands between Taiwan and China. The Taiwanese government restricted access to these islands until the 1990s, so the authors report that the study’s population was nearly homogeneous, which would help rule out other potentially causative factors of memory loss.

The women were between the ages of 40 and 54. None of them had had a hysterectomy, and none took hormone replacement therapy during the study.

All took five cognitive tests designed to assess their memory and cognitive skills at the start of the study, and then again 18 months later.

During the study period, 23 percent of the women began to have symptoms of menopause.

The researchers then compared the memory of the women who had entered menopause to those who had not, and found very little difference. In four of the five tests, there were no statistically significant differences in the two groups of women.

Only on one test was the difference statistically significant, and that difference, said Fuh, was very slight. This test was designed to assess verbal memory and involved showing the women 70 nonsensical figures. Some of the figures were repeated during the test, while most were not. The women were asked whether they had seen the figure earlier.

“For women, menopause does not mean you’ll develop memory loss,” said Dr. Raina Ernstoff, an attending neurologist at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. As you’re going through perimenopause and experiencing symptoms like hot flashes, she said, you may feel lousy and have trouble sleeping, which might temporarily affect your cognitive skills.

“I don’t think declining estrogen levels are what causes memory loss,” said Dr. Steven Goldstein, an obstetrician/gynecologist at New York University Medical Center in New York City. “It’s not like your memory is bopping along, doing fine and then takes this big dive during menopause, like bone density can.”

Both Ernstoff and Goldstein said they weren’t aware of many women who believed that menopause might cause significant memory loss. They also both felt that results from this group of women who were so homogeneous might not apply to different groups of women, such as those living in more industrialized society. And they both said that other factors that weren’t studied could play a role in memory loss, such as hypertension, which can contribute to vascular dementia.

Nathen Aswell is owner of Herbal Products Inc.
with resource on Menozac Articles and Womens Health Products . For more information on visit Herbal Products Inc.

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Menopause Symptoms and Memory Loss

When does menopause occur naturally?

The age that menopause can occur varies. If it is occurring naturally it usually begins occurring between the ages of 45 and 55. Western women, on average, go through it around 51 whereas in other Eastern countries the age is 44 years old. But do not let age by your only guideline. There are women who go through “the change” far earlier due to reproductive problems. There are other factors that can bring it on faster such as smoking. It is important that if you are experiencing irregular periods, hot flashes or any other perimenopause symptom, to consult your physician as soon as possible. There could be other medical problems happening. Plus you will want to review your options for easing some of the symptoms that come along with the cessation of menstruation.

Do all women experience the same symptoms?

No, not all women experience the same symptoms. Some may have a few mood swings and generally have an easy time during the transition period. Others may have many of the symptoms and be experiencing a much harder transition into menopause. If you are having a tough time coping with the symptoms and the emotional ups and down’s, you need to contact your physician so that he or she can help you find some relief. There are a wide range of products that may be able to help you find the correct balance so that you can function properly.

How can the symptoms be alleviated?

The symptoms of menopause can be relieved in several ways. One of the most common ways of treating the symptoms is to go straight to the source of the problem: the hormone fluctuation and decrease in production. Doctors will prescribe hormone replacement therapy to help the menopausal woman get through. The hormone replacement therapy is used not only to help alleviate the hot flashes and such but it is also used to help treat osteoporosis. The type of hormones used depends on whether or not there is a uterus present. If the uterus is present then the hormones used will be estrogen and progesterone. If the uterus has been taken due to a hysterectomy then estrogen alone is usually enough.

Are there risks in using hormone replacement therapy?

For a long time there were no known risks associated with using hormone replacement therapy. But that was in part because the studies did not have data on the long term effects. Today health officials know that there are some risks associated with the different types of hormone replacement therapy. They now know that there is an elevated risk of developing breast cancer. There is also the risk for developing cardiovascular problems. Women also have to be aware that risks could include high blood pressure, increased risk of uterine cancer and even blood clots.

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QA Menopause

Menopause Is Not a Mental Illness

One fact that is important for women to get straight is that menopause is not a mental ailment. Therefore, the constant use of antidepressants to relieve oneself of the burden of hot flashes during menopause should be avoided. Menopause is not in any way a mental disorder, therefore the treatment of symptoms of menopause with the use of antidepressants should be questioned if not scrutinized. While women in the past found relief from such medications when they entered their middle years and started feeling the trying symptoms that menopause brings, women these days actually have a choice. To be able to make that choice, let us find out how antidepressants help menopausal women handle their symptoms.

What Can Menopause Antidepressants Do?

What exactly can menopause antidepressants do for women who take them? Since antidepressants are often taken when women who are going through menopause experience hot flashes, let us evaluate how hot flashes are remedied by this medication. According to one theory, hot flashes are reputed to occur due to the disruption of the serotonin balance in a woman’s body. Since serotonin is also reputed to help control the body’s temperature, the imbalance of the serotonin levels in a woman’s system causes the hypothalamus to react to these confused signals and tries to get the body to cool down. This is when a woman starts to sweat and experience hot flashes. Since antidepressants are said to have components that help restore balance to the hypothalamus, it essentially helps reduce the occurrence of hot flashes in menopausal women.

Are Antidepressants Really Effective for Menopausal Women?

While there is not much proof of the effectiveness of antidepressants for women who suffer from hot flashes, some doctors continue to prescribe these medicines to women who are experiencing hot flashes during menopause. There have been studies that seem to suggest that the effect brought about by the ingestion of these antidepressants by menopausal women is nothing but a placebo effect. Some studies also suggest that the taking of these antidepressants for a long period to help alleviate the discomfort of hot flashes is not worth all the side effects some women experience. With these findings, a lot of women are now questioning doctors about the prescription of antidepressants for their menopausal problems. They often question the logic of taking antidepressants when they are not experiencing depression with their menopause. Since these antidepressants were formulated to treat mental health conditions and major depression, prescribing it even for mild depression much less for menopause is not advisable, even if it may offer a quick fix to those hot flashes a woman may feel.

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What You Should Know about Antidepressants used with Menopause

In A Nutshell

When a woman undergoes menopause, the different body systems, as well as the altered feedback mechanisms go through an overhaul as it tries to compensate for the loss of estrogen. The body tries to achieve homeostasis even with something lacking. In the event that there are other internal factors that further complicate things such as an existing sickness or a chronic illness, the imbalance within may further develop and worsen the current health state of the person.

When Diabetes Is Present

Diabetes is a chronic illness common to many people. It may be developed such as Type II diabetes or acquired during fetal development such as Type I diabetes. Both types have one thing in common: that the body is unable to produce enough insulin effect to synthesize the existing sugar in the blood, which therefore increases the overall amount flowing through the body systems.

What To Expect

Menopause and diabetes may work hand in hand in amplifying the negative effects currently present. For one, changes in blood sugar level may be more evident and fluctuating. Since estrogen and progesterone affects the way cells react to insulin, any fluctuations in the levels of the former would also directly affect the way blood sugar is synthesized. A woman having both health statuses may experience abrupt fluctuations.

Infections are also expected to rise because of the added fact that bacteria and yeast are able to invade and enter the vaginal area more easily as there is a decrease in estrogen which protects it from them in the first place. Having diabetes complicates things further by lessening the immune system’s responses to such attacks.

Another thing to consider is having sleeping problems. As this is evident to many women having post menopausal symptoms, the much needed sleep may aggravate the blood sugar regulation as people who lack sleep have a harder time managing their sugar levels.

No Easy Way But Strict Monitoring

These may have to be part of some women for a lifetime and there is no way out. However, those who are about to be in this situation, as well as those who are already in this, it would just be wise to observe proper diet and maintain proper hydration and health practices. It may be unfortunate that therapeutic regimen would have to be administered throughout, but saving one’s self from further complications would definitely be better than not.

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The Impact of Menopause on Existing Chronic Illnesses Such As Diabetes

Physiological Alterations

The actual phenomenon is only considered as such after a full year of the last menstrual period. At this time, it would then be safe to determine that there has been a consistent alteration in the reproductive system in which the capability to produce and support life through conception.

There are several signs and symptoms which would indicate that the fateful day is fast approaching.

Bleeding Duration And Frequency

Probably the most common sign to look out for in an upcoming menopause is to check for the bleeding pattern of menstruation. A persistent irregularity in menstrual pattern from a previously regular interval and duration is a strong indicator that the person is on her way to being in that stage. Some bleeding patterns include episodes of excessive bleeding, bleeding between periods, and decreased bleeding output.

Hot Flashes And Chills

Another common pre emptive symptom is the mild hot flashes. Unlike the full blown hot flashes experienced once it has fully set in, these mild hot flashes are slight feelings of internal warmth originating from any part of the body, and are potentially spread to nearby body areas. Furthermore, another difference would be that the duration of such sensation occurs only from a few seconds to a few minutes as opposed to several minutes. Chills, which occur after the main episode of a full blown hot flash, are not expected to be present during the preemptive stage’s similar symptom.

Reproductive System Slowdown

Vaginal changes are becoming more and more evident as one reaches menopause. For one, the changes in hormonal levels at this stage are altered. One of the most important hormones responsible for a sound menstruation is Estrogen. Since its production is significantly lessened, the activity of the reproductive organs such as the uterus, ovaries and the vagina are allocated with less focus. This in turn would cause the uterus to shrink a bit in size, the ovaries to stop working and producing egg cells, and the vagina having a harder time producing lubrication.

There are other symptoms which may also occur such as bone loss, increased cholesterol levels, weight gain, and the popular mood changes. However, these are not directly and solely linked to this condition, and are considered to be more of lifestyle related outcomes.

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When Menopause Strikes – Distinguishing the Signs and Symptoms

In most cases, women who are expecting a visit from this condition are consulting their health care provider to undergo various tests to get a rough estimate on when they feel the full brunt of menopausal or might be the result of other health conditions that you should be aware of.

Menopausal Women and Their Hormone Levels

The visible change in a menopausal woman’s emotional, sexual, and physical state is brought about by the gradual change in their hormone levels. Estrogen — a hormone that is in charge of maintaining the proper process of their reproductive system and other functions in their anatomy — is the main culprit that started these problems. Decrease of other hormones, like progesterone, may also trigger some abnormalities as well.

Keep in mind, however, that by determining the visible signs and symptoms may not be enough to diagnose if a woman is under the throes of menopausal. There is a possibility that these overt signals may be the cause of other health problems that might constitute a risk if left unchecked.

The only way to accurately check whether you are already in the pre-menopausal stage or is getting near the actual menopause condition is to have your blood test with your health care provider to take steps to counteract the more annoying and unbearable symptoms that comes with it.

Blood Testing

Undergoing a blood test is one way to determine whether you’re already in the menopausal stage or not. You don’t have to let the doctor look at your vagina just to know that it’s coming. This non-invasive way of determining the condition involves checking your level of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and other hormonal levels in the blood that is related to menopause.

Start of the menopausal cycle is usually brought about by the gradual decrease of your estrogen and progesterone levels. As your reproductive system starts to degrade, less functioning ovaries are developed that results to the drop in production of these much-needed hormones. Physical and emotional changes are evident when this hormonal imbalance takes place.

Also, it is quite possible that the signs and symptoms you are experiencing might not be related to this condition at all. Blood tests make it possible to determine if there are other health conditions that are triggering menopausal-like symptoms that might pose a bigger risk to your body.

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Ways of Detecting Menopause – Do Hormone Levels and Blood Tests Help?

Facts about the Condition

Menopause is simply the condition wherein a woman’s reproductive system ceases to function. Hormonal imbalance is evident as estrogen levels gradually drops that cause physical and emotional manifestations to crop up from time to time throughout the duration of the condition.

Before the main problem starts, women undergo perimenopausal for 12 months. This condition is evident when their menstruation slowly diminishes until to the point that they won’t have it at all.

In most cases, women undergo this condition when they reach their 50′s. Some women suffer early at the age of 40, but this is rare and is mostly seen on Asian women. Also, the signs and symptoms vary according to how their bodies adapt to the change. Some may prove to be minor irritation while others can be downright unbearable and painful.

Emotional Change

Women who are under the throes of menopausal might suffer from emotional and behavioral change due to the hormonal imbalance in their system. Common signs and symptoms include irritability, sadness, anxiety attacks — which will eventually lead to depression.

One of the reasons why women should know about the emotional angst that comes with menopausal is the possible risk to themselves, as well as to other people in the immediate surrounding. Unexplained sadness and anxiety attacks might lead to extreme cases of depression that may be attributed to cases of self-mutilation or suicide.

There were even scenarios wherein menopausal women who undergo drastic and extreme emotional change harming their children — both emotionally and physically.

Physical And Sexual Change

Menopause may also result to sudden change to a woman’s physical outlook, as well as to their sexual behavior. The female specifies might notice weight loss or weight gain during the condition. Some even observe of hair loss, skin dryness, allergic reaction, and the likes.

There were also cases that a woman’s sexual activity is blunted due to menopausal. Skin dryness may cause the vagina to be very sensitive during sexual intercourse — ending up in laceration or bleeding that may prove to be very painful if left unchecked. Reduced libido may cause women to lose interest in sex or having a hard time reaching orgasm that is attributed to their lack of passion to the activity.

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Preparing Yourself For Menopause – Facts You Need to Know About the Condition

The plethora of diets advertised today does not make it any easier in deciding which one really helps lose menopause belly fat. Certain diets propose eliminating specific foods or seriously curtailing your daily caloric intake, with other suggesting you live on cabbage soup Needless to say, such diets often fail in the long run as soon as you stop implementing them; if losing menopausal fat matters to you, then you need to inform yourself about what’s good for you and what isn’t. Therefore you will be able to alter your diet plan effectively to remove unwanted menopause belly fat.

Proteins are a very important food group in your diet weight plan.
Besides serving as the building blocks for your body’s muscle tissue, they also are key in satiating you for longer. Lean proteins such as chicken, turkey, cottage cheese and others are the best for losing menopausal fat and keeping your body satisfied. Eating them with each meal will help you fight your cravings for things that are not healthy for you.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not beneficial to your diet if you exclude carbohydrates completely. Alternatively, you need to distinguish between good and bad carbohydrates. Should you unwisely choose too many “bad” carbs, the resulting effort that your body will need to expend them will take away from it’s ability to burn menopause belly fat. What you need is complex slow digesting carbs, such as whole-wheat products, good fruits and vegetables with a lot of fiber to fill you up and prevent you from overeating.

Similarly, don’t forget to include fat in your diet plan. It doesn’t matter what some people will tell you. A dietician will tell you that there are both good and bad fats, and for you to choose more of the first category. But where to find them? You’ll find a great source of good fats in nuts, olive oil and avocados.

Find easy to follow diet plan that let you lose menopause belly fat without hassle.

Related sites:
Discover how you can lose menopause belly fat now!

Jackie Bruce is an expert on health and wellness.

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How To Fight Your Menopause Belly Fat

Did you know that estrogen was first offered as a prescription therapy for menopause symptoms 60 years ago?  Menopause is a natural part of a woman’s life cycle; yet it often comes with very uncomfortable symptoms.  Not all women suffer with menopause, but some experience symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal discomfort, to name a few.  In 1949 estrogen in the form of “premarin” was a welcome solution.

In 2002, women were shaken by the publication of a study by the National Institute of Health.  This study found that women receiving a particular form of estrogen/progesterone therapy had an increased risk of breast cancer, heart attack, stroke, and blood clots.  Since then there have been four significant changes in our use of estrogen:

1. We weigh the serious risks against the benefits of estrogen use;
2. We use lower doses for shorter periods of time;
3. Our interest in bioidentical hormones has increased; and
4. More women explore alternative ways to manage symptoms.

Why is Estrogen Therapy Widely Used?

For many women the benefits of estrogen therapy continue to outweigh the risks.  Key benefits of using estrogen are relief or protection from:

• Hot flashes,
• Night sweats,
• Insomnia,
• Moodiness,
• Vaginal dryness,
• Urinary tract infections,
• Depression,
• Memory problems,
• High cholesterol,
• Osteoporosis, and
• Colon cancer.

What are the Risks of Estrogen Therapy?

On the negative side of the equation, women have to consider side effects such as breast tenderness, vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, bloating, nausea, headache, moodiness, hair loss and aggravated endometriosis.  There are also serious risks to consider:

• Blood clots,
• Stroke,
• Heart attack,
• Breast cancer,
• Increased triglyceride levels,
• Gallbladder disease,
• Increased risk of dementia when started at age 65 or over , and
• Uterine cancer for women with ovaries (An estrogen/progestin combination is a solution).

Are Bioidentical Hormones Safer?

Some women feel safer with bioidentical hormones. These hormones are made from yam or soy and have the same chemical makeup as human estrogen.  Some can be prescribed and are approved by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration.  Others are unregulated and available over the counter.  Overall, there has not been enough scientific study of bioidentical alternatives for us to know how safe these treatments are.  They may have the same risks as other estrogen medications.

Deciding to Explore Estrogen Therapy

Women with the following medical histories and conditions should not take estrogen:

• Personal or family history of breast cancer,
• History of hormone-sensitive cancer,
• Unexplained uterine bleeding,
• Liver disease,
• Blood clots,
• Cardiovascular disease, and
• Gallbladder disease.

If you don’t have any of the above conditions and you are very stressed by menopausal symptoms, consider estrogen therapy options.  You may also want to explore lifestyle changes that reduce side effects and enhance the positive effects of medication.

Are you going through menopause and want to stay active, healthy, and feeling like yourself? Don’t wait another minute to relieve menopause symptoms and start a diet plan that works for your life!

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Menopause and Estrogen Therapy

Testosterone therapy may be beneficial to women in many different ways. Studies show that when women lose their libido, testosterone therapy may help as this is one of the signs that their body has a testosterone deficient present. Our bodies naturally produce testosterone (also called androgens) in the ovaries and adrenal glands. Testosterone is important to us before and after menopause because there are many benefits to this hormone:

• It improves our sexual desire
• It decreases the tenderness of our breasts
• Enhances our orgasms

Of course there are other benefits of testosterone therapy but this list is just to give you an idea of ways that it can potentially improve your health and lifestyle.

Testosterone therapy has been around since the 1930′s and women are still resistant to try it because there are a lot of myths that have placed fear in women. This therapy as with others has risk factors. Women can experience the development of facial hair, acne, over-sexuality and voice changes. I know this sounds like a lot but think of it this way; there is usually a price to pay for beauty and good health. Don’t you want your body to be in the best shape possible? Don’t you want to feel healthy like you did prior to reaching menopause? The best advice I can give to anyone would be to do all that you can to take care of your body. Getting older is a part of life that we cannot skip over and unfortunately it brings on some conditions that put our bodies through a bunch of tests but we can overcome these challenges with a lot of patience, hard work and perseverance. I am not telling you anything that I have not told myself time and time again.

I have not reached my menopause stage yet but soon I will and I welcome the transition and the challenge. As a woman, I know it seems that we have more difficulties with our health and our bodies than men but that is what makes us so unique and special. Men cannot have babies (well men born males cannot), they do not have to deal with the bleeding as a result of a menstrual cycle, they do not have to breast feed the children, but this does not make them any less susceptible of going through other health issues and it certainly does not make them the superior sex. Men still have health issues like prostate cancer of which we do not have to be concerned about. Remain positive.

Are you going through menopause and want to stay active, healthy, and feeling like yourself? Don’t wait another minute to relieve menopause symptoms and start a diet plan that works for your life!

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Testosterone and Menopause

You can make significant changes with your menopausal state by becoming more physically active. No ladies, get your minds out of the gutter, I am talking about through exercise. Exercise allows your body to use muscles that you no longer were aware worked, boost your energy levels and improve your health and mood. It is very common for a woman to go through menopause and have the need to change their daily activities and health habits while they are going through “the change” simultaneously.

How much do you weight? As a woman, that is one very touchy question that we seldom like to avoid. Realistically do you know how much you weigh? Do you know what your ideal weight is for a person your age, with your weight and height? This is extremely important to know so that you can have a general idea of the way you should look. I always tell people that we are all unique in design. What this really spells out to is do not expect to look like the person next to you, at the age and height that they are. We were all made different for a reason. I can assure you that if I check my weight and height for my age, it will more than likely say that I am obese. Am I obese? No.

Making better eating choices and watching what goes in your mouth will definitely improve your health. Now is the time to start drinking more water, counting your calories, watching your fat intake and consuming smaller portions of food. I definitely do not want you to become some health freak who begins to starve themselves or overeat in order to vomit later on. No, I want you to develop and continue healthy eating habits that can help you reduce the risks of other conditions like heart disease which can be linked to menopause. I cannot be by your side monitoring you everyday so I am trusting you to do the right thing. Do not let yourself and everyone else who cares for you down. Your life depends on it.

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Menopause and Healthy Living

It is a wrong notion that menopause only occurs in women. Menopause is a problem that occurs in men. Menopause in women is said to occur when the ovaries of women produce less and less amount of estrogen and after a certain period the production is completely stopped. Menopause is said to occur in women after the age of 40 years. The average age of women menopause worldwide is said to be 50.2 years.

Today we delve into the topic of male menopause. Male menopause is also known as Andropause. Andropause in men is caused due to low testosterone levels. Male menopause is also regarded as a natural cessation of the sexual function in elder man. Male menopause is also known as sexual regression in men over the age of 40 years due to decreasing hormone levels.

Men suffering from menopause also suffer from the same psychological and physical disorders as women in menopause. Men also suffer from low confidence level, mood swings and depression. Physically men suffer from decreasing levels of androgens and estrogens as women. Men also suffer from bone related disorders like osteoporosis. Men also lose sexual drive during male menopause. Women like men also suffer from the loss of sexual desire.

The decreasing hormone levels in men due to male menopause have a negative impact on the mood and mental abilities. There is lack of concentration on tasks, erectile dysfunction and urinary problems. Testosterone is a hormone produced by the testicles and it regulates the structure of all body proteins and the integrity of genitals in adult men. The other symptoms in case of male menopause is weight related disorders and obesity. The face looks aged and the muscles and the bone tissues begin to weaken. The body organs fail to function at their full potential. Then there is high blood pressure, clogged arteries, increased cholesterol and high estrogen levels add to the woes.
It is necessary that if any of the above symptoms persist for a long time, then a doctor’s opinion should be sought after. Testosterone Replacement Therapy is the most sought after treatment for male menopause. Testosterone Replacement Therapy can be prescribed in the form of injections, oral medication, gels and transdermal patches. Capsules are given to men who can’t take injections. Patches are also a very good option to ensure that testosterone is released steadily. Testosterone levels should be maintained at optimum levels to provide the best benefit to men suffering from menopause.

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Male Menopause