Thriving with Menopause

Menopause is the event in a woman’s life when her period stops. This typically happens between the ages of 45 to 55. The process begins when a woman’s ovaries stop producing two hormones: estrogen and progesterone. While menopause occurs naturally, this can be overwhelming for any woman to experience both physically and emotionally.

Menopause signifies one of the first steps of aging for a woman. While many women consider menopause to be a time of liberation from their menstrual cycles, others may feel less comfortable with losing their feminine regularity. The important thing to remember is that menopause and aging are naturally occurring stages of life which can be appreciated for their own benefits. Menopause also comes with its own set of physical side effects, which can be managed in order to ease the aging process for women. 

Most women first begin developing menopause symptoms about four years before their last period. Symptoms often continue until about four years after a woman’s last period. Here is a list of symptoms and treatments that can help manage menopause:

• Hot flashes and night sweats: Reduce consumption of spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes, and anything causing excess stress! Exercise and practice abdominal breathing techniques. Stay cool with a fan and wear lightweight, looser-fitting clothes made with natural fibers such as cotton.
• Insomnia: Use OTC sleep medications to temporarily manage your insomnia or consider discussing natural sleep aids with your doctor.
• Anxiety, depression, memory problems, or difficulty concentrating: Practice relaxation and breathing techniques, such as yoga, box breathing, and meditation
• Dry skin, mouth, and eyes: Apply moisturizers daily to reduce skin dryness. You should also avoid excessive bathing or swimming, which can dry out or irritate your skin.
• Sore or tender breasts, headaches, painful or stiff joints: Reduce salt consumption and drink more water to stay hydrated. Exercise regularly, wear supportive bras, and taking hot showers can help support strong bodies in old age.

Maintaining healthy habits in old age can always benefit the aging process. Continuing to exercise, quitting smoking, and taking natural supplements and vitamins can particularly help reduce the severity of menopause symptoms. Some limited studies have also supported the use of herbal remedies including soy, vitamin E, isoflavone, melatonin, and flax seeds to limit menopause symptoms. If you or an aging loved one is ever struggling to receive the proper medical attention or aging support, WellPath Partners has a variety of resources and connections to help you with any of your aging needs.

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By Prithvi Chauhan