Menopause Troubles: Dealing with Common Issues Head-On

Menopause is one of the most challenging phases of a woman’s life, which begins when there isn’t any menstruation for twelve whole months. The end of your menstrual cycle marks the beginning of menopause. The time frame for menopause is between 45 and 55 years. But, on average most women in the United States experience menopause when they are around 51 years old. 

The symptoms start showing up earlier, which is the perimenopause stage, which mostly occurs when women are 40-44 years old.

The main challenges in menopause lie in managing the symptoms that affect our body and state of mind to the fullest.

What Are the Common Symptoms Women Go Through During Menopause? 

The main reason why women face a whole lot of symptoms in menopause is because of the low estrogen levels. Estrogens don’t just contribute to reproduction but have a whole lot of other functions as well. It has a major impact on the other systems as well like the cardiovascular system, nervous system, skeletal system, and so on. 

That’s why when the ovaries release a lesser amount of eggs and produce low levels of estrogen in the perimenopause phase, all of the other systems get affected [2]. To get vivid details on the symptoms of menopause, Simply Menopause will help you better. 

Hot Flashes

Hot flashes are the commonest of all menopausal symptoms. Around 75% of women experience hot flashes in the transition phase, during menopause, and even after menopause.  During an episode of hot flashes, women will experience sudden warmth in their neck, chest, and face. Hot flashes may even culminate in sweating. Each episode lasts for one or two minutes. Though sometimes it may prolong to five minutes as well. 

Night Sweats

Night sweats are an extension of hot flashes. Excessive heating causes the body to sweat to the extent that your bed sheet and night clothes may get drenched. Moreover, when hot flashes mostly occur at night, it is referred to as night sweats as well.

Vaginal Dryness

Estrogen plays a significant role in making the vagina elastic, lubricant, and thick as well. So, when there is a reduction in estrogen levels, the vaginal walls get thin. They may even become inflamed and dry as well. This triggers itchiness and irritation, making it dry. 

Weight Gain

A fluctuation in estrogen levels leads to the addition of extra calories, mostly around your abdomen, making it bulge. Leading an unhealthy lifestyle then may make things worse. It could put you at risk of diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems as well. 

Breast Fullness

Estrogens are responsible for the hydration and elasticity of the breasts. A dip in their levels causes the mammary glands to shrink. No wonder the breasts lose their firmness and shape, attaining a sagging appearance.  

Dry Skin

Sebum plays a significant role in lubricating the skin, protecting it against moisture [9]. Collagen, on the other hand, helps to keep the skin healthy and plump, preventing it from sagging [10]. Estrogen plays a significant role in maintaining the production of sebum and collagen content. 

When there is a drop in estrogen levels, sebum production slows, and there’s collagen loss as well. All these make the skin flaky, itchy, and dry. The skin loses its elasticity as well, giving it a wrinkled appearance. 

Thin Hair

Low estrogen levels lead to a shrinkage in the hair follicles, which makes the hair appear thin and fine. Women going through hair loss in menopause will experience hair fall at a faster pace. While their hair will grow at a slower pace. 

Brain Fog and Concentration Problems

It is a condition where someone loses concentration and focus, getting easily distracted. The low estrogen levels are to be mainly responsible for this condition. 2/3rds of the female population experience concentration problems during menopause.

How to Deal With The Menopause Troubles? 

When life has thrown a challenge at you in the name of menopause, you’ve got to fight it bravely rather than submit to it. Here are some tips: 

Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

To lessen the instances of hot flashes and night sweats, here’s all that you can do: 

• Keep a jug of cool water by your bedside. Drink it in sips when you sense that you’re about to have an episode of hot flashes.

• Wear breathable and loose-fitting clothes at bedtime. If your room is cold, then you could consider dressing in layers. 

• Spicy foods, cigarettes, alcohol, and caffeine are all triggers of hot flashes. Avoid them. Instead, make sure your diet has a lot of healthy fruits and vegetables.  

Vaginal Dryness

Vaginal dryness comes in the way of your sex life and also makes you feel immensely uncomfortable. Here’s what you can do: 

• Vaginal moisturizers, when applied inside the vagina frequently, will help to keep the lining of the vagina healthy. 

• Applying lubricants prior to sexual intercourse helps to lessen the discomfort that you may experience during sex, especially if you have vaginal dryness. 

Dry Skin

When you have excessively dry and itchy skin, here’s what you can do to keep it moisturized. 

• Omit the soap, as that makes the skin too dry. Instead, wash your body with a mild cleanser. 

• Moisturize your skin well after a bath and also during other times of the day, especially if your skin seems dry. 

• Eat healthy and keep yourself hydrated. 

• If none of the remedies work, you could get in touch with a dermatologist who could recommend antihistamines and anti-itch creams. 

Thin Hair

If you find your hair growing excessively thin to the extent that your scalp becomes visible, here are a few useful tips: 

• Maintain a healthy diet of fruit, whole grains, and vegetables. Also, drink green tea, and take folic acid and vitamin B6 supplements for restoration of hair growth. 

• Stay away from straightening irons and hair dryers to prevent breakage of hair. 

Brain Fog

If remembering things is becoming a tedious task, indeed, here’s what you can do to make things better. 

• Enhance your thinking capacities by engaging in new and challenging activities. It could include anything like solving a puzzle cube, playing chess,  and so on. 

• Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet to strengthen your brain health. 

Weigh Gain

To keep your weight in control, which is mostly on the rise during menopause, here’s what you must try: 

• Engage yourself in physical exercises. These must include strength training and aerobic exercise.

• You need to cut down on your calorie intake and focus on foods that control your weight. Find healthier substitutes. 

Conclusion 

The majority of the menopausal symptoms may, on average last for about four years. But, some women may experience it for longer. A lot depends on your way of living and overall well-being. When you eat healthy and have a positive state of mind, you’re to feel way too much better.