For some women, menopause could be a welcome phase in their lives. On average, it happens at around 51 years, and it means that your periods have stopped for at least twelve months.
Apart from the absence of the menstrual cycle, menopause may involve many impacts on the body. Some of these changes can be uncomfortable, while others could go unnoticed. To help you understand how menopause changes the body, here are common things you can notice:
- Weight Gain
Most women complain about losing their figure and putting on weight around menopause. Changing levels of hormone and slowing metabolism explain expanding waistlines.
Most women acknowledge the fact that a more sedentary lifestyle, eating or drinking too much, and lack of exercise contribute to weight gain. Weight gain is also popular in menopause since, after 40 years, the Basal Metabolic Rate slows down.
- Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are among the common menopause symptoms. They are basically a feeling of intense warmth in the body.
You may also notice some red blotches on the back and flushing on your neck or face. After having hot flashes, you may shiver or sweat.
- Vaginal Dryness
According to Midlife Makeover, after menopause, most women experience vaginal discomfort, pain, and dryness during sexual intercourse. In fact, researchers associated the changes in the vaginal cells with lower estrogens in women experiencing this complaint.
With a low estrogen level, the tissue in and around the vagina will become thinner, causing pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse.
- Insomnia and Trouble Sleeping
The hormonal change your body goes through may disrupt your sleep pattern and make it hard to fall asleep. During menopause, you will need estrogen that regulates sleep patterns.
Another reason you may lose sleep during your menopause is because of frequent urination. Anything, which prevents you from staying or falling asleep long enough may result in insomnia.
- Rising Blood Pressure
Estrogen is believed to help keep the blood vessels flexible. During post menopause, where the level of estrogen hits rock bottom, blood pressure rises, along with bad LDL cholesterol. This increases the risk of getting stroke and heart disease.
You can minimize this risk by exercising regularly, limiting sugar levels, and upping your intake of whole grains, low-fat dairy products, vegetables, fruits, and nuts.
- Experience Pain and Twinges
Some women normally experience pains and aches during menopause. Around 60% of menopausal women report joint pains.
One way to deal with joint pain is to take an anti-inflammatory diet. Rather than eating processed food, take lean protein and fresh vegetables and fruits.
- Bone Loss
Among the role of estrogen is to prevent the breakdown of bone. The decreased level of estrogen during menopause means that bone loss will start outpacing new bone building.
Women may lose around 20% of bone density after this period. However, this doesn’t mean you may end up with osteoporosis.
In Conclusion!
Menopause is basically a natural part of every woman’s life cycle. Following menopause, the risks of getting certain conditions, such as cardiovascular and osteoporosis, might increase.
To handle your symptoms, be sure to maintain a healthy diet and have enough exercise so as to avoid weight gain and high blood pressure.
