As a woman enters the beginning phase of menopause she has a series of choices to be made. This natural and transitional phase of life can be viewed as such, or depending upon her outlook on the situation it can be a negative and emotionally upsetting experience. Much debate has existed over the years about whether menopause is a blessing, a curse, or a mixture of both. Social attitudes and individual perspectives shape the way each individual woman will deal with the menopausal stage of life.
Handling Menopause the Wise Way
Wisdom implies gaining knowledge and applying it. By understanding what precisely is happening on a physical and emotional level, women are better equipped to deal with menopause. Some women will have few symptoms and no real issues through this transitional process. Some others may have symptoms that cause distress and in rare occasions, somewhat debilitating consequences.
What to do When the Symptoms of Menopause Cause Distress?
When the symptoms of menopause become so intense or severe that they alter the way you feel physically or emotionally, then it’s time to use common sense and seek a remedy that will bring you relief. There is no reason to allow a natural process to rob you of an ounce of joy in life.
Symptoms of Menopause
Some of the symptoms of menopause that can be troubling include hot flashes, night sweats, mood disorders, depression, bladder incontinence, panic attacks and or heavy periods. There are treatments available that are highly effective in lessening and controlling the effects of moderate to severe symptoms. Your medical provider is best able to advise you on the best choices for you in consideration of past and current health information.
Causes of the Symptoms of Menopause
When the body transitions from fertility to a cessation of the reproductive phase, the ovaries stop releasing eggs and estrogen levels in the body rapidly decrease. Estrogen is responsible for helping to maintain many of the body’s functions and this is why some women experience the symptoms that they do. Each woman responds to these changes differently. Replacing low hormone levels can help bring an easing of the symptoms.
Medical Treatment for Menopause
The standard medical treatment for menopause is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). While this has been shown to be the most effective way of alleviating most of the symptoms of menopause, it does have a higher risk of side effects and the development of potentially serious health conditions down the road. Some of these risks include cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.
Common Sense Treatments for the Symptoms of Menopause
Natural remedies carry little or no side effects and have not been shown to pose long term risks, such as those found in synthetic hormone replacement therapies. Plants containing natural compounds known as isoflavones and phytoestrongens are a wise alternative to the potentially harmful effects of HRT. Phytoestrogens and isoflavones act like estrogen in the body and in a natural way, help to bring the body chemistry back in to balance. This provides relief of troubling symptoms for many women who have had considerable discomfort from menopausal symptoms.
Lifestyle Changes
Eating a healthy and balanced diet, getting restful sleep, alleviating stress and avoiding unhealthy habits such as excessive alcohol and tobacco consumption can also help to relieve some of the symptoms of menopause. Another great alternative is to get moderate exercise. Meditation and yoga also hold promise for relieving stress and helping to ease any emotional discomforts that arise.
Conclusion
There are many different ways that women can approach the stage of menopause, but the wisest way is to begin with information. By learning about the changes that are occurring in your body, and what is causing these changes, you will be better equipped to cope with them. Knowing that there is common sense and effective solutions to help ease any discomfort that you may experience will also give you peace of mind. Taking a positive mental approach to a naturally occurring life stage is the best way to deal with the things that you cannot change. Menopause is merely the closing of a chapter in a woman’s life, and the opening of another. By embracing the changes and loving yourself, you are choosing with wise way of approaching menopause.
