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Women's Health
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While menopause is commonly associated with women ages 50 and older the prime age to experience the onset of menopause menopausal symptoms often begin appearing in women as young as 30 and can have a dramatic effect on one’s overall health and quality of life. As a result, women of all ages are encouraged to become more aware of the warning signs and symptoms of menopause so they may consult their physician and maintain optimum health. While menopause is a naturally occurring part of life that affects an estimated 42 million women in the United States, is also is a condition to be taken seriously as it can have long-term effects on one’s overall health and well-being. Because menopause will affect each and every woman at some point in their lives, it is important that they take note of any irregularities in their day-to-day health and consult their physician to explore treatment for it if warranted. Those who do not are putting themselves at increased risk of developing such conditions as osteoporosis and heart disease. The following are some of the more commonly occurring symptoms of menopause: Irregular menstruation: One of the first warning signs of the onset of menopause is an irregular menstrual cycle. Your period may spontaneously become lighter, heavier or suddenly cease altogether. Consult a physician immediately if your period occurs more than every 21 days, lasts longer than eight days, or occurs after six months or more without a period. Hot flashes: As the estrogen level drops, blood vessels expand rapidly, causing skin temperature to rise, resulting in hot flashes that can last from 30 seconds to several minutes with the frequency and duration varying from person to person. As one sweats, and as the sweat evaporates from the skin, you may feel chilled, weak or slightly faint, and red blotches may appear on your chest, neck and arms. Sleep disturbances/night sweats: Night sweats are often a consequence of hot flashes, whereby one awakens from a sound sleep with soaking night sweats followed by chills. There may be difficulty falling back to sleep or achieving a deep, restful sleep, which can affect overall mood and health. Appearance changes: During menopause, women may find that their body fat begins concentrating in their waist and abdomen instead of on the hips and thighs. A loss of fullness in breasts, thinning hair and wrinkles in the skin may occur and the onset of acne may occur. In addition, coarse hair may grow on your chin, upper lip, chest and abdomen. Urinary incontinence: During menopause some women experience occasional problems with bladder control, such as when coughing or laughing. This happens because the muscles surrounding the bladder become weaker when estrogen levels decrease. Vaginal changes: As one’s estrogen level declines, the tissues lining the vagina and urethra the opening to your bladder become drier, thinner and less elastic. With decreased lubrication you may experience burning or itching, along with increased risk of infections of the urinary tract or vagina. These changes can make sexual intercourse uncomfortable or even painful. Decreased fertility: When menopause causes ovulation to fluctuate, it becomes less likely that you can become pregnant. Pregnancy is still possible, until one year passes between periods. A number of steps may be taken if one is experiencing any or all of the above symptoms. While it may seem obvious, a balanced diet, regular exercise and not smoking will help stave off menopause. Special exercises also may be recommended by a physician to strengthen the pelvic area, thus reducing many menopausal-related symptoms. If addressed proactively, women can avoid having their lives overturned by menopause and cope with the condition as a natural stage of their lives. Dr. Carol Kaminskas is a board-certified OB/Gyn and principal member of Orange Coast Women’s Medical Group in Laguna Hills, one of Southern California’s foremost medical practices dedicated exclusively to treating women. Information: www.ocwmg.com or call 949.829.5500. |
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