Do I Need Medical Treatment for Menopause?

At least 50 percent of women do nothing about menopause because they consider it a normal transition in life.

Women most likely to seek medical assistance during menopause are those experiencing severe menopausal discomfort or those at risk for developing serious health conditions that can occur during the middle and later years of life when hormone production changes. After a woman's body has made the hormonal adjustments, she faces post-menopausal changes in her body that may require serious attention in order for her to maintain optimal health into her later years of life.

Many women consult a physician when their menstrual periods become irregular in order to find out what's happening in their bodies; or, after their periods initially stop they wonder if they might be pregnant. (It is possible to become pregnant after your periods have stopped, so doctors advise that you should wait one year before discontinuing birth control.) Although a simple blood test can determine whether your body has menopausal hormone levels, blood hormone levels in many women become so erratic during the menopausal transition that menopause could be indicated by the test one week and the next week the results could be different.

Be sure to report to your doctor all discomforts or symptoms of abnormal health conditions you are experiencing, especially heart palpitations or bone discomfort. Now is the time to be very candid with your doctor about your personal health history and any medications you take--prescription and over-the-counter--and to discuss your genetic family health history in detail. This information provides a road map you and your doctor can follow to determine what your future health care needs may be, what preventive health care you may need, and what lifestyle changes may be beneficial. Various medical evaluations may be required to ensure that you are not at risk for serious immediate or long-term health conditions.

As your menopause proceeds, your doctor may want to schedule regular checkup appointments. The frequency of those visits usually depends on your current health status, your health risks, and any medications you are taking, including HRT if you decide it is the right choice for you. The average period of time during which a woman is aware of her menopausal transition is usually five to seven years, although some women may not know for sure when it starts or when it's over. After your body has made the hormonal adjustment, completing menopause, postmenopausal changes that occur in your body may require serious attention or lifestyle changes in order for you to maintain optimal health into the later years of life. The likelihood that you'll have postmenopausal health problems that could lead to serious disorders or disease is based on your personal health status, genetic family health history, lifestyle, and dietary habits before menopause, during menopause, after menopause, and into later life.

Note: When a woman's ovaries are surgically removed before she reaches natural menopause, she will go through menopause immediately.

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Skin Changes During Menopause

During the course of the natural menopause process, many women notice surprising changes in the texture and appearance of their skin. Most women begin noticing a generalalized all-over drying of the skin. They also start to notice wrinkles forming where the skin has begun drying.

It is common to turn to estrogen based hormone replacement therapy to treat these and other menopause-related skin problems. The side effects from this type of therapy, though, can lead to further problems. If a cream form of estrogen is used on the affected areas, it can act as a moisturizing agent. However, this cream is unavailable n the United States so most doctors are unable to prescribe it. Progesterone cream has also been successful as a moisturizer, but most doctors believe the side effects outweigh any benefits of prescribing it to their patients. However, there are a number of anti-aging, non-prescription creams that are gaining popularity, and most of them are very effective. It is helpful to keep in mind though, that aging skin is a part of growing older. To some degree, accepting it instead of fighting it may help you retain abetter overall self-image. If you do attempt to use something like estrogen cream, you may have to live with side effects such as general weight gain or darkening skin.

If your skin loses its tone or the wrinkles appear rapidly, it may be an indication of collagen loss. This can result in more serious problems, like collagen loss in the bones. This may indicative of osteoporosis. If you suspect that this is the case, you should consult your physician immediately.

As your skin ages during menopause, you are more prone to developing broken capillaries or spider veins that are visible to the naked eye. One of the best available means to prevent these is full body moisturization. You can begin by increasing your daily regular water consumption. It is also beneficial to supplement your diet with raw flaxseed oil. It can be added to vegetables or salad. Using herbal liposome-containing skin products can also help moisturize your skin. Liposomes transport moisture to the cells below the epidermal layer. This can protect and benefit your overall skin tone.

There are a number of other available products that may moisturize your skin during menopause. Apricot kernel oil, Cocoa butter, olive oil, and almond oil have all been proven to be quite helpful at hydrating the skin. Alpha hydroxy acids naturally rejuvenates the skin by exfoliating it. Check the product labels on these products, to ensure that concentrations contain at least eight percent alpha hydroxy acid. Fruit acids are also effective to promote skin rejuvenation. Two popular examples are papaya and strawberry pastes.

Learn to live with your post-menopausal skin. Take care of it and protect it by remaining out of the sun and applying daily sun screen. Use only products that you know to be effective on your skin. Always consult your doctor or healer when you have concerns or are trying something new.

Mary Brown writes for several online magazines, such as http://fotid.com and http://parip.com.

How To Manage Menopause Symptoms

Menopause is defined as the ending of the menstrual cycle due to the advancement in age of the species that experiences such cycles. Many people refer to the onset of menopause as "the change of life". Typically, the onset of menopause occurs when the ovaries cease to produce estrogen, which will eventually be the cause of the reproductive system shutting down. When this process begins to occur symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, depression and lack of mental focus are quite common. Additionally, women can experience a need to urinate frequently along with vaginal dryness and erratic menstrual cycles.

The duration of menopause typically lasts for about a year but can range anywhere from six months to as long as five years. Usually, menopause is simply something that occurs due to an advancement in age although it can also be brought about by procedures such as a hysterectomy or by the start of illnesses such as cancer.

The average age of women suffering from menopause is about fifty years old however, there are many cases of younger women experiencing menopause at younger ages. This is often defined as premature menopause and some instances premature menopause is brought about by disorders such as thyroid disease or diabetes. A very interesting fact concerning premature menopause is that many fraternal as well as identical twins suffer from menopause around the age of forty. Health care professionals have not yet totally discovered the reasons for this occurring. Women that are post-menopausal have an increased likelihood of developing osteoporosis and it is recommended by many doctors that they begin taking some type of calcium supplement.

The following are some extremely common symptoms of those that are suffering from the onset of menopause. Women can experience hot flashes, chills as well as night sweats and other disruptions in normal sleeping patterns. Vaginal itching, bleeding in addition to incontinence and the need to urinate frequently are also very common symptoms of menopause. Many women also experience mood swings, high irritability, decreased sexual desire and slight memory loss. Women over the age of fifty are warned against the dangers of osteoporosis once they have reached post menopause.

There are several ways in which women that are experiencing menopause can find relief from the symptoms that they are experiencing.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a very common treatment for those suffering from menopause. However, this type of treatment raises some arguments from some health care professionals. Some in the medical field believe that HRT is not very effective and can cause more harm than good to women undergoing treatment as many have experienced side effects such as heart problems related to the treatments.

A change in the dietary habits of some women have shown to have produced a reduction in the symptoms commonly associated with the onset of both premature menopause and menopause. Adding a comfortable exercise routine to compliment the positive dietary changes has been able to produce even more beneficial results in the treatment of menopausal symptoms.

Some women that have been diagnosed as going through menopause have chosen to treat their symptoms with herbal remedies such as black cohosh and red clover. Others have increased the amount of calcium that take to help ward off the effects that menopause can have on their bones.

The best possible way to be able to handle and treat either the onset of menopause or premature menopause is to become well educated on the subject. Ask your doctor all the questions that you can think of and never be afraid of asking a question you might think is silly. If you have friends or relatives that have gone through menopause talk to them about their experiences and the things that they did to treat their symptoms. The Internet is a plethora of information about both menopause and the treatments used for its symptoms. You may also be able to find online support groups if you find yourself needing some support in dealing with this change in life. Being well informed will help you be able to make the choices that are going to be the most beneficial to you whilst treating menopause.

Learn more about menopause symptoms and remedies at MenoRemedies.com

Menopause-Related Acne

Menopause has many interesting, seemingly unrelated symptoms. Women can experience any combination of mood swings, insomnia, hot flashes, extreme night sweats, achy joints, headaches, irritability, anxiety, trouble concentrating, and even acne. Some women avoid menopause-induced acne, but for at least one in ten menopause sufferers, pimples and blemishes are a genuine problem. Some women have avoided pimples since they were teenagers, yet suddenly the have a face full of them. The truth is, though, teens and menopausal women have a number of things in common. Acne is typically a result of hormone swings, which occurs extensively throughout puberty and menopause. It can be very frustrating for women to endure the added embarassment of blemishes when they're struggling to deal with all of the other symptoms of menopause.

Menopausal acne occurs for much the same reason that acne occurs during any other life stage. The skin contains millions of sebaceous glands. These glands produce oil, scientifically termed sebum. Skin cells are constantly regenerated. Old ones die, are sloughed off and quickly replaced. When body hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA run rampant, the sebaceous glands become sensitive and start producing more sebum than necessary. More skin cells begin to die. As a result, not only do you have a surplus of facial oil, you also have a surplus of dead skin cells. Your body cannot rid itself of the unwanted oil and dead cells fast enough. Facial skin follicles get clogged with oil and dead cells.

White heads occur as a result of bacteria. Excess sebum builds up under the skin, naturally-occuring bacteria and the oil combine, creating an inflamed area filled with white puss. Blackheads also occur as a result of the combining of bacteria and oil with the addition of air that has leaked in. As a result, the material caught in the pore turns black. Menopausal acne identical to other acne, however. Both the follicles and sebaceous glands on the face contain an enzyme. This particular enzyme can turn estrogen into the hormone androgen testosterone. This has the ability to increase oil production even further. This leads to even more breakouts than a woman probably had as a teenager.

Menopausal acne can be extremely frustrating. There are, however, ways to alleviate it. Begin by examining your diet. It is important to eat foods that are high in fiber and calcium. It is also recommended to cut back on your fat and carbohydrate intake. Carbohydrates can turn insulin into androgen testosterone. This androgen too can increase the skin's sebum production. Additionally, you might want ensure that you are consuming eight to ten glasses of water each day.

In addition to dietary changes, you might want to consider the addition of dietary supplements. There are so many widely-available herbs vitamins, and minerals that can help alleviate the body's excess oil production. Studies suggest that it is beneficial to add Vitamin B and Vitamin C to your diet. In addition to diet and supplements, you should cleanse your skin a minimum of twice daily. Regular exfoliation rids the skin of those dead cells. Also, it is beneficial to use a toner to close open pores.

William Miller enjoys writing for several popular online magazines, on health and fitness and women's health topics.

Is Hrt Treatment Advisable For Treating Perimenopause

Menopause begins on the date of your last menstruation. The time before this is called the perimenopause. It starts due to the reduced functioning of the ovaries and can cause mood fluctuations and other physical problems. Ovulation during this time is sporadic or may cease completely. The frequency of menstrual cycles becomes irregular as well as the flow. This phase may last up to ten years before menstruation finally stops.

Usually women experience symptoms like mood swings, altered sex drive and others which are very similar to PMS. The symptoms vary from woman to woman. Some suffer night sweats but not hot flashes. Severe and rapid mood changes, headaches and sleep disorders are common symptoms. Some women experience lack of sex drive accompanied by vaginal dryness and consequent painful intercourse. One of the very frequent problems is difficulty in concentrating. You don?t seem to forget everything and feel that you are losing your mind. There is a story of such a woman in a furniture store who wanted to call her husband to request him to come and pick up the table which she just bought. She just could not remember her own phone number. Her previous sales slips helped the salesclerk to locate her number. Such forgetfulness is common to women going through perimenopause.

Making some changes in your food habits and lifestyle can bring relief to perimenopausal symptoms. Foods rich in soy and flax combined with regular exercise help. Vitamin E supplements and a few herbal treatments are considered effective too.

A viable treatment option is Hormone Replacement Therapy, or HRT. To keep a balance in the hormone levels, a low dose birth control pill may be advised. An antidepressant to manage the mood swings and a progesterone to handle the PMS symptoms are two popularly prescribed medicines.

In the light of the many controversies surrounding HRT during the past few years, it is wise to discuss the clinical studies with the doctor before you decide which treatment is good for you. The doctor could prescribe an estrogen replacement therapy, or may find HRT suitable which is a mix of estrogen and a synthetic progesterone. Of course there are equal amount of advantages and disadvantages of HRT.

Study results published in 2002 showed HRT resulting in an increased chance of heart attack, blood clots and breast cancer. Chances of fracture and colorectal cancer however are reduced. The results never showed any protection against cognitive disorders and dementia for women above 65 years of age.

If your choice of therapy is HRT, the Food and Drug Administration advises to take the lowest dosage for the shortest duration of time. A estrogen-progesterone combination or estrogen-only treatment is no longer considered viable for the prevention of cardiac attacks.

HRT can be administered in various ways : estrogen-only pills, estrogen-progesterone combination pills, estrogen patches and cream. Pills can be taken in cycles or non-stop. The cyclic intake pills may result in breakthrough bleeding that is monthly, whereas continuous pill regimen may cause irregular bleeding, if at all.

Hormone patches are available. These skin patches when applied on the abdomen or buttocks release estrogen or estrogen-progesterone combination into the bloodstream. Patches are to be kept from three and a half day to seven days. When you apply a new patch, the old one is thrown away. Monthly bleeding may result from the use of patches.

Vaginal creams which release estrogen are also available. Smeared in the area locally around the vulva, eases vaginal dryness and urinary problems.

The best part about HRT is that it can be personalized to suit individual needs. Women should always inform the doctor if there is any discomfort which she feels or any side effects. The treatment can then be modified to alleviate the symptoms.

A woman experiencing perimenopausal symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats and mood fluctuations does have many choices for treating them. Only a doctor can tell you whether you should go for HRT. Or you go for herbal cures, physical exercise or other natural remedies. In case you find that you are not getting adequate relief by using these medications, then you should seriously consider HRT.

Amanda Thompsen is a staff writer at Aging Guide and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including Wellness Digest.

Early Menopause

Early or premature menopause is defined as menopause before the age of 40. Premature ovarian failure, surgery, and chemotherapy may all result in early menopause. About one in a hundred women may experience early menopause; some may be teenagers or in their twenties. Symptoms of early menopause tend to be very similar to those of normal menopause. Changes in the timing and duration of menstrual periods and hot flashes are common.

In some women, early menopause may be due to failure of the ovaries and is called premature ovarian failure. It is thought that such failure is due to hormonal, autoimmune or genetic processes, which result in a depletion in the number of viable eggs in a woman?s ovaries. This depletion may be complete, or, in approximately ten percent of women who have premature ovarian failure, partial. These women have a reduced but possible chance of becoming pregnant. Recent research has shown that female twins may be up to four times more times more likely than other women to undergo spontaneous early menopause. Either or both twins may be affected.

Surgery is another cause of early menopause. When the ovaries are removed or damaged during surgery, there is a rapid reduction in estrogen and progesterone levels and the immediate onset of menopause. Because the hormonal changes are so abrupt, menopausal symptoms tend to be more intense.

Women who undergo chemotherapy for cancer treatment may have premature menopause. Cancer-killing drugs may damage other tissues too, including ovarian tissue. Tamoxifen, a drug prescribed in certain types of breast cancer, has an anti-estrogen effect and can also trigger early menopause. Sometimes, chemotherapy-induced menopause may be temporary.

Early menopause can be extremely distressing, particularly when it occurs in younger women who may not yet have had children or completed their families. Besides treatment of menopause symptoms, some women benefit from counseling to address emotional issues.



Menopause provides detailed information on menopause, early menopause, male menopause, menopause and osteoporosis and more. Menopause is affliated with Endometriorsis And Infertility.

How To Lose Weight After Menopause..

I was recently asked this question by a female customer:

- Since I've been going through menopause, I can't seem to lose one pound. Do you have any special advice for me? It's very hard to just keep dieting and dieting and see no results.

My answer:

Seeing results in your weight loss program is the best motivator there is. As we age, it gets harder to build muscle and lose fat. We will all go through this phase. Now, should we surrender? Of course not. A woman in her 50+ can still totally transform her body...

First of all, make sure you follow the fundamentals:

- Drink a lot of water

- Eat six smaller meals a day instead of three big ones

- Exercise

Weight training in particular becomes EVEN MORE important as we age. This will allow us to age with grace and not be "crippled".

Women especially tend to suffer from osteoporosis after menopause. Weight lifting helps keep your bones stronger and "denser". By following the proper steps, you can lose fat - no doubt about it. However, the older we get, the less forgiving our body becomes so we don't have that wide of a margin for errors or for "messing around".

If you follow a proper fat loss plan, you will lose fat and increase muscle - it's just that this will happen at a slower pace than if you were in your early 20's or 30's.

I'm not a doctor and I try to avoid answering "medical" questions - but I'll give you a hint: Talk to your doctor about hormone-replacement therapy. There may be a way for you to "turn back the clock" so to speak. Don't talk to just any doctor who is clueless. Find a smart endocrinologist who is "human" and understands what you are trying to do (lose fat and build muscle so you are stronger and look sexier) and see if he can recommend something that will help you. Ask questions and see if he has experience with this type of treatment. You don't want to be nobody's guinea pig...

Something else that is important is your mental perspective. Did you know that many people die a few years after they retire from their job? This can happen in their 70s or even their 60s or 50s. Age isn't really important. What's interesting is that these people say: "Ok, since I'm retired, that's it, I'm finished." Then, they get depressed and give up on life completely.

Going through menopause can have a similar effect on a woman's body. The trick is to know how to fight back. In any case, DON'T QUIT. Some people live up to 120. Being 52 years young is far to early to say that you are "finished". See? It's all a matter of perspective...

Why Almost Everyone Is Dead Wrong About Weight Loss - Including How To Lose Up To 28 Pounds in 4 Weeks And Keep it off - Without Diet Pills or Aerobics and Without Feeling Hungry. Lose weight with this simple weight loss program.

The Yoga of Menopause

 

It?s big news when a favored medical treatment ? HRT for menopausal women ? is found to be harmful. But it?s no news to readers of Susun Weed. She?s been blowing the whistle on both scientific and alternative treatments of menopause for nearly two decades. Read on to find out more!

Susun maintains: ?Menopause is not a ?pathology?, but a passage to power. Like puberty, menopause is a natural ? and healthy ? change. Wise women the world over herald menopause as a health-promoting event. They see hot flashes as ?power surges? and menopause as an intense spiritual journey. Most treatments ? including ERT, HRT, isoflavone, and progesterone creams ? disrupt this process and can do severe damage to a woman?s health.?

MENOPAUSE IS ENLIGHTENMENT

The energy aspects of menopause are of special interest to me.

As a long-time student of yoga, I was struck by the many similarities between menopausal symptoms and the well-known esoteric goal of "awakening of the kundalini." Though the ideas presented in this section may seem strange or difficult to comprehend, they contain powerful messages about menopause, which lie at the heart of the Wise Woman approach.

Kundalini [is] the root [of] all spiritual experiences ... Kundalini is a special kind of energy known in many cultures, including Tibetan, Indian, Sumerian, Chinese, Irish, Aztec, and Greek. Kundalini is said to be hot, fast, powerful, and large. It exists within the earth, within all life, and within each person. Psychoanalyst Carl G. Jung called kundalini anima. Kundalini is usually represented as a serpent coiled at the base of the spine, but women's mystery stories locate it in the uterus - or the area where the uterus was, if a hysterectomy has occurred. During both puberty and menopause, a woman's kundalini is difficult to control and may cause a great number of symptoms.

East Indian yogis spend lifetimes learning to activate, or wake up, their kundalini. This is also called "achieving enlightenment". When they succeed, a surge of super-heated energy goes up the spine, throughout the nerves, dilating blood vessels, and fueling itself with hormones. As kundalini continues to travel up the spine, it changes the functioning of the endocrine, cardiovascular, and nervous systems. Not just in yogis, but in any woman who allows herself to become aware of it. Menopause is a kind of enlightenment. Hot flashes are kundalini training sessions.

TAKING HORMONES? THESE HERBS ARE FOR YOU

More and more American women are using herbal remedies to help them with menopausal problems. Those who do take ERT (estrogen replacement) or HRT (hormone replacement) may be surprised to discover that herbal medicine has a lot to offer them as well.

Herbs for women on ERT/HRT include those that alleviate side-effects as well as those that counter problems caused by the hormones.

Herbal Helpers Counter Side-Effects

Water retention is the symptom most often cited for dissatisfaction with hormone replacement. Herbal tinctures and tea, such as dandelion or cleavers, and ordinary foods can not only relieve the distress, they will go to the root of the problem and help prevent recurrences.

Dandelion root tincture (Taraxacum officinale) strengthens the liver and helps it process out the excess hormones you are taking. When the liver works well, the kidneys work better, and tissues no longer bloat. A dose is 10-20 drops in several ounces of water or juice 2-3 three times a day. If you have any digestion problems, take your dandelion before meals; otherwise, anytime is fine. You can safely take dandelion daily for months or years if you need or want to.

Cleavers herb tincture (Galium molluga) tells the lymphatic tissues to get moving. Relief from edema is usually rapid when 20-30 drops are taken in several ounces of water or juice. Repeat up to six times at hourly intervals if needed. Cleavers is especially helpful for easing swollen, sore breasts.

Foods that relieve water retention include (in order of effectiveness): asparagus, nettles, corn (and corn silk tea), grapes, cucumbers, watermelon (and watermelon seed tea), parsley, celery, black tea, and green tea.

Headaches are the second most common side-effect of hormone use. Unfortunately, they are common among menopausal women not taking hormones, too. Herbs that help relieve headache without a drug-like action - such as dandelion, yellow dock, milk thistle, burdock, garden sage, skullcap, and St. John's/Joan's wort - are generally considered safe to take with hormones.

Chinese herbalists say headaches are caused by liver stress. My favorite liver-strengthening herbs are dandelion, yellow dock, milk thistle seed, and burdock. I use one at a time, a 15-25 drops of the tincture several times a day, for two weeks. If symptoms continue, I switch to a different herb.

A strong tea of garden sage leaves (Salvia officinalis) offers immediate relief from headaches and helps prevent future ones. It also reduces night sweats. Tinctures of skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) and St. Joan's/John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) ease pain and relieve muscle spasms. Use 5-20 drops of skullcap and a dropperful of St.J's at the very first sign - no, the very first thought - of a headache. Repeat the doses every five minutes until pain free. Skullcap can be quite sedative, especially in large doses.

Herbal Allies to Prevent Problems Caused by Taking Hormones

Breast cancer risk is increased 20% in women who use ERT for five or more years. Use of HRT for five or more years increases breast cancer risk by 40%. Each five years of continued use increases the risk. In addition, women who take ERT are far more likely to get uterine or endometrial cancers. All women on hormones increase their risks of lung and ovarian cancer, too. Nourishing herbs such as red clover, and foods such as beans and yogurt, offer easy ways to stay cancer-free.

Red clover blossoms (Trifolium pratense), when dried and brewed into a strong infusion (one ounce herb steeped an a quart of boiling water for at least four hours) prevent cancer by providing phytoestrogens that counter the cancer-promoting effects of oral hormones. Usual dose is 2-4 cups a day. The infusion tastes like black tea and can be flavored with mint if you like.

Since uncooked beans and unfermented soy contain anti-nutritional factors that may promote bone loss and dementia, soy "milk" and tofu are not recommended. Miso and tamari definitely help to prevent breast cancer but soy isoflavones may promote it.

Yogurt helps build powerful immunity. Women who eat a quart of yogurt a week have 700% less cancer than women who eat no yogurt.

Dry eyes afflict more than 9% of women using ERT and over 7% of those on HRT. Risk increases by 70% for every year of continued use. And the longer a woman uses hormones, the greater her risk. Herbs such as oatstraw, chamomile, and chickweed can help relieve and prevent this problem.

Oatstraw infusion (Avena sativa) cools and moistens your eyes from the inside out, builds strong bones too. Use one ounce of dried herb in a quart jar; fill to the top with boiling water and cap tightly. Let steep four or more hours. Dose is 2-4 cups a day. Refrigerate after straining.

Cucumber slices ease dry eyes; so do chamomile tea bags.

The ultimate ally for women with dry eyes is fresh chickweed (Stellaria media), applied as a poultice to the closed eyes. Leave on for five minutes, or until the plant material feels warm (it will heat up). Repeat as needed.

Stroke and heart attack are actually increased by use of ERT/HRT, though modern medicine has long proclaimed the opposite. Every major double-blind study done to date has created a larger and larger gap between ERT/HRT's supposed ability to help cardiovascular health and its actual results. Protect your heart with nourishing and tonifying herbs and foods such as motherwort, hawthorn, and cherries.

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) tincture helps the heart. The Japanese claim it is their secret of longevity. A dose is 5-15 drops, twice a day. Motherwort also relieves hot flashes, calms tachycardiia, and eases anxiety. It's an all-in-one remedy for menopausal women.

Hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha) flowers, leaves, and fruits are all used to maintain heart health and control fluid build-up in heart tissues. A dose is 20- 30 drops of tincture 2-4 times a day, or a cup of tea with meals. This widespread shrub is considered one of the finest heart tonics in the world.

Cherries are even better than apples at keeping the doctor away. Dried cherries and cherry juice, even tincture of cherries.

More than three-quarters of the women in America over the age of fifty have refused ERT/HRT. If you want to join them, taper off your dosage slowly, while continuing to use nourishing and tonifying herbs such as dandelion, motherwort, red clover, oatstraw, and seaweed.

THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF ESTROGENS

• Women make estrogens.
  
• Plants make estrogens and estrogen-like compounds.
  
• Chemicals, especially organochlorines, act like estrogens (xenoestrogens).

Pharmaceutical companies make estrogens from substances such as horse urine, wild yam roots, and petrochemicals. Tamoxifen, used to treat and prevent breast cancer, is a type of pharmaceutical estrogen.

Women make at least thirty types of estrogen, including estradiol, estrone, and estrace. Estradiol is the strongest; it is turned on at puberty and turned off at menopause. Estradiol is positively linked with breast cancer; other human estrogens are not. Anything that reduces the amount of estradiol a woman produces (such as pregnancy, lactation, early menopause, and late puberty) also decreases her risk of a breast cancer diagnosis.

Phytoestrogens counter the detrimental effects of estradiol by competing for the same receptor sites.

Estradiol is a strong estrogen and is metabolized by the long path. The other estrogens our bodies make are weak estrogens and are metabolized by the short path. Alcohol turns off the short path. Phytoestrogens are weak hormones and hormonal precursors. Phytoestrogens in foods are metabolized by the short path. Phytoestrogens appear to protect tissues from the cancer-causing effects of estradiol, xenoestrogens and pharmaceutical hormones. Phytoestrogens in foods prevent cancer and promote health; phytoestrogen supplements and processed soy fake-foods may do the opposite. Breast cancer occurs four times more often in women whose urinary output of phytoestrogen by-products is low compared to women whose urinary output is high.

Phytoestrogens are common in food. They are concentrated in seeds (grains, beans, nuts, berries) and roots. The exceptions to the rule that plants don't contain human hormones: French beans, rice, apple seeds, licorice, and pomegranate seeds contain the "weak" estrogen estrone.

To get the greatest benefit from phytoestrogenic foods and herbs remember:

1. Isolated phytoestrogens are not as safe as those "in matrix."
   
2. To make use of plant hormones, you need active, healthy gut flora.
   
3. Herbs and foods rich in phytoestrogens need to be used in different ways.
   
4. Phytoestrogens may have different effects on women who do not have their ovaries.

1. Plants contain many types of phytoestrogens; additionally, they contain minerals and other constituents which help our bodies modify the phytoestrogens and so we can use them safely. Red clover is mineral-rich and contains all four of the major types of phytoestrogens: lignans, coumestans, isoflavones, and resorcylic acid lactones. It is the world's best-known anti-cancer herb. In general, foods and herbs rich in phytoestrogens, with the possible exception of licorice, show anti-cancer abilities. Isoflavone, however, when isolated (usually from soy) has the opposite effect: in the lab it encourages the growth of breast cancer cells (endnote 32 in New Menopausal Years).

2. Plant hormones, including most phytoestrogens, can't be used by humans. But we can convert them into ones we can use - with the help of our gut bacteria. When women take antibiotics, their excretion of phytoestrogens plummets. Get your gut flora going by eating more yogurt, miso, unpasteurized sauerkraut, homemade beers and wines, picked-by-your-own-hands-and-unwashed fruits and salads, sourdough bread, and whey-fermented vegetables. (See Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon for whey-fermented vegetable recipes.)

3. Plants which are exceptionally rich in phytoestrogens are regarded as powerful herbal medicines. Plants which are good sources of phytoestrogens are regarded as foods. While food can certainly be our medicine - a practice I advocate - it is also true that medicines are more dangerous than foods. Foods rich in phytoestrogens are different than medicinal herbs rich in phytoestrogens. They have different places in my life.
   • I eat phytoestrogenic foods daily in quantity.
     
   • I use phytoestrogenic food-like herbs regularly (not daily), in moderate quantity.
     
   • I take phytoestrogenic herbs rarely, in small amounts, for a limited time.

   Phytoestrogenic foods are the basis for a healthy diet and a long life. The first food listed is the highest in phytoestrogens. The best diet contains not just one but many choices from each list:

   • Whole grains (rye, oats, barley, millet, rice, wheat, corn)
     
   • Edible seeds (buckwheat, sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, amaranth, quinoa)
     
   • Beans (yellow split peas, black turtle beans, baby limas, Anasazi beans, red kidney beans, red lentils, soy beans)
     
   • Leafy greens and seaweed (parsley, nettle, kelp, cabbage, broccoli, kale, collards, lamb's quarter)
     
   • Fruits (olives, cherries, grapes, apples, pears, peaches, plums, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, salmon berries, apricots, crab apples, quinces, rosehips, blueberries)
     
   • Olive oil and seed oils. Garlic, onions and their relatives leeks, chives, scallions, ramps, shallot

   Phytoestrogenic food-like herbs are generally considered longevity tonics. For optimum effect, use only one from the list below and to stick with it for at least three months.

   • Citrus peel, dandelion leaves and/or roots, fenugreek seeds, flax seeds, green tea, hops, red clover, red wine.

   Phytoestrogenic herbs are usually too powerful for long- term use. From the list below (which is in alphabetical order), it is safest to use only one herb at a time, and use it only when needed, although that may mean daily use for several months. More information about these herbs, including specific dosages and cautions, is in New Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way.

   • Agave root, black cohosh root, black currant, black haw, chasteberries, cramp bark, dong quai root, devil's club root, false unicorn root, ginseng root, groundsel herb, licorice, liferoot herb, motherwort herb, peony root, raspberry leaves, rose family plants (most parts), sage leaves, sarsaparilla root, saw palmetto berried, wild yam root, yarrow blossoms.

4. Most of the warnings about phytoestrogenic herbs center on their proven ability to thicken the uterine wall in animals who have had their ovaries removed. This could encourage cancer, just as taking ERT encourages cancer of the uterus by stimulating cell growth. Women without ovaries are probably safe eating phytoestrogenic foods, but may want to use phytoestrogenic herbs - especially ginseng, dong quai, licorice, red clover, and wild yam - in small amounts and only for short periods.

FURTHER NOTES ON PHYTOESTROGENIC PLANTS

• Recent studies indicate black cohosh does not suppress luteinizing hormone, has no estrogenic effect, and contains no compounds related to estrogen. Red clover flower heads contain many hormone-like flavonoids, including isoflavone, daidzein, genistein, formononetin, biochanin, sitosterol, and coumestrol, a particularly strong phytoestrogen (six times more active than the one in soy). Red clover contains all four major estrogenic isoflavones; soy has only two of them. A cup of red clover infusion (not tea) contains ten times more phytoestrogens than a cup of soy beverage, is richer in calcium, has less calories, and contains no added sugars.

• Researchers in Australia report a million lambs a year are aborted after sheep eat clover on pasture. Yet red clover is renowned as a fertility enhancer. What's up? Stephen Buhner, author of The Secret Language of Plants, says clover plants make blood-thinning compounds (which cause abortion) when overgrazed, but don't otherwise. Plants, it turns out, can fight back.

• When unfermented soy takes the place of animal protein (meat and milk), its anti-nutritional factors can create brittle bones, thyroid problems, memory loss, vision impairment, irregular heartbeat, depression, and vulnerability to infections. Unfermented soy is high in hemoglutin, which causes clumping of red blood cells and may increase risk of stroke. It is also impressively rich in aluminum (up to 100 times more than is found in the same amount of real milk). Eating tofu more than once a week doubled the risk of Alzheimer's in a small group of Japanese men studied for thirty years.

• Human gut bacteria can cleave a sugar molecule from wild yam's steroidal saponin, producing diosgenin. Labs make progesterone from diosgenin, but our bodies can't. Diosgenin itself has a weak estrogenic effect. According to Australian herbalist Ruth Trickey: "A more probable explanation [for the observed effects of wild yam] ... is that [diosgenin] interacts with hypothalamic and pituitary hormones and ... initiates ovulation."

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Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative.

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Here comes "The Change": Managing Menopause

There are a variety of symptoms you may experience leading up to menopause when your periods stop for good. Most are mild, and may involve both the mind and body. Some can be so mild that you hesitate to even mention them to your doctor. Anxiety, bloating, and weight gain, and most of the other not-quite-well symptoms can be attributed to other things.

The first acknowledgement that there's something new happening for some women is that they don't feel the way they usually do, and they don't react in the same way. Situations they might have ignored, or not even noticed, suddenly provoke sleepless nights, mood swings, and even panic attacks.

If you're in your early forties, or even in your thirties, and are experiencing symptoms which seem to have arrived out of the blue, go and see your doctor. They may be a sign that you're going through the perimenopause.

The dreaded hot flash

Host flashes are the most common perimenopausal symptoms, and can make you severely uncomfortable. Women experience them both at night and during the day. If they occur at night, they may even wake you. Although you feel hot, your core temperature is actually going down, as you perspire and as increased blood flows to the skin. Some women experience the flushes as cooling sensations and feel chilled.

You can manage hot flashes during the day by drinking more water, wearing layers of natural fibre-clothing, so you can remove a layer when you're too hot. At night, ensure that your bedroom is cool and that your nightwear and bedding are natural cotton.

Sleep disorders

Sleeplessness and restless sleep is common during perimenopause. The lack of sleep can make you tired, irritable, and unable to concentrate. Night sweats can wake you from a deep sleep, and lead to several hours of lying awake.

The challenge with insomnia is that when you'd been unable to sleep for a couple of nights, you can become stressed at the idea that you won't be able to sleep, and the stress keeps you awake. Try to create a bedtime routine, during which you go to sleep at the same time every night, have a warm drink of decaffeinated coffee or herbal tea, and listen to soothing music to lull yourself to sleep.

Headaches

Headaches are often more common during perimenopause. If you've experienced headaches before and during your periods right throughout your life, you may find that the fluctuating hormones of perimenopause mean that you experience more headaches more often. Try herbal tea or herbal headache remedies to relieve your headaches.

The Challenge

The menopausal years can certainly hold some challenges, However, knowing what is behind the changes and taking control of your own health during these years can make all the difference in the world. The importance of reading all you can, asking your doctor pointed questions, and insisting on having a program tailored to your specific needs can't be overemphasized.

Focus on yourself for a change! This should be an exciting and uplifting phase of your life. Don't let troubling symptoms ruin it for you.

Dr. Martin Milner, ND is author of "The Menopause Revolution" As Medical Director for the Center for Natural Medicine Inc. he has helped thousands of women take control of their own health, balancing their hormones safely and naturally. Visit his site to find out more The Menopause Revolution

Why Worry About Menopause?

As a woman who wants to know about the symptoms of menopause, it is important to have a deeper understanding of what menopause really is. This deeper understanding will give you more insight into what to expect as menopause starts.

There are many women who don't have all the true information about menopause, except some myths and none-fact information about menopause. Such information only ends up confusing you, instead of helping you.

Menopause is simply the permanent end to menstruation of women. The time that this occurs varies from women to women. In the United States, for example, most women start experiencing menopause from their late 40s. Many other women, start experiencing menopause in their early 50s.

While some women happily and patiently look forward to it, others get scared of it. For those who look forward to it, they could be tired of monthly menstruation and look forward to menopause knowing they would no longer menstruate. This is especially true for ladies who always have painful menstrual periods.

For those who get scared of it, they could still be expecting to bear children and so don't want menopause since it will signal an end to child bearing.

Whichever category you fall into, menopause signals the end of your ability as a lady to bear children. Menopause in most women is preceded by 10 to 15 years during which the ovaries gradually stop producing eggs and sex hormones. This period is also known as the climacteric period.

Instead of worrying stiff about when menopause will start and the symptoms, it?s more important to start preparing your mind and body for it. If you need to bear children, start early before your late 40s and early 50s. This will ensure you get done with child bearing before menopause catches up with you.

Want to Discover 4 Menopause Secrets? Menopause Menopause Symptom Menopause Symptons Menopause Symtoms

Herbal Remedies For Menopause Symptoms

Many women just don't like the idea of hormone replacement therapy for their menopause experience. Some women just don't do well with it while others are looking for a more natural way to go. Herbal therapy is one way a lot of women are looking at. Now it's known that the symptoms of menopause can be alleviated with herbal therapy.

If your facing menopause, read this and see if herbal therapy is something you might want to try.

Infections Bladder and pelvic region are known for recurring infections. Herbal remedies can be a fantastic way to control and prevent these when you follow the directions. However, anytime you have an infection you must see your doctor. The herb Echinacea can help build a strong immune system, which is extremely helpful during menopause and is not toxic when directions are followed. Bearberry or Uva Ursi comes from an evergreen bush and has been used as a bladder infection treatment for some time now, It's also used as a gentle urinary antiseptic. Do not take Bearberry or Uva Ursi for more than seven days in a row.

Memory Loss / Forgetfulness One menopause symptom that may be a little more fearful than others is loss of memory. It's really tough to go through this period and feel like you can't remember things when you want to. If your interested in improving your memory, try gingko biloba. Gingko is an herb that is not toxic and works to help activate the brain. China has used it for many years and it can also be very helpful with PMS symptoms and mood swings.

Hot Flashes Hot flashes don't just come as hot flashes, they come along with nausea, headaches and anxiety making it incredibly unbearable at times throughout menopause. Black cohosh, sometimes called Rattle weed, Squawroot, Black snakeroot, is an herbal treatment to help contain hot flashes. It's normally found in North American forests. Traditionally, the first American Indians boiled the Black cohosh into a tea and drank it for many illnesses. Seems to be very safe when following directions.

Bottom line is, if you decide not to go with hormone replacement for your menopause symptoms, there's no need to suffer. Let me say it again, there's no need to suffer. Now days many doctors are well versed in herdal remedies. Talk to your doctor and ask about interaction of any drugs you are taking with the herbs your thinking about taking. You can usually find these herbs at a drug stores and health food stores. The pill form of these herbs has become very popular. However, home brewing fresh herbs may be more effective.

Carlie Edwards publishes online articles & useful information for Women. For info on Menopause visit Menopause Symptoms For a variety of related topics visit Health-And-Beauty-Worx.Com

Helpful Tips For Menopause Symptom

It's a great idea to keep track of your menopausal symptoms. Keeping a journal can be very helpful. Having your symptoms documented makes it much easier to talk with your doctor. This also helps you to identify any type of patterns that may be developing. Knowing these things can help you in finding the best way to move forward.

Hot Flashes - Oh the wonderful hot flashes! Hot flashes can be brought on by a number of factors; eating hot or spicy foods, caffeine and stress, hot environments. Try to avoid these. A great tip, my favorite, is to wear layers of clothing. If you become too hot, just take off a layer! Having fans in your home or workplace is also extremely helpful. Even the small personal fans that fit into your purse can be lifesavers. Try to take some time for regular exercise, you may find this will bring you relief. You can also consult with your doctor about taking antidepressant medications. Some women have found relief with this. Always consult with your doctor about this type of treatment.

Try to keep your weight under control and limit your intake of alcohol to not more than one alcoholic drink per day. Check with your doctor about what tests you need such as cholesterol, blood sugar levels, high blood pressure and bone density. Don't forget to request a breast exam.

Vaginal Dryness - there are several good over the counter lubricants that you can try. Also available are Estrogen replacement creams, some of these may be available by prescription from your doctor. You should discuss this option with your doctor to see if this would be something for you. If you experience spotting or bleeding while using estrogen creams you need to see your doctor.

Sleeping problems - to get a good nights sleep you can follow these simple rules: Aim to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week. You should avoid too much exercise just before bedtime. Other things to avoid before bedtime are; large meals and working right before you go to bed, avoid caffeine, and alcohol as well. Drinking something warm like heated milk or herbal tea before bedtime can be helpful. Another helpful tip to getting a better nights sleep is to avoid napping throughout the day. Keep your bedroom temperature comfortable. Having a regular bedtime routine is an essential part of getting a good nights sleep, for example, go to bed and get up at the same time everyday.

Memory problems - if you are experiencing any type of memory problems you should discuss this with your doctor. He/She may be able to give you some mental exercises that will ensure your memory remains active. Additionally, try to set a goal to get enough sleep and be physically fit.

Mood swings - staying physically fit and getting enough sleep will help with mood swings. You should consult with your doctor about showing you relaxation exercises and the possible use of an antidepressant medication. Studies have shown this can be helpful. Support groups can be a wonderful way for women who are experiencing the same or similar problems. Seek out counseling, you can talk over your fears and/or problems with a trained professional.

Stay Healthy - as you start aging, try to say as healthy as you possibly can. It's absolutely essential for you to get enough physical exercise. At least 30 minutes per day is ideal. Walking, dancing and even jogging are advisable. Getting enough rest is also an important part of your well-being. If you smoke, try to find a way to quit, the sooner the better. You can get support from your doctor or via a support network.

Carlie Edwards publishes online articles & useful information for Women. For info on Menopause visit Menopause Symptoms For a variety of related topics visit Health-And-Beauty-Worx.Com

Signs And Symptoms Of Menopause - Top 12 Menopause Symptoms

Are there signs and symptoms of menopause? Absolutely! It is a logical question to ask with millions of women experiencing one or more of the signs and symptoms of menopause at this very moment! The so-called 'change' will happen, but experiencing many of the symptoms of menopause as early as ages 30's or 40's is not normal.

Some of the signs listed below are subtle and may appear to have little relationship to being menopause symptoms. Here is a list of common signs and symptoms of menopause:

1 - Allergy symptoms
2 - Chronic fatigue and morning sluggishness
3 - Craving sweets, caffeine and carbohydrates with unstable blood sugar levels
4 - Depression, anxiety and mood swings
5 - Endometriosis
6 - Facial hair growth
7 - Hair loss, thinning hair
8 - Low metabolism
9 - Symptoms of low thyroid with normal T3 and T4 levels
10 - Urinary tract and yeast infections
11 - Uterine fibroids
12 - Water retention, unexplained weight gain especially in hips, waist and stomach

Menopause is not a disease, rather, menopause is a normal natural process for a woman whereby there will be a slowing and eventually a shutdown of the reproductive system. However, the problem is that many of the signs and symptoms of menopause indicate hormonal imbalance exists and there can have been damage to the body from eating poorly, stress and obesity. With the average age of menopause being about 51 in the USA, many women in the USA and industrialized countries experience one or more of these signs and symptoms of menopause many years earlier.

In the normal menstrual cycle, estrogen is the main hormone produced for the first 10-12 days following the previous menstrual flow. If ovulation occurs, the female body then produces progesterone which continues for the next 12 days or so. If there is no pregnancy, progesterone and estrogen levels both drop at around day 28 and menstruation begins. However, if there is no ovulation, progesterone will not be produced that month. This event is called an annovulatory cycle and is a typical occurrence today for women in their 30's and 40's. The result is that the woman then has an excess of estrogen and a deficiency of the vital hormone progesterone.

Many women in their 30's and 40's are actually having fewer ovulations, creating hormone imbalance and the signs and symptoms of menopause. And when ovulation ceases at menopause, progesterone levels fall to nearly zero. At the same time, estrogen is still being produced at perhaps 50% of the premenopause levels, again leading to hormone imbalance and the resulting signs and symptoms of menopause. If the woman has had a hysterectomy, surgical menopause means the woman no longer ovulates and produces progesterone.

Besides the signs and symptoms of menopause caused by missed ovulations or hysterectomy, excess estrogen is obtained every day from other sources. Examples are birth control pills, household chemicals and pesticides, foods that have been sprayed and construction materials.

How can a woman tell if the signs and symptoms of menopause are hormone imbalance related? One way is to take an online test for hormone health and related symptoms. The health test is used daily in a leading women's health clinic, it takes just a few minutes online and it's free.

Learn as much as you can about natural progesterone and estrogen supplementation and physician-recommended natural treatments for dealing with hormone imbalance and the symptoms of menopause.

Besides symptoms listed above, read more about additional menopause symptoms at http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/menopausesymptoms.html and take the online womens hormone health test. Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - a website of natural health articles for women.

Women and Menopause

Menopause is an irreversible process and inseparable of the aging in a woman's reproductive system, after which she can no longer menstruate. Climacteric is the general term for the time from the period of this transition to the early postmenopausal phase of a woman's reproductive life cycle.

Menopause is an irreversible process and inseparable of the aging in a woman's reproductive system, after which she can no longer menstruate. Climacteric is the general term for the time from the period of this transition to the early postmenopausal phase of a woman's reproductive life cycle.

Perimenopause refers to the time before menopause when vasomotor symptoms and irregular menses often commence. Menopause, by definition, begins 12 months after the final menses and is characterized by a continuation of vasomotor symptoms and by urogenital symptoms such as vaginal dryness and dyspareunia.

Symptoms

The symptoms can be attributed by the facts that some women just stop having periods. Others go through several years of symptoms. The most common symptom of menopause is hot flashes. Other physical symptoms might be aching joints and muscles, fatigue, weight gain or skin changes. Blood tests can confirm menopausal status.

Most of the common symptoms that occur during menopause can be illustrated as follows:

Hot Flashes: A hot flash is a feeling of severe heat in the upper part or all of the body. The face and neck may become flushed, with red blotches appearing on the chest, back, and arms. This is often followed by teeming sweating and then cold shivering as body temperature readjusts. A hot flash can last a few moments or 30 minutes or longer.

Genitals: Problems with dryness, itching, pain during sexual intercourse, or irritation of the tissues in and around the vagina;

Urinary System: Problems with abrupt or frequent urinating;

Mental Health: The menopausal woman shifting from raging, angry moods into depressive, doleful slumps with no apparent reason or warning.

Blood Vessels: Quick body temperature changes (hot flashes) and waking during the night

Brain/Nerves: Moods that change frequently or a tendency towards sadness or anger.

Bone: A higher risk of weaker bones, osteoporosis, and bone breaks;

Heart: Acceleration of risk factors associated with heart attacks and other heart problems

Skin: Problems with thinner skin, wrinkling, and blemishes as estrogen levels drop.

Lifestyle & preventions

Although menopause is a natural occurring thing of life that cannot be prevented, there are simple steps you can take to help make this an easier experience.

1.Quit Smoking. Smoking increases the chances of heart diseases, cancer and osteoporosis.

2.Regular Exercise. Exercise helps keeping heart healthy, bones and muscles strong, and energy level and metabolism high.

3.Healthy diet. A healthy diet impacts every aspect of your health - from heart health to cancer risk to bone health.

4.Stay cool during hot flashes. Avoid things that can cause or increase the intensity of hot flashes, such as hot drinks, alcohol, spicy foods, hot weather or hot rooms.

5.Ease vaginal dryness. Use of over-the-counter water-based lubricants can be used to ease the discomfort of intercourse due to vaginal dryness.

6.Improve bladder control. You can improve bladder control with exercises. Anyone can do these and at any time.

7.Talk about it. Menopause is a normal, natural part of life. Talk to your doctor about what you are experiencing. Share with your partner know how you are feeling.

8.Relax and de-stress. Stress and a hectic lifestyle can certainly increase and intensify any symptoms you may experience. Relaxing will give you an over-all sense of well-being.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a
medication-based system of replacing the estrogen and possible progestin lost during menopause. Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) contains estrogen only and is usually prescribed for women who have had surgically-induced menopause. Traditional Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) contains both estrogen and progestin and is usually prescribed for women experiencing natural menopause.

Benefits of HRT

HRT is beneficial in both protecting a woman against the long term effects of menopause as well as treating the immediate symptoms. By replacing the estrogen lost, HRT helps to prevent osteoporosis and may protect against heart disease. In addition, HRT relieves the hot flashes and vaginal dryness that many women experience.

Risks of HRT

In recent studies, women who have undergone HRT have experienced higher incidences of breast and endometrial cancers. For this reason, doctors are being encouraged to prescribe HRT for the shortest amount of time possible, and to encourage women to take other measures to protect against heart disease and osteoporosis.

To prevent bone loss:

Maintain a healthy diet and exercise. Other treatments for preventing bone loss and osteoporosis (severe loss of bone) include calcium tablets and Vitamin D. These can be taken separately or combined in a pill.

To prevent heart disease:

A healthy diet and regular exercise can help to keep your heart healthy as you age. If your cholesterol is high, however, you may need cholesterol-lowering drugs. These drugs are called the "statin" drugs, such as lovostatin, simvastatin, and pravastatin.

Thus, Physical changes do occur with menopause and with aging. But the changes that happen during this period can be minimized by healthy living and a sense of purpose in life. So start exercising and lead a happy and healthy life.

John Hilton is the contributing editor to www.affordable-prescriptions.md, Please send feedback at john.hilton001@gmail.com

Menopause and Mood Swings

Menopause equals mood swings. You know, where the slightest request from your husband can cause you to go off. Or perhaps the cries of your child for a new Playstation game makes you lose it. Mood swings, which can trigger the sudden onset of crying, play a significant role in the menopause game and are often one of the first things women notices that causes her to suspect perimenopause. Characteristics of menopausal mood changes include extreme irritability, concentrated anxiety, depression, indifference (neutral feeling to both good and bad situations), and nervousness.

Menopause and mood swings work together because changes in hormonal levels (most notably, progesterone and estrogen levels) take place. For one, hormone levels may affect the level of serotonin (the emotional chemical) in the brain, causing depressive symptoms. Women often times feel insecure and irrelevant about themselves and their current roles, contributing more to feelings of worthlessness.

Other factors that trigger mood swings in menopause sufferers are the symptoms they face. Tinnitus (whooshing and ringing sensations in the ear due to nerve damage as a result of aging & hearing loss), incontinence (abnormal bladder behavior), and hot flashes also add on to the overall crankiness a menopausal woman can face. And of course, low levels of serotonin, and lack of progesterone production that relieve stress levels, can lead to the sudden onset of crying a definite disadvantage to any woman under this condition.

Mood swings can be drastically reduced by following a course of action such as a weekly exercise regimen. Exercise, specifically meditation and yoga, has been proven to relieve mood swings. Besides, it is the ultimate anti-aging activity women who exercise well into their sixties report looking and feeling younger. Another objective is to have a steady social support group to turn to. Menopause sufferers will find soothing words by their family and friends a positive contributor to their overall well-being.

The third course of action is to follow the right diet. Caffeine loaded drinks like coffee and soda will not work for you: it will only excite you leading to restless sleep making you cranky throughout the night. Drink certain teas that increase serotonin levels in the brain, like passionflower and chamomile, will also relax and provide for blissful sleep.

Grab the milk bottle in the refrigerator and warm it up tryptophan, a component found in warm milk, is known to increase serotonin in the brain as well. A multivitamin and mineral supplement may also help load your body with the right nutrients, balancing things out. So, avoid menopause mayhem and eliminate mood swings and the sudden onset of crying by following the above advice feel refreshed mentally and emotionally for a better day.

Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant with over 25 years experience. She specializes in internet marketing, strategy and plan development, as well as management of communications and public relations programs for small business sectors. She can be reached at Creative Communications: creative--com@cox.net or by visiting www.menopauseinfo.orgor www.internet-marketing-small-business.com