Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her body enters into an irreversible stage of decreased estrogen levels. This typically occurs between the ages of 47 and 52, although it can happen earlier or later and brings several uncomfortable and painful symptoms. Thus, menopause is described as the time when menstruation stops occurring in the body. These symptoms include hot flashes, vaginal dryness and atrophy, sleep disturbances, mood swings, depression, fatigue, accelerated heart rate, and memory loss. Fortunately for women, medical science has developed many ways to treat or alleviate these symptoms. There are also other methods that women can use to cope with the symptoms of menopause. Here, we look at some of the treatments a Jackson Heights menopause specialist can provide to help you deal with menopause.
Hormone Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a type of treatment that utilizes female sex hormones to help women deal with the symptoms of menopause. There are two types: estrogen and progestin HRT, which can be taken as pills or as a cream. They lower the risk for osteoporosis, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and some cancers in both cases. While side effects are rare with HRT, they can affect women differently. For example, increasing blood pressure or causing breast cancer risks to rise.
Hormone therapy is typically recommended for the first five years of menopause but can be continued longer if needed. It involves careful monitoring and can be discontinued if it does not prove helpful to the suffering woman.
Changes
Lifestyle changes are a great way to help with the symptoms of menopause. These include getting more exercise, eating healthier, and following a healthy lifestyle. Getting enough sleep is also helpful, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol may worsen the hot flashes. You should also avoid smoking because it can increase cancer risks or heart disease.
Diet
Diet is another way that women can help themselves during menopause. Foods high in estrogens such as soy and flaxseed may reduce the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis, while foods containing phytoestrogens such as red clover and dried fruit also help. Other changes to the diet include consuming more leafy greens, whole grains, fish, and legumes.
Medicines
Many medicines can help with menopause symptoms, such as antidepressants, which can help with depression from changing hormones. Other drugs help by balancing estrogen levels to stop hot flashes or reduce vaginal dryness. Hormone therapy is also a choice for treating the symptoms of menopause.
Alternative Treatments
There are many alternative treatments for menopause other than pills or creams. Herbal remedies, acupuncture, and acupressure are just some of the ways that women can relieve their symptoms without any medicines at all. They have no side effects and help balance the body while still treating the symptoms of menopause.
In summary, menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her body enters into an irreversible stage of decreased estrogen levels. Some symptoms include hot flashes, vaginal dryness and atrophy, sleep disturbances, mood swings, depression, and fatigue. You can treat symptoms of menopause using alternative treatments, medication, lifestyle changes, diet, and hormone therapy.
