Dec2013_GET TO KNOW YOUR HEALTH

Female Issues: Menopause

This month I thought I would give Andy some time off and have a go at writing the health article.  Plus as much as he likes to think he knows everything, I may be a little more qualified to write about this topic.  I have decided to write about a female issue.  One thing I discovered while doing research for this article is that most female issues start with men – MENstruation, MENopause and MENtal breakdowns. No surprises there! 

This article will focus on the final stage of the women’s reproductive cycle – menopause.  Menopause is the time when a woman’s monthly period comes to an end. This happens because the ovaries run out of functional eggs and ovulation stops.  The production of hormones (estrogen and progesterone) by the ovaries begins to slow down and eventually falls to a point where the period stops – this point is menopause.  Some experts think that this happens to protect women and their children from the dangers of having children at an older age.

 

Most women will go through menopause sometime between the age of 45 and 55 and each woman experiences menopause differently.  For example, my mum has been experiencing hot flushes for 5 years now, whereas her friend breezed though it and did not even break a sweat.  The change in hormone levels is what produces the different symptoms.  The most common ones are hot flushes and night sweats.  Others include fatigue, reduced interest in sex, aches and pains, forgetfulness and changes in mood.  If this is what I have to look forward to, I feel sorry for Andy already.  The two most common long-term effects of menopause include cardiovascular disease and an increased risk of osteoporosis. 

 

There are a few things that can help ease the symptoms of menopause.  These include: 

– A healthy diet; make sure you eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, lean meat and fish, and the usual favorite, drink lots of water. 

 

– Calcium and Vitamin D is really important to help prevent osteoporosis.  Dairy foods, green vegetables and salmon are good sources of calcium.  Half of Australian women are not getting enough calcium from their diets alone so calcium supplements may be needed.  Vitamin D is made when the skin is exposed to sunlight and helps us absorb calcium.  30% of Australians are deficient in vitamin D because we have become so good at staying out of the sun and covering ourselves in sunscreen.  About ten minutes of sunlight a day (in the morning or afternoon when the sun is not so strong) is all that is needed to get enough vitamin D.  Many women do not get this much sun and will need to take vitamin D supplements. 

 

– Regular exercise helps pretty much everything.  It prevents bone loss, risk of heart disease and stroke, relieves stress and depression, improves sleep and helps keep weight down.  The heart foundation recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week.  If you, like myself, hate exercise try and do something you enjoy such as walking the dog or going for a swim.

 

– Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) contains oestrogen and progesterone and replaces the hormones that are lost during menopause.  HRT can control menopausal symptoms and prevent osteoporosis but has certain risks. It is very important that risks and benefits are assessed with your doctor when considering HRT as an option.

 

– Hormonal creams and pessaries containing oestrogen can help with symptoms such as dryness and have very few side effects.

 

– Natural therapies have benefited some women, however just because they are natural does not mean they do not have side effects.  Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for advice before trying natural therapies.

 

– And lastly, my mum’s advice is to invest in a really good fan and always have it within arm’s reach.

 

I hope this article has given you some insight into this important topic.  As always, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask your doctor or pharmacist.

 

Written by Yolanta Marzec  (Your local pharmacist) 

Dayboro Pharmacy   Phone 3425 1435

Mon – Fri 8.30am – 5.30pm         Sat 8.30am – 12.30pm 

N.B. CLOSING 4.30pm on CHRISTMAS EVE  (Tuesday 24th December 2013)