Fast Facts about Menopause
- When the number of matures eggs decrease in a woman’s ovaries, it is termed as menopause. This stops them from having periods.
- A majority of women cease menstruating when they reach the age bracket 45-50.
- The average menopause age in America is 51.
- 5 of every 100 women continue to menstruate until 60 years of age.
- Symptoms (physical and psychological) differ in women based on their ethnicity. Asian women experience fewer symptoms as compared to African-American women.
- As a woman reaches the menopause stage, she begins losing her bone density, making her more prone to factures and bone damage.
When a women stops menstruating, is called menopause. It is nor a diseases or symptom but a naturally occurring biological process. A majority of the population experiences menopause after they reach 45. Menopause marks the end of fertility in women. As a woman ages, the levels of estrogen and progesterone in her body decreases these two substance/chemicals are responsible for fertility and are produced b the ovaries. When the ovaries stop their production, they shut down completely, ending menstrual periods.
All women go through it; however, many studies reveal that the symptoms may be experienced differently. Ethnicity also plays a major role in determining the symptoms. Another important thing to note here is that menopause doesn’t happen overnight; just because a woman has missed her period once doesn’t mean her menopause has begun. It is a gradual process and can only be termed menopause if the woman hasn’t had periods for a 12 months period.
Symptoms
Menopause depicts a number of symptoms however not everyone experiences them the same. Their severity and occurrence may vary from woman to woman.
Some general symptoms include:
- Night sweats
- Hot flashes in the face, chest or neck which makes the skin sweaty or dry
- Libido (reduced sex drive)
- Disruption in sleeping patterns
- Forgetfulness and lack of concentration
- Palpitations
- Headaches
- Mood swings
- Vaginal pain, itching and dryness
- Decreased muscle mass
- Aches, joints stiffness
Recommended Supplements
While eating a healthy diet and regular exercise helps to manage menopause, it is not enough to keep you fit and healthy. Supplements are essential for managing menopause and reducing its symptoms. But it should be kept in mind that supplements should not be used to replace the treatment for menopause. It is not always true that natural products are safe for use. Many products can react with your body and produce an adverse reaction. Thus, it is better to be safe and consult your before starting to use any supplements for managing your condition.
The following supplements have proven to benefit people with menopause:
Chaste Tree
The berry of the chaste tree is a common woman’s herb which has been used since olden times to regularize hormonal imbalances. it is equally effective for men suffering with excess testosterone levels. Its key functions are to normalize the levels, ease pains, treat infertility and irregular periods, and alleviate mood swings, insomnia, nervous tension, tenderness in the breast and hot flashes. It can also be taken to treat a wide range of physical problems arising due to hormone deficiency.
St. John's Wort
A mild sedative, St. John’s Wort helps in treating numerous symptoms of menopause and PMS including insomnia, hot flashes, mood swings and painful cramps.
Dong Quai
Also termed as the Chinese angelica, Dong Quai is a beneficial remedy to treat cases of libido in both men and women, reduce the symptoms of menopause, alleviate menstrual cramps and hot flashes etc. Due to the many benefits it offers for women, many even call it women’s ginseng.
Black Cohosh
Proven most effective to treat muscles cramps by relaxing the muscles in the urinary area, Black Cohosh also does wonder treating symptoms of menopause. It helps women regain their hormonal balance, enjoy the same quality of life as before and combat a number of menopause side effects such as irritability, lack of sexual desire, and hot flashes.
Motherwort
An effective all-natural remedy to treat muscle aches, cramps and the symptoms of menopause, Motherwort promises support for all women struggling with imbalance hormones or hormonal changes. One can take it to relieve headaches, treat insomnia, alleviate depression, calm anxiety and ease palpitations and hysteria –all of which are symptoms of menopause.
The above natural supplements are known to help in controlling and managing menopause, but you should exercise proper caution and ask your doctor before adding any such supplements for in your diet. Herbs have lasting and strong effects on the body and can also interact with other drugs and medications, causing dangerous and adverse reactions. If you use any medication for your disease, talk to your doctor before you decide to start any supplements or herbal products to manage your health condition.