10 Things You Might Not Know About Menopause

Jan 04, 2019

For most women, menopause happens just after 50 years old. Many younger women look forward to menopause because they celebrate the fact that they won't have a menstrual cycle anymore.

However, there are so many new symptoms that come along with menopause. Unfortunately, these symptoms are talked about enough. These symptoms can also gradually present themselves within the ten years before a woman is officially menopausal.

So that you're not left in the dark, consider these ten symptoms no one ever tells you about.

If you’ve ever had a baby, you understand that those first few months with the newborn can be brutal. You’re not getting a lot of sleep. Your energy is extremely low, but you’re expected to be alert and present at the same time.

When you’re in the perimenopausal or menopausal periods, it’s not uncommon to feel extremely fatigued on a consistent basis. Because the hormones are changing so much, this leads to the feeling of fatigue.

Knowing this, it’s best to make time for rest and relaxation in your schedule. Do your best to get quality rest at night. Create space for a nap during the day. Also, don’t overschedule yourself.

There’s good cholesterol and then, there’s bad cholesterol. Menopause has the power to increase the amount of bad cholesterol in your body because the estrogen decreases in your body and you’re also getting older.

 However, you can combat the body’s desire to increase the bad cholesterol in two ways. Make sure you’re monitoring your dietary habits. It’s also important to maintain a healthy and stress-free lifestyle.

During the pre-menopausal and menopausal stages, your estrogen levels will eventually go down. This directly impacts the blood’s ability to flow to the hair follicles at a certain rate.

When this happens, your hair will either get thinner or fall out. Due to the hormones, it’s not uncommon for women to experience dry, brittle hair. This is a frustrating experience for many women as they age.

To combat this, some women cut their hair off altogether. Others prefer to wear stylish wigs and hair weaves. While this doesn’t happen with every woman, it’s still a symptom to be mindful of.

It's not uncommon for women to experience intense mood swings or depression during menopause. This is because the rapidly changing hormones have the power to directly impact the brain's physical chemistry.

Between anxiousness, loss of hope and sadness, a woman can easily feel like she's lost control of who she is. Thankfully, there are a few lifestyle shifts you can make in order to shift this issue.

Surround yourself with supportive friends and family members. Make sure you're getting lots of quality rest. Maintain a good diet. Practice meditation and deep breathing before and throughout the day.

Hot flashes can be some of the most uncomfortable experiences a woman will ever have. Hot flashes are quick heatwaves that flush through at a moment's notice. Though they happen very quickly, they tend to hang around for years.

Studies suggest that on average, women experience hot flashes for just under five years. To cope with hot flashes, decrease your intake of alcohol, spicy food, caffeine and hot drinks. You want to make sure you dress in layers. When a hot flash hits, you'll be able to physically adjust.

Menopause has so many layers. The ability to get great sleep is one of them. Many women prefer to take naps throughout the night because it's the most effective way to get rest. It's all about adjusting.

Between hot flashes in the middle of the night and the hormonal shifts, it can be difficult to get good sleep at night. However, consider a nighttime routine.

Enjoy a warm bath before bedtime as it can help you develop a ritual your body can adjust to.

Tons of women spend their lives trying to lose or maintain a healthy weight. However, once menopause hits, it becomes even harder to maintain weight loss. In fact, it's pretty common for women to struggle with weight gain.

Though there are studies that suggest that there's no link between weight gain and menopause, this is still a time when the metabolism slows down even more. However, it is so important to increase your physical activity and watch your diet. 

As you age, it's incredibly important for you to monitor your skin care routine. One of the reasons is because menopause can bring on dry skin. Use hydrating moisturizers. Drink lots of water so that you can be internally hydrated as well.

If osteoporosis runs in your family, it's so important to be cognizant of the fact that menopause can exacerbate the symptoms. Naturally, you'll naturally lose bone mass as you age. This also makes you more susceptible to weak, brittle bones that can easily break.

If you were already forgetful, you might want to develop systems to help you remember what you need to do. Menopause can directly impact your ability to remember because of the decrease in estrogen production. In order to remain present and mentally strong, it's a good idea

If you're in the years before menopause, these are symptoms to look out for. It's also good to be knowledgeable so you'll know what to expect. Help your friends, daughters and other younger women understand the untold truths about menopause by passing along this information. The more the conversation continues, the stronger and more prepared all women can become. To take it a step further, we'd love to hear from you. Is menopause on the horizon for you? What stands out as the most intense point to you?

Do you know any women who might be going through menopause, or even just somebody who you think should know more about its effects? Then make sure to pass this article to them.

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. Your health is important to us!