Some Things About the Male Menopause

Also called viropause or andropause, male menopause usually appears between the ages of 40 and 55 and involves hormonal, physiological, and chemical changes. These changes affect all aspects of a man’s life; we can mention that there are cases when menopause appears early, at the age of 35, but in other situations, it can occur at the age of 65.We may consider that the male menopause is a physical condition with psycho- logical, interpersonal, social, and spiritual dimensions.When male menopause appears, this means that the first adulthood has reached to its end, and soon will begin the second adulthood. It was seen that the initial signs that appear involve changes in a man’s sexuality.

Male menopause is something normal, it belongs to the cycle of life. It signals that the first adulthood is over, and that it is time to prepare for the second half of life, the second adulthood. There are a lot of persons that relate the male menopause to the end of sexual power, and they believe the period that will come will be the darkest of their lives.But, it is very important to have courage, to follow that way, because it is in our nature to experience that. We must fulfill the cycle of life. Life can be like an ascendant road, and the male menopause represents the top of it. Then, there will come a descending road, that represents the second adulthood. Of course, the human history tells us that the end of that road means our death, but this happens to everyone, so we must carry on with our living and stop thinking about the end of the road.The second adulthood can be the most passionate, productive, and purposeful period of a man’s life. Now, the pressure of sexual performance can be changed with the joy of sexual fulfillment, you can learn how it is to be a respected elder in your community, you can be a mentor for younger men, focus more on being and less on doing, and relate to other men as friends and allies rather than as competitors.

It is important to remember that the second adulthood can be the greatest period of a man’s life, life goes on and must be lived. To complete our journey in this world, we must let go of the baggage that got us through the first adulthood, and find power and passion to see us through the second adulthood.

For more resources about menopause or about menopause symptoms please review http://www.menopause-info-guide.com/menopause-symptoms.htm

Groshan Fabiola

http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/some-things-about-the-male-menopause-120215.html

Help For Hot Flashes Without Hrt

While some women experience hot flashes for a brief moment during menopause, there are some women who experience this annoyance for the rest of their lives. Even though the severity and intensity of such a condition lessens with time, menopausal women and breast cancer patients are constantly seeking help for hot flashes. Below you will find a few suggestions to keep in mind when you wish to “beat the heat.”

1) When putting on clothes, it helps to layer your wardrobe. This way, once you feel yourself getting warmer, you will be able to counter by peeling off your clothes one layer at a time.

2) When choosing what to wear for the day, the type of clothing you select may provide help for hot flashes. This means putting on a nice cotton dress or shirt made from linen or rayon. Some of the materials to stay clear of if you wish to obtain help for hot flashes include wool and silk, as well as synthetics.

3) Help for hot flashes is only a sip away when you have your trusty thermos or glass filled with ice water. Having this refreshing beverage by your side will help to cool down your insides if you feel a hot flash attack coming on.

4) Turtlenecks should be avoided if you want help for hot flashes. Wearing shirts with an open neck helps to control the frequency of hot flash attacks.

5) If you have an air conditioner or ceiling fan at home, you should put these appliances to good use. Lowering the thermostat also provides help for hot flashes. It is also quite common to see a menopausal woman toting a small hand-held battery operated fan with her. Even an inexpensive paper fan can help with hot flashes.

6) At night, slip into a cotton nightgown or pajamas to help absorb some of the sweat that may accumulate throughout the night. When making the bed, make sure you are placing a fresh batch of cotton sheets on instead of a synthetic material.

7) Before bed, a cool shower may supply you with help for hot flashes. This act should become a ritual for achieving comfort before retiring for the night.

Linda Bruton
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/help-for-hot-flashes-without-hrt-82413.html

The Causes of Early Menopause

In some cases, the causes of early menopause are clear, but there are situations when you keep asking why did that happen, and have no idea which can be the cause.A common cause of premature ovarian failure can be an autoimmune disorder. When this happens, the body senses parts of itself as being intruders, so, antibodies will attack those parts. Antibodies may attack your own ovarian tissue, your endometrium, or one or more hormones that regulate ovulation. This can happen in the case of premature menopause, and if you have a family history of autoimmune disorders, it is a great possibility that this is the cause for your early menopause.

It was seen that defects on an X chromosome may cause some cases of hereditary premature menopause. This defect to an X chromosome, also called “fragile X syndrome” seems to interfere with the production of eggs. So, women who have this syndrome will have a lesser number of eggs in their ovaries, and this will lead to an earlier menopause.“Turner’s syndrome” appears when you are born without a second X chromosome, or without part of the chromosome. As a result, the ovaries will not develop properly, and some of these women will never have their periods at all. There are situations when premature menopause appears because some women have three X chromosomes, and this affects the ovarian development too.

Oophorectomy and total hysterectomy are causes of early menopause due to surgery. The patient experiences premature menopause after removal of both of the ovaries, -and this is called a bilateral oophorectomy- or removal of the uterus, both fallopian tubes, and both ovaries, operation called total hysterectomy. As a result of these operations, progesterone levels plunge, and menopause appears right away.Sometimes, as a result of a hysterectomy in which one or both ovaries are left intact, it happens that immediately after surgery or up to a few years later one or both ovaries will fail. This may happen because during a procedure like cyst removal, the ovary or ovaries are damaged.Tubal ligation can also be a cause that leads to premature menopause in some women.

It was seen that the doses of radiation or chemotherapy used to kill cancer can damage the ovaries as well, and there appears premature menopause. In some cases there appears temporary menopause, but even when the ovaries start working regularly again, there can appear infertility.Recently, doctors have begun to prescribe the drug named Tamoxifen as a preventative measure for women who have a high risk of breast cancer. Everyone focused on the positive aspects of this drug, but it is important to know that it has as a potential side effect the apparition of premature menopause.

If there is a family history of premature menopause, it is important to know that there is a great chance for daughters to go through menopause at about the same age their mothers did.If a pregnant woman will contract a viral infection, it is possible to affect the baby’s ovarian development, and when the baby is born, will have a lower number of eggs, which will result in premature menopause.

It is known that there are some diseases that can cause symptoms that overlap with those of menopause. Hyperthryoid can cause palpitations and sweats, and hypothyroid can cause hair loss, weight gain, moodiness, and amenorrhea. The reversal of symptoms can be obtained with proper diagnosis and treatment.A disease that is marked by overproduction of prolactin, hyperprolactinemia can lead to amennorhea, and it is known that one of the typical signs of this disease is galactorrhea.Usually, this disease is treated with drugs like Parlodel.Women with pitiuitary disorders often go through amennorhea, and they discover their periods have stopped. There may be necessary a scan to determine whether they have a tumor or lesion, which can be treated through surgery or medication.Skipping periods and a number of other symptoms, including excessive hair growth can be caused by the polycystic ovarian disease.We can mention some other causes of amennorhea, like excessive weight gain or weight loss, excessive exercise, use of certain drugs, recent use of birth control pills.Through blood tests or “progesterone challenge” test, the doctor will be able to determine the cause of the symptoms.

For more resources about menopause or about early menopause symptoms please review http://www.menopause-info-guide.com/early-menopause-symptoms.htm

Groshan Fabiola

http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-causes-of-early-menopause-122770.html

Medications Such as Effexor and Has Been Shown to Ease the Number and Intensity of Hot Flashes

Without a doubt, the most frequent complaint of women in perimenopause or menopause is the hot flash. Defined as a mild to intense sense of warmth that extends from the upper body to the face and neck, the flash or flush is accompanied by intense body heat and ends with profuse perspiration and chills. The flash may last 30 seconds to 30 minutes, and is more frequent at night and in warm environments.

Fifty percent of menopausal women may experience hot flashes, which may occur once or multiple times a day and last for months or years. Heart palpitations, chest discomfort, anxiety, chills, sweats and insomnia may coincide with hot flashes. However, conditions such as heart disease can mimic these symptoms and shouldn’t be ignored, so women should seek a medical evaluation.

The precise reason for a hot flash is not fully understood, but it’s believed to originate in the area of the brain that’s sensitive to decreasing levels of estrogen.

Many physicians and others specialize in treating hot flashes and menopause. In reality, though, the only consistent treatment is hormone therapy. Other treatments aren’t doomed for failure, but most often the patient and her specialist will embark on a trial-and-error process to find an effective treatment. What works for one patient may not work for the next patient.

Treatment for hot flashes may include lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise; medical therapy including hormone therapy; dietary supplements; and/or antidepressant medications. All of these treatments have succeeded and failed in treating hot flashes.

Hormone therapy includes traditional estrogen and progesterone therapy and bioidentical hormones or “natural” hormones customized to the patient. Traditional hormone therapy, which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, was the proven method of care until the Women’s Health Initiative study in 2002 found increases in heart disease, stroke, dementia, blood clots and breast cancer. Since then, however, new evidence has surfaced to reinstate hormone replacement therapy in short interval usage as the standard treatment of menopausal symptoms.

Some hormone therapies derive estrogen from natural sources such as soy. For those who want to stay totally “natural,” bioidentical hormones have become more popular. They are compounded specifically for a patient based on an evaluation of her saliva to determine which hormones are lacking. While not FDA-approved, many women have found bioidentical hormones to be of great help in relieving hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms.

Be sure to do your homework, however, before embarking on any hormonal therapy.

Medications such as Paxil, Prozac, Effexor and Celexa, in small doses, all have been shown to ease the number and intensity of hot flashes. For women who cannot take estrogen, these medications work well, but can have side effects such as nausea, insomnia, dizziness and sexual dysfunction.

Unfortunately, most dietary supplementations, including vitamin E, soy, black cohosh and red clover, have not fared well in clinical studies. Their effect on hot flashes has not been shown to be any more successful than placebo. Still, there usually is no harm in trying these alternatives, and they do work for some women.

Perhaps the easiest way to treat hot flashes is lifestyle modifications. Exercise is at the top of the list and has been shown to decrease the number and duration of hot flashes. Walking for 30 minutes or so six to seven days a week can significantly reduce the number and intensity of hot flashes. The use of slow controlled breathing (deep breath in, hold for a few seconds, slowly exhale) a few times a day also can reduce the number of hot flashes.

Keep a diary of what you consume to find out which foods and beverages can trigger a hot flash. Alcohol, coffee, tea and spicy foods are all known to instigate flashes. Of course, tobacco use is associated with hot flashes, yet another reason to quit smoking.

In most cases a treatment plan designed by you and your doctor will result in at least a decrease in the number of flashes, if not total elimination. Be patient during the trial-and-error portion of your treatment. Remember that what works for one person may not work for another, and something as simple as lifestyle modifications or vitamin supplementation may be all that’s needed to relieve your symptoms.

Be assured, there’s no inherent health hazard for those suffering from hot flashes. Keep your doctor informed of treatments you have tried and those you think may be working best for you. Together you can improve your health and happiness.

There are so many sites devoting the attention to the promotion of this drug. DrugstoreTM.com is one of the trusted sources of this product. You can now buy soma online. Visit DrugstoreTM.com, your reputable online pharmacy, for more details.

Jennifer Alinio

http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/medications-such-as-effexor-and-has-been-shown-to-ease-the-number-and-intensity-of-hot-flashes-121069.html

Finding Relief Through Menopause Treatment

Every woman at one point during her life will experience menopause – the permanent cessation of her menstrual cycle. It is at this point that the woman’s reproductive life comes to an end and a new chapter begins. But the experience of menopause – sometimes occurring over the course of several years – can be fraught with uncomfortable symptoms. Luckily, in today’s world there is the availability of menopause treatment to help ease the symptoms.

Menopause can happen in one of two ways -naturally or medically. When it occurs naturally, the ovaries gradually slow their production of eggs that were necessary for reproduction. When egg production eventually ceases altogether, the production of estrogen also ceases. While natural menopause happens gradually, medically-induced menopause occurs after a radical surgery that requires the removal of the ovaries. In either instance, the elimination of estrogen causes a host of symptoms. When a woman has a particularly difficult time managing menopause symptoms they look for menopause treatment to bring relief.

Some of the more common side effects of menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, loss of sexual desire, vaginal dryness, memory loss, distractibility, forgetfulness, irritation, melancholy, and mood swings. While many symptoms are of a physical nature, there are just as many of an emotional nature. Menopause can bring about a host of emotions regarding this significant change of life.

It must be said, however, that not every woman experiences every symptom of menopause. And when symptoms are experienced, the length of time, frequency, and severity with which they are experienced varies woman to woman. Many women may find that menopause treatment is unnecessary as they are hardly bothered at all by symptoms. Other, who experience ongoing or severe symptoms, will seek out natural menopause treatment. Researchers have confirmed that the adoption of a healthy lifestyle goes a long way to minimizing the effects of menopause; this includes a diet of whole, natural foods, a program of consistent exercise, adequate sleep, and healthy means of stress management. Many women find that this is the best menopause treatment of all – helping them to manage – and sometimes eliminate – the symptoms of menopause.

Other women, however, may continue to struggle with the symptoms of menopause. When it comes to point when symptoms are interfering with daily activities, many women choose to see a doctor who can intervene with the use of particular hormone therapies. Hormone therapy, however, should be a last resort as a menopause treatment, as the long term side effects of such pharmaceuticals continue to be debated.

Michelle Bery
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/finding-relief-through-menopause-treatment-122522.html

How To Find Simple Relief For Hot Flashes And Night Sweats

Hot flashes and night sweats usually go hand in hand during menopause. To differentiate, hot flashes are considered the intense heat and flushing you experience during the daytime hours. Night sweats usually happen when you are sleeping or during the nighttime hours. Essentially they are the same; they are just sometimes triggered for different reasons.

Night sweats are relatively easy to control. Certain changes in your lifestyle can rectify a night sweat before it actually happens. The first thing you need to do is to avoid any foods, caffeine, or alcohol for about 3 hours before you plan on going to bed. Also, you should avoid exercise, hot liquids, hot showers, or smoking for 3 hours before bedtime. This will help to relieve any triggers that may be associated with hot flashes and night sweats and aid in a good nights sleep.

Lowering the thermostat in your house and your bedroom especially will aid in any discomfort you feel from the heat. You should plan on dropping the temperature by 2 to 3 degrees without adding any additional blankets or covers which would defeat the purpose. It may be a bit chilly but you will fall asleep and stay asleep easier. Wearing light clothing such as a t-shirt or light cotton nightgown will also help to control hot flashes and night sweats at bedtime. This, along with cotton sheets should keep you cool and comfortable.

If you have had a particularly stressful day at work or with the family in the evening, take an hour or so to unwind alone before you go to sleep. The most common cause of hot flashes and night sweats is anxiety, so you want to plan on avoiding any unnecessary stress right before bed.

During this time it is especially beneficial to try some easy breathing techniques or meditation routines. Fifteen minutes of deep breathing and exhaling will do wonders for your stressed state. Yoga is also an excellent way to relax before bed. You will find yourself sleeping better and spending less time worrying about your next hot flashes and night sweats.

Linda Bruton
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/how-to-find-simple-relief-for-hot-flashes-and-night-sweats-85689.html

Few Clarifications Regarding Menopause

The menopause topic came into discussions recently. Not to long ago, it was a taboo topic. Women were afraid to talk about this transition even to their daughters. It was a new generation, free of inhibitions that started shamelessly the topic and opened a new era in the medical studies on the menopause and made it public.

A few generations ago, not to many women lived after menopause, but nowadays, most women live 25-30 years or more after menopause, which represents about one third or in some cases maybe even a half of their life, so it is very important to develop methods of improvement for some of the consequences of this transition and give women the possibility to overcome the problems that occur by menopause. Menopause is a natural process, not a medical one and even if it is caused by hormonal activity and has effects on both physical and psychological states, it is not the end of life. Sexuality may continue after menopause.

What is the actual process?

Menopause naturally occurs at an advanced age, and that is because once the body is aging, the egg supply ages too. Because of this, the ovulation are getting rarer and this is what is causing variations in hormone production. This process will go on until there won’t be enough progesterone and estrogen for menstruation in the body and it will stop. The process takes up to 12 months and when it is complete, the woman has reached menopause.

A woman is more exposed to heart disease after the menopause. The reasons for this are unknown so it is harder to prevent. It is recommended to take into consideration this factor before deciding on a treatment or a lifestyle.

Menopause represents a deficiency disease?

Doctors, scientists and researchers have started a topic on the menopause to decide whether it should be regarded as a natural process or as a health threat. Some specialists believe that the menopause is a hormone deficiency syndrome associated with dysfunction of the ovaries, requiring diagnosis and treatment. This affirmation is based on the predisposition of menopausal women for health disorders and on the statistics that 1% of postmenopausal women develop heart diseases, 0.5% encounter osteoporosis, 0.3% are develop breast cancer and 0.2% are affected by endometrial cancer. The risks for these conditions can be diminished by a replacement hormones therapy, which is strongly recommended by physicians to all the women that have no other medical reason to avoid it. On the other side, different specialists deny the idea of compulsory treatment of menopause believing that it will create an abnormal image of the old ages and put it in a bad light. Even though, they also approve that the risks for some health conditions increase in postmenopausal women.

Some menopause facts

The Perimenopause, the time preceding menopause starts most often between the ages 39 and 51 and it lasts averagely 5 years. One year after the menstruation periods stopped, it is said that the woman has reached menopause.

* – The average age of menopause is between 50 and 51. In 95% of all women, it occurs between the ages of 44 and 56.

* – Menopause before the age of 40 (spontaneous premature menopause) is rare, affecting about 1% of women in the United States .

* – Menopause is in many cases dictated by genetic factors so if your mother had an early or late menopause, you probably will also.

* – Smokers experience menopause an average of 1.5 years earlier than non-smokers.

Surgical removal of the ovaries or radiation therapy to the abdomen or pelvis may cause menopause too.

Ruben Knisely
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/few-clarifications-regarding-menopause-123305.html

What Causes Hot Flashes And When Will They Be Over?

Every woman who is in perimenopause or menopause itself will be able to identify the symptoms of a hot flash, such as the sweating, the rush of intense heat over the upper body and face, and the rapid heartbeat associated with hot flashes. Not as many women however can tell you what causes a hot flash.

According to some sources, the causes of hot flashes vary depending on if you are perimenopausal – which is the transition into menopause – or menopausal. Although causes of hot flashes have been studied for many years not everyone has come to the same conclusion. The one facet of hot flashes that everyone does agree with is that it is a hormonal imbalance. Basically that means that during certain times of your life, specifically menopause, your body feels that too many demands are made of it, and the balance of hormones is overwhelmed. This causes your nervous system to try to compensate for the changes in your hormonal balance by changing the temperature of your skin.

Another hot flash cause could be lack of estrogen. There is a part of your brain, called the hypothalamus, which gets “confused,” so to speak, with the sudden drop in estrogen. Since the hypothalamus is sometimes called the “body’s thermometer”, it will suddenly read that it is too hot. The brain responds by alerting your nervous system to do everything it can to rid your body of the heat.

The message is delivered instantly by making your heart beat faster, and dilating the blood vessels in your skin to circulate more blood in order to produce sweat to cool you off. This is what happens when you overheat during the summer or heavy exercise, and during menopause. Your brain confuses this and thinks that your body is overheating, causing a hot flash. Since your body is cooling down when it shouldn’t be, you find yourself perspiring and overheating at the oddest times.

Again, no one can tell you exactly what causes hot flashes, but there are solutions, both natural and medical, that can help you through them. Hot flashes last an average of 2 to 3 minutes but can be longer depending on certain triggers such as anxiety, spicy foods, tobacco, hot weather, and hot showers. Although there is no specific average most people agree that hot flashes occur approximately every 2 to 4 hours and can last 2 to 5 years, mostly during the perimenopausal period. For women in mid-life, this is a natural process that will improve with time.

Linda Bruton
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/what-causes-hot-flashes-and-when-will-they-be-over-86946.html

What Can Trigger An Early Menopause

Early or premature menopause is one that occurs before a woman is 40, whether it is natural or induced. The symptoms are similar to those of natural menopause – hot flashes, sleep problems, feeling emotionally upset, dryness of the vagina and often a loss of interest in sex. They can range from hardly noticeable to debilitating.

Women in premature menopause have an increased risk of bone breakage due to osteoporosis as their bones get start getting thinner earlier.

Let’s look at why premature menopause can happen:

CHROMOSOME DEFECTS:

Women with Turner’s syndrome have no second X chromosome or they may be born without a part of it. This means that their ovaries don’t develop properly and the result is a premature menopause.

GENETICS:

If a percentage of the women in your family have stopped their monthly periods early in life, it’s possible that you may too.

AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES:

In autoimmune diseases, like Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis or rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s immune system goes haywire. It’s there to protect the body and fight off disease but it can mistakenly attack the body instead. If it attacks the reproductive system it may damage the ovaries and affect the correct production of female hormones.

If a woman has surgery to remove both her ovaries (a bilateral oophorectomy) she will immediately go into a menopause. Her periods will stop and hormone production will plummet. She may start to experience menopausal symptoms right away. These women are offered MHT – menopause hormone therapy.

If a woman has an hysterectomy but is left with one or both ovaries, she won’t have a premature menopause, as hormone production can continue. As there is no longer a uterus, she will not have any more periods and cannot become pregnant. Rarely, hot flashes may occur but this is due to the blood supply being disturbed during surgery, and not to hormones. These women may have their natural menopause brought forward by a year or two.

Some cancer treatments, including some forms of chemotherapy and radiotherapy to the pelvic area, may damage the ovaries. If damage occurs, the woman’s periods may stop, she may have problems with future fertility or become infertile altogether. This can be immediate or may take several months to occur.

The risks of entering early menopause depend on which type of chemotherapy is given, how much of it was used and how old the woman is when she receives the treatment. As a general rule, the younger a women is the less likely she is to go into a premature menopause.

HOW WILL I KNOW IF I’M IN PREMATURE MENOPAUSE?

If you’re under the age of 40 and suffering any menopausal symptoms, see your doctor. In suspected early menopause, blood tests will be needed to make a true diagnosis.

You may be given a blood test that measures follicle-stimulating hormone or FSH. This is the hormone that ovaries use to make estrogen, so when levels of FSH rise, it indicates that the ovaries are no longer making it. A higher than normal level of FSH would show that you are in menopause – but as estrogen levels vary from day to day, you may need to have this test repeated more than once for a definite diagnosis.

You may also have blood tests for estradiol (a kind of estrogen) and luetinizing hormone (LH). When the ovaries fail, estradiol levels go down, so a lower than normal level would show that you are in menopause. Luetinizing hormone triggers ovulation and if levels of it are higher than normal, the diagnosis will be that you’ve gone through menopause.

Rebecca Prescott
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/what-can-trigger-an-early-menopause-84838.html

Natural Relief For Hot Flashes

Menopause is a natural occurrence that happens to all women when they reach a certain age. Technically it is a stopping of a woman’s period (or menses), hence the name. There are many symptoms of menopause, but none as obvious as the hot flashes that you experience.

Hot flashes can range from mild hot spells at night to constant dripping and sweating during the daytime. It starts suddenly, with a rapid heartbeat, intense feeling of heat on your face and upper body, and continues with possible headaches and nausea. It may only last a short time but there is no mistaking the feeling of a hot flash.

Hot flashes are caused by a hormonal imbalance and estrogen loss. The loss of estrogen causes the part of the brain that is responsible for your body temperature to think that it is too hot. Your body in turn tries to use the nervous system’s chemical ability to relieve the heat by having your heart beat faster, and using the perspiration to relieve the body of the sudden warmth. It is essentially a way to cool you off even though the feeling you are having is that it is heating you up.

As many as 85% of women have reported having hot flashes. But only about 10% to 15% of women have severe enough hot flashes that they need to seek their doctors advice on how to handle them. Most women can just make simple lifestyle changes such as layering their clothing, changing their diet, and exercising on a regular basis.

If you do find that you need to turn to medication, or Hormone Replacement Therapy, check out all your options. You may only need Estrogen Therapy, or perhaps just a few natural solutions such as vitamins or Black Cohosh, which is proven to be a natural relief solution for hot flashes.

Relaxation and stress reduction techniques should be your first stop on the way to being hot flash free. Yoga and meditation are excellent ways to calm your body before and during a hot flash to make it seem more tolerable. During the day make sure to keep an ice cold glass of water nearby to cool you down during or before a hot flash. Another tip is to lower the temperature wherever you are. This is where the layering of clothes comes in – it helps with the many different temperatures you will go through in a day.

Just as the old saying goes, this too shall pass. Although it may take 2 to 5 years on average, it will end. Just try to make it as bearable as possible during this time and before you know it the symptoms of hot flashes will disappear naturally with time.

Linda Bruton
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/natural-relief-for-hot-flashes-87062.html

Dealing With Post Menopause Problems

The term post-menopausal sometimes needs a little clarification. It is usually applied to women who have completed the menopause, meaning they have not had a period for over twelve months. This can be due to a natural menopause, or a surgery induced menopause. Women who are taking hormone replacement therapy are not considered to be post menopausal as they may experience symptoms of the menopause when they stop this treatment.

Common post menopausal problems can be experienced any time from the onset of the menopause onwards. After the menopause, women never really stop being post menopausal. Most of the physical and emotional problems that women encounter after the menopause are caused by decreasing hormone levels, particularly estrogen.

Conditions relating to the vagina and bladder are often experienced post menopause because these parts of the body require estrogen to remain healthy. Thinning of the tissue in these areas can cause incontinence, bladder infections, growths or polyps in the uterus, and vaginal dryness, as well as an increased risk of uterine cancer.

Other serious physical conditions linked to post menopausal women are osteoporosis and heart disease. Osteoporosis is common as women begin to lose bone density more rapidly due to reduction in estrogen. Risk of heart disease is increased due to atherosclerosis, or the hardening of their arteries.

Emotionally, post menopausal women may experience depression, fatigue due to insomnia, hot flashes and night sweats, and a reduction in self confidence and libido. Although these emotional responses can be triggered by hormonal changes, they may also be related to other factors. Reaching the menopause, and the changes happening in her body, may make a woman feel old, unattractive and worthless and these feelings can trigger depression and lack of sex drive.

So what can post menopausal women do to limit these common problems? Exercise is one crucial way to control these conditions. While we are not talking about running marathons, some exercise such as walking, gardening and light aerobics can have a wide range of benefits.

Exercise keeps bones, joints and cartilage healthy, guarding against osteoporosis as well as arthritis. It reduces the risk of heart disease by stimulating circulation, controls weight, and enhances emotional wellbeing.

Maintaining a healthy diet is another way for post menopausal women to remain problem free. They may want to think about supplements such as vitamin D and calcium to guard against osteoporosis. Not smoking may not only put off the menopause by a couple of years, it will also reduce the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. Using progesterone creams may keep the vagina and bladder area healthier, and make intercourse more comfortable and therefore more appealing.

There are many problems associated with post menopausal women, but by exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy lifestyle they don’t have to mean a huge decrease in quality of life.

Rebecca Prescott
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/dealing-with-post-menopause-problems-127218.html

What Is The Truth About Black Cohosh For Hot Flashes?

Black cohosh for hot flashes has been used hundreds of years. Black cohosh, also known as Cimicifuga racemosa and Actaea racemosa, is a member of the buttercup family. The perennial plant originated in North America. Black cohosh common names are bugbane, rattleroot, bugwort, rattletop, macrotys, rattleweed, and black snakeroot. Its preparations are mixtures of underground stems (rhizomes) and roots.

Many women commonly use black cohosh for hot flashes, but it is also used to relieve night sweats, menstrual problems, and mild mood changes. This herb is sold in the U. S. as a dietary supplement. Just why it is so effective is not understood completely by researchers. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has stated that the effectiveness of black cohosh for hot flashes can last six months or more for women displaying menopausal symptoms.

Once upon a time black cohosh was believed to be associated with lower levels of certain hormones and estrogen receptors. In the latest studies, however, this was shown to be false. This information is extremely important for women considering estrogen-based supplements and remedies. The use of estrogen replacement therapy has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer. That is why a non-hormonal solution like black cohosh for hot flashes is welcome to so many women.

The optimum black cohosh dosage may vary in different supplements. You may also find that the dosage that relieves your symptoms will be different than other women. Remifemin is one of the many available preparations of black cohosh you will find at your health food store. It contains 20 mg of black cohosh root extract per tablet. If you aren’t sure where to start, Remifemin is widely available and a good supplement to try.

Compared to other black cohosh preparations, Remifemin is well researched. It has been used for decades in treating menopause symptoms in Germany. The GEC (the German counterpart of the FDA) conducted extensive testing to determine Remifemin’s safety and the efficacy of the other herbal products available. The commission has approved black cohosh for hot flashes as a safe product when utilized according to its dosage instructions.

A recent thorough study conducted by Liske revealed that forty milligrams of Remifemin a day decreases over seventy percent of the hot flash symptoms of menopause. The hormonal changes were also evaluated and effects related to estrogen were not found. The published study done by the Annals of Internal Medicine revealed that black cohosh for hot flashes is a very effective treatment. On top of that, the Breast Cancer Research and Treatment Foundation also found that black cohosh is safe for women with a history of breast who cannot take estrogen. Black cohosh for hot flashes is thus a terrific alterative to hormone therapy.

Black cohosh has few side effects. A few women have reported gastric discomfort, but only for a short time. Clinical trials which compared black cohosh to estrogens preparations showed lower incidence of adverse results from black cohosh. You should note, however, that this herbal product is not adequately studied in pregnant women or women who are breastfeeding. Women who are undergoing treatment for their high blood pressure should take proper cautions as well.

As you will note, black cohosh for hot flashes is a treatment that works very well for the majority of women suffering menopausal symptoms. It relieves most symptoms, while causing few – if any – side effects. If you are suffering from menopausal hell, it is well worth trying!

Linda Bruton
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/what-is-the-truth-about-black-cohosh-for-hot-flashes-87589.html

Can Acupuncture Help Control Menopause Symptoms?

The treatment for migraines and other menopause symptoms is not the same in every part of the world. Different cultures have different medicine practices and beliefs. However, it is interesting to note that the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture, is becoming a popular therapeutic method in Western culture to treat a variety of psychological and physical conditions including menopause.

TCM views menopause as the time in a woman’s life when her body shuts down her natural monthly reproductive cycle because she can no longer reproduce. However, it is believed that her body stops menses to conserve her qi (body life energy), so as she ages she can retain all of her resources.

Unlike women in western culture, for most women in the East, menopause is rather uneventful. It is thought the reasons for this is because Western women lead a more fast-paced, stress-ridden lifestyle, and tend to consume poorer diets. Thus, as a result, women in Western culture tend to experience far more intense menopausal symptoms than their sisters in the East.

Despite the real causes of menopausal symptoms, the fact remains that Traditional Chinese Medicine does not consider menopause to be a syndrome. The thought is that women suffering through menopause have a variety of qi problems such as constrained liver qi and kidney yin deficiency. In other words, their qi is imbalanced and is wreaking havoc on their mind and body.

Thus, the goal of TCM is to uniquely treat each woman based on her specific symptoms. This means that different techniques aside from acupuncture may also be suggested, such as Chinese herbs, lifestyle or dietary changes and exercises – all of which are used to help restore balance to the body.

How does acupuncture work? Acupuncture is based on the belief that there are approximately 2000 acupuncture points (trigger points) throughout the body. These trigger points are linked to one another via a group of 20 different meridians (pathways). Meridians are responsible for conducting qi between the surface of the body and the internal organs. Qi has a specific affect on each point it passes through. When qi properly flows throughout the meridians and all its points, it maintains a healthy balance in the mind and body.

During an acupuncture treatment for menopause, an acupuncture therapist will help a woman bring balance back to her body by focusing treatment on the trigger points related to her symptoms. Only some trigger points are used, and will vary depending on the symptoms. Thus, every menopausal woman is treated individually based on her problem.

Acupuncture is administered through the use of tiny, solid needles that are inserted into the targeted trigger points. The purpose of the needles is to help stimulate the meridians to encourage qi production. This might mean needles could be inserted into the shoulders, arms, legs or even the feet. If inserted properly, needles shouldn’t cause pain or bleeding; however, their may be slight discomfort or a tingling or numbing sensation which fades fast. Treatment is often very relaxing, and sessions usually last for 30 minutes.

Does acupuncture benefit menopause? Yes. Research has found that most women who participated in different acupuncture studies found relief from menopausal symptoms including:

• Hot flashes
• Insomnia
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Vaginal dryness

If you are interested in using acupuncture for alternative or complimentary treatment to ease menopause symptoms, it is imperative that you visit a qualified and experienced acupuncture therapist, in order to realistically determine if this method is an effective treatment option for you.

Remember, no two women are treated the same, and acupuncture therapy is often long term, ongoing treatment.

Kathryn Whittaker
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/can-acupuncture-help-control-menopause-symptoms-99413.html

What Causes Hot Flashes?

Many women think that a decline in estrogen is the real cause of hot flashes. In some cases that is completely substantiated, but not always. Truth be told, no one is completely sure what causes a hot flash. Theories abound, but no one can pinpoint the exact reasons even though numerous studies have been taking place over recent years.

Another possible cause of hot flashes has to do with the individual tolerance for temperature changes. One study agreed that women who have a low tolerance for temperature changes in the body’s core temperature experience up to 50% more hot flashes than a woman who can handle a body temperature change. Normally a body will stay within the same temperature unless it is unusually hot outside, or if you exercise or do something that will raise your body temperature. During menopause your body’s hormones are changing rapidly, causing your brain to think your body temperature is changing. This then causes your nervous system to want to cool your body down, so you start to sweat, sometimes profusely. Supposedly in this study, women who can tolerate the change better have less sweating and only a mild hot flash.

Another study agrees saying that there is no such thing as an estrogen drop because then women would be having hot flashes for the rest of their lives, stating the fact that once estrogen drops it never returns to normal. These researchers believe that the causes of hot flashes are strictly related to your hormonal changes during menopause. Basically they say that your body can no longer accept the demands that your body is making on your hormones, and hence the inability to stabilize your hormones.

Of course, your individual lifestyle and psychological factors will increase the level and severity of your hot flash. In fact, one study that looked at women who have severe anxiety without depression were nearly five times as more likely to have severe hot flashes, many times during the day, and for longer periods of time throughout their menopause and perimenopause. It also included women who smoked, who were told that they have two times more chances of having moderate to severe hot flashes. This does not include a look into the individual diet of the person however, which is a main trigger of hot flashes.

Linda Bruton
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/what-causes-hot-flashes-85085.html

Menopause Symptoms: Different For Every Woman

Menopause – common to all women – is the time of life when the menstrual cycle ceases permanently. As adolescent girls, we are met at puberty with the beginning of menstruation which allows us – if we so choose – to reproduce. Our menstrual cycle occurs every month during our reproductive years until the onset of menopause – which generally takes place somewhere between a woman’s mid-forties and mid-fifties. While menopause produces the same end results, the menopause symptoms that each woman experiences may be different.

During menopause, the ovaries that had been producing eggs every month – for possible reproduction – begin to slow their production until they eventually stop altogether. In addition, the production of estrogen diminishes until it also completely stops. The elimination of estrogen is largely responsible for most menopause symptoms.

Menopause symptoms may include hot flashes – wherein women frequently experience suddenly feeling extremely hot; night sweats; memory loss; weight gain; loss of sexual desire and vaginal dryness; and emotional changes such as distractibility, irritation, melancholy, and mood swings similar to premenstrual syndrome. It is sometimes overlooked that menopause brings with it a bevy of emotional challenges. It can be difficult for many women to cope with the end of their reproductive life. But there is a large community of women who are experiencing the same thing and it is important for women to reach out to each other for support.

Not every woman will experience every one of the menopause symptoms possible. And when they do experience a symptom, the severity of it varies from woman to woman. In many cases, women will find that the way in which they experience menopause symptoms depends largely on the lifestyle that they lead. In fact, a healthy lifestyle often minimizes menopause symptoms. This includes the eating of natural, whole foods, consistent exercise, adequate sleep, and stress management.

Some women may find that adopting such lifestyle changes helps them to manage menopause symptoms. However, other women may find that menopause symptoms are still particularly difficult to handle. Luckily, there are a variety of treatment therapies available today to help women cope with their struggle.

Michelle Bery
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/menopause-symptoms-different-for-every-woman-138697.html

Using Herbal Remedies For Hot Flashes To Avoid The Dangers Of HRT

The most common menopausal symptom for most women is also the most uncomfortable. Women who would otherwise hardly notice the transition into menopause definitely notice hot flashes! The medical treatment that was usually suggested for hot flashes in the past was hormone replacement therapy. While HRT can be very effective in alleviating the symptoms it can also increase your risk of breast cancer and stroke. It is no wonder that so many women are using herbal remedies for hot flashes.

The exact cause of hot flashes is unclear, but hormonal changes and imbalances are thought to be the main reason. Medical professionals consider hot flashes as an estrogen deficiency that can be triggered by stimulants, such as spicy foods (ginger, cayenne, pepper), acidic foods (tomatoes, citrus, pickles), hot drinks, alcoholic drinks, caffeine (chocolate, coffee, cola, black tea), white sugar, stress, hot weather, saturated or hydrogenated fats (margarine, meat), saunas and hot tubs, marijuana or tobacco, intense exercise, and anger. For many women, just eliminating that list of triggers plus using herbal remedies for hot flashes will bring immediate relief.

Hot flashes may last for a few minutes or even up to an hour. They may be mild or very severe. Every woman will experience them a little differently. Hot flashes which occur at night are called night sweats. They can be accompanied with anxiety and nightmares. Not all women experience hot flashes and fewer experience night sweats. However, many women experience both situations when they are going through menopause.

Exercise is a good way of decreasing hot flashes because it decreases the amount of FSH and LH hormone circulation by toning and nourishing the hypothalamus and raising endorphin levels.

Herbal remedies for hot flashes include plants that have the ability to cool the body, such as chickweed, violet, and elder; plants which increase and nourish oxygen utilization of the liver, such as dandelion, dong quai, polygonum multiflorum,, and yellow duck; and plants which contains high phytosterols, most notably black cohosh.

These are some of the most used herbal remedies for hot flashes:

1. Dong quai relaxes and contracts the uterine muscles. Its effect is not estrogenic, which is the main reason for dong quai’s effectiveness. It treats hot flashes by stabilizing the blood vessels.

2. Chaste berry or vitex affects the functions of the pituitary and regulates dizziness and hot flashes. Its beneficial effects are altering the secretion of FSH and LH hormones during menopause. It lowers the levels of estrogen while increasing progesterone levels, which keep vaginal walls and bones strong.

3. Black cohosh was used widely by Native Americans and later by the American colonists for relieving menopause and menstrual cramps. Clinical studies have revealed that black cohosh extract relieves hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, and depression.

4. Motherwort lessens the frequency, duration and severity of hot flashes. It relieves anxiety, insomnia, and stress. Frequent usage will produce the best results.

5. Licorice root is historically used for treating various female disorders. It also has been used effectively in treating asthma and infections of the respiratory tract. It also decreases estrogen and increases progesterone.

6. Essential oils of thyme or basil alleviate hot flashes when utilized in baths, foot rubs, when inhaled, or combined with massage oils.

These herbal remedies for hot flashes – when combined with eliminating common triggers – can greatly reduce menopausal symptoms in most women.

Linda Bruton
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/using-herbal-remedies-for-hot-flashes-to-avoid-the-dangers-of-hrt-88228.html

The Connection Between Menopause And Mood Swings

Menopause is an inevitable part of life for every woman; the time when the ability to reproduce comes to an end. This physical process normally happens gradually over the course of several years as hormone levels shift and diminish. The physical ramifications – along with the emotional fallout – of this life transition often spur a strong connection between menopause and mood swings.

During puberty, a woman’s ovaries begin to produce eggs along with the hormones to support reproduction. This menstrual cycle continues throughout a woman’s life until the beginning of menopause which generally occurs sometime between a woman’s mid-forties and mid-fifties. If menopause happens naturally it can take place over a period of time as the ovaries begin to slow their production of eggs and hormone levels drop off until eventually the process ceases altogether – resulting in the permanent end to a woman’s reproductive life. In the case of medically-induced menopause, a woman is thrust into this change with the surgical removal of her ovaries for a variety of reasons. In either case, there are a myriad of symptoms associated with menopause.

When the ovaries cease to produce eggs they also cease to produce estrogen – the hormone responsible for supporting menstruation and pregnancy. The result can be a bevy of symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, memory loss, insomnia, and loss of sexual desire, among others. This elimination of estrogen also often tends to forge a strong correlation between menopause and mood swings. The depletion of hormones can sometimes result in irritability, anxiety, and even periods of depression. There is also the emotional element attached to the process of menopause; a woman is saying goodbye to her reproductive life – a process that can be overwhelming and sad.

Menopause and mood swings can be especially difficult when it goes on for long periods of time and interferes with daily life including career and family. In this case, a woman may seek out those treatments to help minimize mood swings. In some situations, a natural treatment plan that focuses on a healthy diet, consistent exercise, and adequate sleep can help to bring relief.

In more severe cases, the relationship between menopause and mood swings puts up obstacles throughout a woman’s life. When all natural remedies fail, it may be time to see a doctor who can prescribe medical therapies that may help alleviate the symptoms.

Michelle Bery
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/the-connection-between-menopause-and-mood-swings-127994.html

Are Hot Flashes During Menopause More Common In American Women?

Considered by many to be the main, and most uncomfortable, side effect of menopause is the hot flash. Hot flashes during menopause can happen on an average of every 2 to 4 hours, daily for 2 to 5 years depending on how quickly you move from perimenopause to menopause. Hot flashes and menopause can last up to 10 years in some women. The intensity will be stronger during perimenopause but will diminish as you progress towards the end of menopause.

An interesting bit of information is that hot flashes are more common in Western cultures then anywhere else in the world. They are particularly prevalent among American women. It is reported that only about 10% of women in Japan, Hong Kong, Pakistan, and Mexico have hot flashes during menopause. It has been proven that this is the case because of the women’s low-fat and high-fiber diet. This adds to the information that women can control the level of intensity of hot flashes just by changing their diet.

It is also a fact that thinner women experience more hot flashes during menopause since the fat cells you have in your body convert the hormones that are secreted by the adrenals into estrogen. Although you don’t want to gain weight specifically to avoid hot flashes, it might not be so bad to retain a few pounds during menopause, especially when you first begin perimenopause.

Hot flashes can be best characterized as mild, moderate, and severe. The faster you transition from being perimenopausal to post menopausal has a direct effect on how severe your hot flashes will be. Hot flashes during menopause are most severe with a surgery induced menopause. This is also true of a chemotherapy induced menopause. In general, with all menopause hot flashes, symptoms do begin to improve approximately 3 to 6 months after you experience your first hot flash, although they may last significantly longer.

Linda Bruton
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/are-hot-flashes-during-menopause-more-common-in-american-women-85791.html

How Male Menopause is Different From Female Menopause

Male menopause is often referred to as andropause. It can affect men between 45 to 50 years of age. Male menopause occurs mainly due to decrease in hormone level. Unlike women, men menopause does not have any typical symptoms. In fact not all men in the world are facing the problem. But there are some men who face the problem of andropause. Men may get problems like obesity, depression, lack of concentration, memory loss and so on due to the hormone imbalance.

Male menopause is entirely different from female menopause. The estrogen level in women will be decreasing and disappear completely at the end of menopause. But for men the hormone is decreasing gradually but will not disappear entirely. Even a man at 80 years may have children. Yet there are some symptoms that both men and women may experience during their menopause.

Male menopause is an unknown term for most of the people. Even doctors did not know any specific treatment for male menopause in the past century. But now the term has been recognized by all and the specific treatments for hormone replacement have been discovered.

40% of male between 45 to 50 years are experiencing some symptoms of male menopause. Testosterone is the hormone that is responsible for men’s sexual drive. As the hormone level decreases, men may face some sexual problems.

Lack of concentration, memory loss and feeling weak and tired while working are some of the problems faced by men during andropause. Depression, sleeping disorders, mood fluctuations are some other symptoms of male menopause. Male menopause can be curable with regular exercises, healthy and balanced diet.

Most of the psychological problems faced by men are curable with care and affection of family members. With the understanding life partner, a man can face less painful menopause.

There is no definite time period for male menopause. It may vary from man to man. Male menopause can be diagnosed b the doctor after a thorough physical examination. The doctor may also ask about the symptoms.

Hormone replacement therapy can be given to men if he is suffering from decreasing hormone level. But the therapy is not that much safe as female hormone replacement therapy and it has more side effects. Some changes in the life style, food habit etc can help to recover from the symptoms of male menopause.

Men with smoking habits and wrong eating habits are likely suffering more from male menopause. As there is a risk of stroke and other health disorders associated with hormone replacement therapy, it is advisable to quit bad habits and to start healthy diet and regular exercises. This will help to reduce the symptoms of male menopause.

Muna wa Wanjiru
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/how-male-menopause-is-different-from-female-menopause-310096.html

Relief From Pregnancy Hot Flashes

Hot flashes don’t just affect women at the menopausal stage. If you are pregnant, you can also experience what are known as pregnancy hot flashes.

A hot flash is normally manifested by flushed sensations and sudden intense heat through the chest, neck, and face. This symptom may also be accompanied by perspiration, vertigo, heart palpitations, dizziness, nausea, anxiety, headaches, night sweats, and weakness. A hot flash can last up to four minutes. However in some extreme cases, it can last from twenty minutes to one hour.

There are two major reasons for pregnancy hot flashes:

1. Hormonal Changes. The major hormones affected by pregnancy are progesterone and estrogen. A pregnant woman produces more estrogen compared to non-pregnant women. Likewise, her levels of progesterone are extremely high. The progesterone changes cause the loosening of joints and ligaments in the whole body. Moreover, internal structures increase in size, including the ureters that connect the maternal bladder with the kidney.

Progesterone is also important in the transformation of the size of the uterus from the non-pregnant state to the state where it can accommodate a baby at its full stage. You have to realize that progesterone and estrogen are critical for achieving successful pregnancies. Hormonal changes are responsible for mood swings during pregnancy as well as pregnancy hot flashes. This condition is very common in pregnant women.

Exercising may become more difficult, so pregnant women are at higher risk of acquiring strains and sprains. The body posture of pregnant women also changes. The breasts become larger and the abdomen changes to convex from once being concave or flat. This increase the curvature on the back. Since gravity is now concentrated on the front of the body, this can sometimes lead to an unbalanced state that can cause injuries.

Body weight also increases. This extra gravity and weight slows down blood circulation and body fluids to the lower limbs. These fluids are retained and causes swelling of the hands, legs, and face. Water weight is another hindrance for exercising. Since exercise is one way to decrease the symptoms of hormonal changes, you may experience more pregnancy hot flashes.

2. Changes in Body Temperature. Heat stress is developed for two reasons: hyperthermia and dehydration. The core temperature of pregnant women increases (hyperthermia). Whether pregnant women are exercising or not, their core temperature and metabolic base rate continuously increase. However, they can regulate core temperatures very efficiently through the skin’s blood flow increase and skin surface expansion, which releases excessive body heat. Pregnant women are advised to wear breathable clothing, avoid exercising during humid or hot weather conditions, use fans when doing activity indoors, or use swimming as their major exercise. These simple changes can help relieve pregnancy hot flashes.

Pregnant women are prone to dehydration after exercising for 20-30 minutes, especially in humid or hot weather because of excessive sweating. Body fluids are lost from perspiration, decreasing blood flow to the uterus, muscles, and other organs.

Bodily changes in pregnant women may lead to stress. This stress reaction causes the release of norepinephrine and epinephrine in their blood stream. Blood flow increases which also increases heat. Then pregnancy hot flashes occur to remove the heat. During sleep, night sweats may be triggered if the body becomes too warm due to thermal blankets.

A recent survey reveals that pregnancy hot flashes quite commonly interfere with getting a good nights sleep, and almost eighty percent of pregnant women are affected. Some simple ways to find relief are to wear cotton sleep gowns or pajamas, sleep in a cool room, do early afternoon exercises, nap during the day only when exhausted, and practice deep breating. Always keep in mind that pregnancy hot flashes are a normal part of pregnancy. Like pregnancy itself, they won’t last forever.

Linda Bruton
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/relief-from-pregnancy-hot-flashes-88337.html

« Previous Page — Next Page »