Perimenopause or Menopause – What’s the Difference?

The menopause is a bit of a sexual taboo, even in developed countries like the United States, which is a bit ridiculous when you consider the effect that it can have on the wellness and wellbeing of around 50 percent of the population.

 

There is a bit of a tendency to not take the symptoms of menopause seriously, and many women have been victims of a healthcare system that tries to tell them it’s all in their heads. Conversely, in Australia, looking into the causes and effects of the menopause is seen as an important holistic and multidimensional approach to providing appropriate healthcare for women.

 

That does not mean that the actual, biological aspects of menopause are ignored, it simply means that the Australian healthcare system better understands the psychological side to the menopause during the menopause and perimenopausae.

 

The symptoms that women exhibit both during the menopause and the periomenopausae seem to be quite culturally specific. For example, Western city dwellers are more likely to experience a hot flash whereas in Japan it is so uncommon an occurrence that there isn’t even a Japanese word for it.

 

There have been various theories about why Japanese women do not seem to get hot flushes. One theory is that the Japanese diet, which is rich in vegetables and soy, provides a measure of protection against the side effects of the menopause. Another thought is that the Japanese culture of respect for older women makes the menopause a more comfortable time, as women feel they are moving to a place of honour rather than being pushed aside to be an invisible older person, as many Western women feel is the case.

 

Whatever the culture, the symptoms for perimenopause and menopause are largely similar, they are just milder in the earlier stages, whether that be the hot flushes common in the West or the ‘frozen shoulder’ symptom that is often reported in Japan or North Africa.

Categories: healthcare, hot flushes, japanese, Menopause, nbsp, Perimenopause, symptom, Women, women feel

She-Hulk or the Next Stage of Life? Entering Perimenopause

You’ve got the She-Hulk rage, the sleep-ravaging night sweats, the where-did-I-put-my-keys forgetfulness and suddenly your periods are all over the place – what’s happening to your wellness? The good news is, you’re not going crazy. The not-so good news; you’re in perimenopause. This sexual health condition is a physiological stage in which your body begins its transition into menopause – hooray? At this time, your oestrogen levels are fluctuating, which has a knock-on effect in terms of your wellbeing. Your menstrual cycle becomes irregular, and you get a whole host of other weird symptoms. So, how can you feel like yourself again?

1. Fixing the start date: The problem with perimenopause is that you and your best friend probably won’t experience it the same way, whether that’s in terms of symptom frequency, severity or when they begin. For most women, perimenopause starts between the ages of 45 and 55, but, if you’re one of the unlucky ones, you could begin the transition in your 30s. There’s no way of telling how bad your symptoms will be or when they’ll end; it could be anywhere from two to 10 years before you finish perimenopause. Full-blown menopause becomes official when you’ve gone an entire year without having a period. While there’s no way to postpone menopause, research has shown that your lifestyle factors may be bringing it on earlier. Smoking is one of these factors and there’s also a genetic link with menopause, so as your mum when she started going through “the change.”

2. Fixing your feelings: The cupcakes you always make suddenly go so wrong you’d be laughed right out of the Bake Off tent. Before perimenopause, you may have uttered a few choice swear words and thrown them away (or eaten them anyway because, come on, it’s still cake.) However, now, in the throes of perimenopause, you kick the oven door, collapse onto the lino and cry at your husband, kids and budgie for ruining your concentration. Studies have shown that nearly 40% of women experience such mood swings associated with hormonal dips—from sudden anger to intense moodiness, anxiety, or despair. Unfortunately, you can entirely prevent this from happening. Still, you can alleviate them with vitamin B12. Research has linked B12 deficiency with mood swings and depression, so up you intake of shellfish (clams, mussels, and crab), salmon, lean beef, low-fat or fat-free milk, and eggs. Yoga can also help to ease irritability and ensure you get enough sleep.

3. Fixing your temperature: Hot flashes affect about 80% of women in menopause, and this is often followed by a chill. No one’s exactly sure as to why this happens, but experts guess that it has something to do with your fluctuating hormones. Your hypothalamus – the part of your brain that regulates body temperature – receives mixed signals from these hormone fluctuations and so creates a hot flash. For a few seconds to 10 minutes, you can experience a flushed face, intense sweating, or even heart palpitations. When this occurs in your sleep, typically alongside heavy perspiration, it is know as the night sweats. The best thing you can do is take note of the things that trigger these hot flashes, such as spicy foods, coffee and wine. Studies show that if you participate in deep breathing for 15 minutes twice a day, you can reduce your frequency of hot flashes by 39%. If that fails, herbal supplements such as black cohosh, as well as soya, may be able to help reduce your hot flashes. However, the most effective way to treat severe hot flashes is with prescription medications, so speak to your doctor for more information.

 

Categories: Experience, flashes, hot flash, hot flashes, Menopause, Mood Swings, night sweats, Perimenopause, sleep