As we mentioned, menopause is part of a cycle known as climacteric, which consists of different stages, such as premenopause, perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause, we explained these terms in this article. Menopause is generally emphasized since it is the dividing period between having and not having the fertile ability. Menopause is the last menstruation, and we know that it has arrived because a year has passed without having the period. You may still have occasional bleeding, as the remaining eggs are being removed.

Although climacteric and menopause share symptoms, some of the most characteristic of this phase are: hot flashes, increased body temperature, sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness, loss of bone mass and joint pain, loss of sexual desire, mood changes, urinary incontinence, and irascibility. The doctors estimate in 85% the women who will present any symptoms associated with the climacteric phase.

Exercise will help alleviate many of the symptoms of menopause

Coping with menopause can be complicated, so knowing medications, techniques or natural remedies will help in relieving the symptoms, particularly hot flashes, one of the most annoying and common.

Hot flashes in Menopause

They affect nearly 80 percent of women. It is important to find out what triggers this symptom, which can last for 2 to 3 minutes and try to avoid them. They are usually associated with the consumption of beverages or hot foods and spicy products. They are also associated with stress and consumption of caffeine and alcohol. If these symptoms occur at night, try to have a fan on hand and sleep in a cool room. If you detect it in

advance and you start to feel bad, try to consume some cold drink that lower your body temperature or take in the fresh air to reduce hot flashes before it manifests itself. It is also important that you look at layers, so you can regulate your temperature according to the circumstances, do not take it as a joke, because the temperature of your skin can increase by almost 7 degrees.

Vaginal Dryness

It is a symptom with an easy solution, can be alleviated with lubricants or creams with high estrogen content of topical use. It is important that you take care of your intimate hygiene using products especially indicated for the female genital area since the muscular atrophy of the vaginal tissue and the lack of secretions of own favor the development of infections. Before you decide to buy a product for your intimate hygiene, be sure to read the compounds in detail. Also, note the natural extracts it may contain, whether or not it has lactic acid and vitamin E, its pH remembers that it must be in a range of 3.8 to 4.5 (acid pH) which is the natural pH of your zone intimate.

Irritability

It is important to sleep the necessary hours of sleep and to maintain an active life performing the exercise, accompanying all of a satisfactory social life. If you suffer a complicated emotional situation, such as widowhood, empty nest syndrome or poor social relations, pay special attention as menopause can aggravate the situation. Talk to your doctor about the need to take antidepressants or attend therapy, and although you should always follow the advice of doctors, we recommend that taking pills is the last option.

Urinary Incontinence

It can be corrected by performing Kegel exercises, with vaginal cones, or with physiotherapy aimed at correcting the pelvic muscles.

Joint pain and osteoporosis

During the next 3 to 5 years of menopause, during the climacteric, there will be a rapid loss of bone mass. You need to take enough calcium, specifically between 1,200 and 1,500 milligrams daily if you are over 50 years old. You will also need vitamin D to promote its absorption, 400 international units until 70 and 700 to 800 after that age. Regarding proteins, keep in mind that you need between 15 and 20 percent in your daily intake of calories as animal protein (meat, poultry, eggs, cheese) to improve bone density. Remember that plant protein is not protective.

The sources from which you can obtain these substances are milk, fortified cereals, eggs, salmon, herrings, and liver. For vitamin D, the sun is your best ally, take it for 15 minutes a day.

General Symptoms Of Menopause

Improving our lifestyle and making it healthy, will also help to improve symptoms in general. Stop smoking, monitor heart risk factors, have a low-fat diet and practice regular exercise, especially those that help strengthen bone resistance.

There are specific therapies for menopause and its symptoms. Hormone replacement therapy or estrogen-only therapies if you do not have a uterus, will reduce overall symptoms of the climacteric, but in the long run, this combination of hormones may increase the risk of illness, breast cancer or clotting in the blood and strokes. Some of the medications you may be prescribed are antidepressants for mood swings and clonidine and gabapentin to reduce hot flashes. Remember that, as we always recommend to consult your doctor before taking anything, and if you see that your emotional state is quite negative, the help of a psychologist will be more effective and fruitful than the medication.

You can lead a healthy life even in menopause

Finally, there are products and natural therapies that help you to alleviate the symptoms. Phytoestrogens, such as soy isoflavones, help, buy soy milk, red clover, wild sweet potato, dong quai, remefemina, chaste berry, flaxseed, and ginseng have beneficial effects on the symptoms of menopause, consume them as a tea or a pill.

Other natural techniques for menopause symptoms such as acupuncture or all related meditation techniques, yoga, tai chi are beneficial to your overall health and to relieve the symptoms of menopause. Remember these tips, remedies, and medications, menopause should not be a problem and you can lead a normal life, as always.