Today is World Menopause Day -- an international call to turn the healthcare spotlight on aging women and make menopausal health a principal research issue.
"While each woman's experience of menopause is unique, one thing is true for all women," Margery L.S. Gass, MD, executive director of the North American Menopause Society, said in a press release to Endocrine Today. "Menopause presents an ideal opportunity for women to evaluate their personal health and improve their lifestyle. Taking informed steps will transform and enhance every woman's sense of well-being, not only around menopause, but for the rest of her life."
This life-changing event, however, is also known to trigger the onset of osteoporosis, heart disease, colon cancer and other diseases, in addition to the unpleasant side effects often associated with menopause.
In conjunction with World Menopause Day, the International Menopause Society (IMS) released a new study on hot flashes and night sweats, and found that these common symptoms can have a major impact on a woman's life. They can lead to physical discomfort, embarrassment, fatigue, and loss of confidence, causing some women to avoid social outings, the report says.
IMS President Dr. Tobie de Villiers said in a press release:
"Too often the distressing symptoms associated with the menopause are not taken seriously enough. The stresses caused by these symptoms can have a significant effect on not only a woman's life, but also the lives of those close to her, over a period of years. A woman can't just "grin and bear it" -- if only it were that simple. These are troubling symptoms caused by the menopause, which lead to physical and psychological problems in everyday life. Women need to realize that they don't need to put up with this. For most women there are ways of overcoming these problems, and a woman going through a difficult menopause should make sure that she talks this over with her doctor to find the best solution for her."
Diminished levels of estrogen directly affect the brain’s hypothalamus, which is responsible for controlling your appetite, sleep cycles, sex hormones, and body temperature. That’s why aging women experience hormonal rollercoaster rides of hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruption and mood swings.
"Hot flashes typically begin as a sudden sensation of heat on the face and upper chest that becomes generalized," Lauren Streicher, MD, said in her blog. "It can be pretty intense (I call it the "furnace inside you"), lasting between 2 and 4 minutes and followed by profuse sweating. As if that weren’t enough, many women also have chills and shivering."
As a result of its findings, the International Menopause Society calls for women to be more proactive in asking for treatment.
According to IMS, Hormone Replacement Therapy yields the best results in treating hot flashes or night sweats, with up to 90 percent of symptoms being abolished within three months of starting the treatment. However, the report cautions against 'bioidentical hormones' and other untested methods.
Some techniques such as acupuncture have shown mixed results, the report says, while most relaxation therapies and yoga have not shown significant benefits.
“Millions of women around the world suffer silently and unnecessarily through the extreme discomfort and often debilitating symptoms associated with menopause,” said International Osteoporosis Foundation CEO Patrice McKenney in the press release. “Postmenopausal women are also the highest risk group for osteoporosis. We urge women who are experiencing hot flushes, night sweats or other menopausal symptoms to discuss the problem with their doctors. There are effective treatments available that can significantly improve quality of life.”
Think you're prepared for menopause? Take this quiz to find out what you should eat to avoid weight gain and help alleviate symptoms such as hot flashes, bloating, irritability and fatigue.
