xewefopuz: December 2006

Monday, December 18, 2006

Hormone Treatment For Menopause

Menopause: Your Physical Examination

by Michael Russell

An annual checkup is important for a menopausal woman even if you do not want hormone replacement therapy or other prescription treatments. If you are more interested in natural health care alternatives, you may want to find a doctor who specializes in, or at least is knowledgeable about these areas. Some women prefer to visit both a doctor and a natural therapist, so that they can have the best of both worlds. This is a good idea, although unfortunately it may be a quite financially challenging to some.

Women who do not experience unpleasant symptoms pf menopause may be reluctant to consult a doctor, or may think there is no reason to, since they do not need or desire to have any form of "treatment". It should be emphasized that menopause is not a disease; and it is important not to medicalize it by taking an overly interventionist approach. However, the risk of certain serious diseases rises rather sharply at this time of life, so regular physical examinations become more important than ever for the maintenance of your good health.

Whatever your situation, a good doctor should take your individual perspective and needs into account. In addition, because the change menopause produces in your body is gradual, both you and tour physician should be aware that your needs and feelings may change over time. There is no need to rush into any form of treatment or to feel pressured by a doctor; the goal is to stay in tune with your body and work with your physician to optimize your health.

It is advisable that you consult a gynecologist or a doctor who has a special interest in women's health when you first experience premenopausal symptoms. If you are one of those lucky women who experience no premenopausal symptoms, you should visit your doctor once you realize that menopause is taking or has taken place. Your first visit should be around 30 to 40 minutes long, thus allowing time for a full history and medical examination.

Before deciding what medical treatment, if any, is appropriate for you, your doctor must take a medical history and perform all physical checkup and a battery of tests. At the time of menopause, your ovaries, adrenal glands and fat tissue may still produce enough sex hormones to keep you feeling well. In 10 years after menopause, your levels of sex hormones will gradually decline and at some point, you may feel a desire to try hormone replacement therapy. Your doctor would then want to know if there are any risk factors in your family history that could influence the decision to begin hormone replacement therapy. For instance, if you have a strong family history of breast cancer - if first-degree relatives have had the disease and especially if it was diagnosed before menopause - your doctor would be more conservative about giving you estrogen replacement. Conversely, if you have a family history of osteoporosis or cardiovascular disease, your doctor would be more likely to advise you to take estrogen replacement on a long-term basis, as this would reduced your chances of following in your relative's footsteps.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Menopause

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Menopause More Condition Treatment

Possible Connection Between Decreasing Levels of Estrogen and Weight Gain

by Patsy Hamilton

The exact connection between estrogen and weight gain is largely unknown. But, a scientific study conducted by the Division of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, seems to indicate that decreasing estrogen levels can cause weight gain.

Many women have found that it is harder to lose weight during peri-menopause and menopause. In fact, many women gain weight as estrogen levels decline during these years, even though they may have made no changes in their diet or exercise programs. We know that our calorie requirements decrease with age, but we don�t know why. If a woman (or a man, for that matter) expends the same amount of energy throughout her life by remaining physically active, then why would caloric requirements decrease? The answer may be found in something called the �resting energy expenditure�.

The resting energy expenditure is the number of calories that the body naturally burns during periods of rest. Dietary experts know that people, who increase their physical activity, not only burn calories during the exercise, but increase the number of calories that the body burns at rest. Curious researchers wanted to know if there was a connection between levels of estrogen and weight gain, and if this connection was related to the resting energy expenditure.

In order to determine if estrogen levels alone played a role in resting energy expenditure, researchers enrolled a group of young women, not near the age of menopause and measured their resting energy rate. The women were then given drugs that block estrogen production, while being advised to make no other changes in their diet or exercise regimen, and the resting energy expenditure was measured again. The results showed a decrease of nearly 100 calories per day in resting energy expenditure. These results seem to indicate that menopausal decreases in estrogen and weight gain are connected.

Most women notice a change in body shape, which may or may not contribute to weight gain during menopause. A woman�s body has a tendency to gradually change from pear shaped, hips wider than the waist, to apple shaped, waist approaching the same width as the hips. No one knows if this change in body shape is related to decreasing estrogen levels or another part of the aging process, but most people know that it does frustrate menopausal women.

Hormone replacement therapy does not seem to prevent weight gain among women who use it. Neither does it normally stop the change in body shape. Some women notice these changes and others do not. Genetics may play a role, as could nutritional factors and of course diet and exercise programs. It is not a foregone conclusion that decreasing levels of estrogen and weight gain must accompany each other. In fact, dietary changes that are often recommended to relieve symptoms of menopause may also help prevent weight gain.

Plant foods are low fat and highly nutritious. They are often referred to as nutrient dense foods, because the number of vitamins and minerals they contain is so much higher than their caloric content. Plant foods contain a number of other compounds as well. One of these compounds is called phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens have an estrogen like effect on a woman�s body and can reduce some of the symptoms associated with decreased estrogen levels during menopause.

Isoflavones are a type of phytoestrogen and you may see isoflavones listed as an ingredient in dietary supplements designed for women approaching menopause. These dietary supplements alone may not prevent weight gain during menopause, but changing your diet from one that consists primarily of meats and processed foods to one that consists primarily of nutrient rich low calorie plant foods will definitely make a difference. This type of diet is recommended not only because of the possible connection between decreased levels of estrogen and weight gain, but also by the American Heart Association, because it is good for the heart and by the American Cancer Society, because it reduces the risk of many types of cancer. For more information, please visit the Menopause and PMS guide.

Patsy Hamilton was a healthcare professional for over twenty years before becoming a freelance writer. Currently she writes informational articles for the Menopause and PMS Guide. Visit http://www.menopause-and-pms-guide.com to learn more about menopause, PMS and natural remedies.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patsy_Hamilton

Menopause Progesterone Treatment

Menopause, Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

by Cathy Taylor

Hot flashes are one of the most talked about symptoms of Menopause. About 80% of the women in America experience hot flashes and night sweats during menopause. The body produces less estrogen and progesterone during menopause, but menopause is not necessarily caused by these fluctuating levels. Hot flashes could last from a few seconds to a few minutes; and in some cases is known to last half an hour to one hour. Most women have hot flashes and night sweat lasting from two months to two years, and in some rare cases they continue to have them for a decade, after menopause.

The severity of hot flashes that a woman experiences depends on the lifestyle and psychological factors. Some women really sweat, while others may only perspire. Following hot flashes, some women have headaches, feel dizzy, weak, tired or lose sleep, experience palpitations and skipped or erratic heartbeats. It is always advisable to consult your doctor, whether if these are symptoms of menopause or a sign of normal illness or a medical disorder.

Hot Flashes and Night Sweats - The Causes and Remedies
Many women cope with hot flashes, while and others have difficult times. Hot flashes and night sweat can cause interrupted sleep, insomnia, panic attacks, anxiety and depression, among others. Categorized as mild, moderate or severe; mild hot flashes produce a feeling of warmth for less than a minute, and with little or no perspiration. Moderate flashes produce more warmth and a little perspiration and last for two to three minutes. Severe hot flashes produce intense heat and sweat, and last longer.

Spicy food, alcoholic drinks, hot drinks, white sugar (can also cause palpitations), hot weather, stress, hot tubs and saunas, tobacco, marijuana and unexpressed anger could cause hot flashes. Hot flashes are known to deplete Vitamin B, Vitamin C, magnesium and potassium in our bodies, and there is a need to increase the intake of these nutrients, including calcium. For mild hot flashes, a daily dosage of 400 to 800 IU of Vitamin E is recommended.

Most women start a daily dose of 600 to 800 IU of Vitamin E with Vitamin C, and when the flashes subside, take 400 IU. Vitamin E has been effective on 50% to 60% of women, and it takes around two to six weeks for the effects to show. Vitamin E is contraindicated with certain medical conditions, such as, diabetes, high blood pressure, or with rheumatic heart conditions, history of hypertension, etc, and it is advisable to seek a doctor's opinion.

250 mg Bioflavonoid, five to six times everyday, would help relieve hot flashes.

Hot Flashes and Night Sweats - In Non-Western Cultures
Less than 10% of women in non-western cultures, such as, in Japan, Mexico, and India, experience hot flashes and night sweat. It has been linked to high soybean consumption, which stimulates estrogen production. Herbs, such as, ginseng, vitex agnus castii, licorice root, black cohosh, dong quai, blue cohosh, false unicorn and sarsaparilla, can alleviate hot flashes.

Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant with over 26 years experience. She specializes in internet marketing, strategy and plan development as well as management of communications nad public relations programs for small business sectors. She can be reached at Creative Communications; creative-com@cox.net or by vistiing http://www.everythingmenopause.com, http://www.everythingandropause.com or http://www.howtoconquermenopause.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cathy_Taylor

Menopause Natural Treatment

Ease Menopause Symptoms with Aromatherapy

by Elena Leong

Menopause can be a physical, psychological and emotionally challenging time for many women. They will spend half of their adult lives in menopause, according to statistics which show the average life expectancy of women at 79.5 years nowadays.

By 2050 women will probably live to be at least 95 years old. A new generation of health-conscious women today is looking forward to a new phase of life with physical, spiritual and personal growth.

Most women think of menopause as the point when they cease to menstruate. They do not link irritability, anxiety, memory lapses, or mood swings to hormonal imbalance caused by this process of biological change. About 75% of all women experience some temporary symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, increase in level of cholesterol, decreased libido which may last for years; long term ones may include vaginal dryness and urinary problems.
To know more about menopause, you can visit http://www.1menopause.com

Fortunately, these unpleasant complaints or symptoms can be prevented, reduced and relieved by making some changes to daily lifestyles with the right diet, nutrition supplements, regular exercise and adopting some complementary therapies such as yoga, tai chi, spa therapy or holistic aromatherapy, which all help to achieve a healthy, balanced lifestyle with natural medicine. They also offer a safer alternative compared to Hormone Replacement Therapy. They also to reduce the risk of future age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, osteoporosis and diabetes.

For a list of detailed menopause symptoms please visit http://www.1menopause.com

Aromatherapy, which has been well used for over 2000 years, is the practice of using distilled essences obtained from the leaf, stem, flower, fruit peel, bark or root of a tree. As the aromatic molecules from essential oils disperse in the air, they:

carry pleasant fragrances to your nose
come in contact with the olfactory receptor cells in the nasal cavity
transmit the information to the olfactory bulb which is a structure just above the nose.
cause a response in the limbic system of the brain which works in conjunction with the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus region to regulate the hormonal activities.
trigger the production of hormones that govern appetite, body temperature, insulin production, overall metabolism, stress levels, sex drive and conscious thought and reactions.

Essential Oils can have a positive effect on all these functions through the sense of smell which happens to be the most complex and sensitive of all the five senses. The sense of smell is over 10,000 times more sensitive than your sense of taste and researchers have shown how aroma causes a brain reaction by activating the hypothalamus gland, the pituitary gland and the body�s hormones as well as stimulating the emotion and memory.

Aromatherapy is particularly effective for stress, anxiety and psychosomatic induced problems, muscular and rheumatic pains, digestive disorders and women�s problems such as PMS, menopausal problems and postnatal depression. It is a natural and non-invasive therapy designed to help a person enhance the body's natural ability to balance, regulate, heal and maintain oneself.

Essential Oils are very concentrated and their properties potent as they contain molecules small enough to enter your skin; except for essential oils of lavender and tea tree, the oils need to be diluted with a carrier oil, usually with a vegetable oil such as sweet almond or jojoba, to avoid skin irritation. The oils can be used in a vaporizer, sprays, bath, hot or cold compress, perfume or for topical body application or massage.
Some recommended essential oils for menopausal women:

Bergamot uplifts mood and reduces anxiety and depression.
Clary Sage eases hot flashes and night sweats and PMS.
Roman Chamomile has calming effect, ease tension, anxiety and headaches.
Frankincense helps psychosomatic problems and anxiety.
Geranium is a hormone balancer and reduces stress.
Jasmine is euphoric and eases tension and anxiety.
Juniper Berry regulates period and relieves water retention.
Lavender is sedative and aids sleep.
Rose is a womb tonic and provides relief from pre menopause to post menopause.
Sandalwood stimulates the development of sex hormones and promotes vaginal secretions.
Ylang Ylang is aphrodisiac and relaxes the nervous system.

Copyright 2005

Elena Leong is a certified aromatherapist by International Federation of Aromatherapy (IFA) and the founder of http://www.1menopause.com - a website on menopause information and its associated symptoms and problems which can be prevented or reduced by some natural Chinese herbal supplement, complementary therapy and other natural treatment options to ease and enjoy the menopause transition.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elena_Leong

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Menopause The Musical In St Louis

Menopause Help for Menopause Signs Symptoms

by Olinda Rola

Menopause help is possible for menopause signs symptoms when you understand the main underlying causes for symptoms of menopause. Menopause help IS available online, since millions of women experience menopause signs symptoms each year.

First, here are the most common symptoms of menopause:

� Anxiety and depression

� Endometriosis

� Fibroid tumors

� Foggy, fuzzy thinking and memory lapses
� Hot flashes and night sweats
� Inability to handle stress
� Irregular menstrual cycles

� Light or heavy menstrual flow

� Lumpy or tender breasts

� Mood swings

� PMS

� Sleep problems

� Vaginal dryness

� Water retention and bloating
� Weight gain

To obtain menopause help for menopause signs symptoms, understand female hormones, the menstrual cycle and how hormone imbalance happens. In a healthy menstruating woman, estrogen is the main hormone produced for the first 10-12 days following the previous menstrual flow. Ovulation then signals the female body to produce progesterone, which occurs for the next 12 or so days. Progesterone and estrogen levels will drop at around day 28 if there's no pregnancy, and menstruation begins.

However, if there is no ovulation, progesterone cannot be produced that month. This is called an 'annovulatory cycle' and is a typical occurance today for women in their 30's and 40's. Without ovulation and progesterone production, the woman then has an excess of estrogen, a deficiency of progesterone and definitely needs menopause help.

And once ovulation no longer happens at menopause and after, progesterone levels fall to virtually zero. At the same time, estrogen is still being produced, leading to hormone imbalance, menopause signs symptoms and the need for menopause help. If the woman has had a hysterectomy, surgical menopause means the woman no longer produces progesterone. Besides the problems created by missed ovulations or hysterectomy, excess estrogen is also obtained from other sources such as birth control pills, household chemicals and pesticides, foods that have been sprayed and construction materials used in homes.

Physicians refer to the hormone imbalance condition of excess estrogen in the body as "estrogen dominance". Symptoms of estrogen dominance include low sex drive, bloating and weight gain, headaches, mood swings, irregular periods and excessive menstrual bleeding. If unopposed estrogen in the female adult increases beyond what is desirable and healthy, you will definitely experience menopause signs symptoms. On the other hand, when your hormones are balanced, you will no longer need menopause help since you feel alert, energetic and ready to take on the challenges of everyday life.

How can a woman tell if the menopause signs symptoms being experienced are because of hormone imbalance? An easy way is to take the online test provided by a leading womens health clinic for menopause signs symptoms. It takes just a few minutes and is free. Learn more about your health, premenopause and menopause symptoms, what the symptoms are telling you and what to do about it based on your answers to important questions. Read more about menopause help, hormone imbalance and physician-recommended natural treatments for eliminating menopause signs symptoms.

Copyright 2006 InfoSearch Publishing

Read more about menopause help and take the hormone health test provided by the womens health clinic online. Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - a website of information on menopause and related health articles for women.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Olinda_Rola

Theatre Menopause The Musical

Menopause and Gastrointestinal Distress

by Cathy Taylor

Numerous women report that menopause comes along with gastrointestinal distress causing uncomfortable symptoms such as indigestion, flatulence and sudden bloating. Not only are these annoying and embarrassing, they can also be quite painful.

During menopause, gastrointestinal bloating is caused when air fills the abdomen, creating a full feeling. Even though your stomach remains the same size, your pants probably feel tighter and your waistline just seems to keep expanding. Excess intestinal gas is produced by bacteria in the intestines. Sugar located foods often contribute to the growth of this bacterium.

Poor digestion, a lack of lactose - an enzyme that breaks down food and liquids, can cause gastrointestinal distress as well. Gas distress can also be rampant during menopause due to lack of estrogen. Medical studies have suggested that a menopausal woman's diet can be to blame - particularly too many high sugar foods including fruit, and certain vegetables such as cauliflower, onion and broccoli that create even more bacteria in already inflamed intestines.

Of course your hormones might also be the trigger for bloating. For example, progesterone in the right doses has a calming effect, but in too high doses can cause bloating and breast tenderness. A form of estrogen called Estradiol, on the other hand, is sometimes prescribed as a relief for bloating.
People who eat too much protein at once can cause bloating because the stomach can't digest it all. Enzymes that help digestion such as Beano aid in the consumption of products such as soy that can have numerous positive effects for menopausal women.

Herbs can be used to restore balance in menopause. You need to be clear on what stage of menopause you are in. Different hormone levels vary significantly from peri-menopause to menopause and post-menopause, and of course your doctor needs to help you with these decisions.

For bloating as well as headaches and breast tenderness, an herbal tea that provides minerals in a dissolved form can help. Minerals help your body handle waste loads as well as provide a good source of calcium. You can use a combination of raspberry, dandelion, lemon balm, nettles, and green oat straw tea. Drink one cup of tea per day. Don quai can increase the effectiveness of estrogen released from fat tissue and help soothe menopausal discomfort as well.

The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.

Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant with over 25 years experience. She specializes in internet marketing, strategy and plan development, as well as management of communications and public relations programs for small business sectors. She can be reached at Creative Communications: creative-com@cox.net or by visiting
http://www.howtoconquermenopause.com or
http://www.everythingmenopause.com or http://www.internet-marketing-small-business.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cathy_Taylor

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Blog Archive

About Me

Monday, December 18, 2006

Hormone Treatment For Menopause

Menopause: Your Physical Examination

Menopause More Condition Treatment

Possible Connection Between Decreasing Levels of Estrogen and Weight Gain

Menopause Progesterone Treatment

Menopause, Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

Menopause Natural Treatment

Ease Menopause Symptoms with Aromatherapy

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Menopause The Musical In St Louis

Menopause Help for Menopause Signs Symptoms

Theatre Menopause The Musical

Menopause and Gastrointestinal Distress