What are the Symptoms of Menopause? Pt I – Minor Physical While not every woman experiences physical symptoms when she enters perimenopause, most do. One of the most common areas in which women complain of the symptoms of menopause is the physical. As with all the symptoms, physical symptoms can often be reduced or even eliminated completely with natural foods, herbs, and supplements such as black cohosh and soy isoflavones. To better understand this, let’s first look at some of the more common minor physical symptoms. Keep in mind that any symptom might be minor or major – it varies from woman to woman. However, most of those listed below do not usually cause major upheaval in the life of the woman experiencing them: • night sweats – Night sweats might be described as hot flashes when you are asleep. The body experiences a sudden intense temperature rise, resulting in the release of sweat to cool down – just like when the temperature rises during intense physical activity. Some women even report having to change the sheets in the middle of the night due to the amount they have sweated. Since night sweats are typically related to hot flashes at night, and since hot flashes can often be regulated by black cohosh or soy isoflavones, the intensity of night sweats can often be reduced by taking one of these natural remedies. • period irregularity – Many women, even those that have always had a very set schedule for their natural menstrual cycles, report that their periods begin to change beginning even in their early 40s. They may get closer together or farther apart. They may even do either from month to month. They also can change in intensity, becoming heavier or lighter. |
This symptom is usually more irritating than debilitating, and women on birth control pills don’t experience it much at all. They might see some spotting in between periods, but regulatory effects of the pill prevent its occurrence most of the time. Just like medical solutions, natural solutions like the isoflavones in soy products and black cohosh can help regulate this symptom when it becomes a bother. • Weight gain – Some of the weight gain that appears to be associated with menopause is actually just the result of aging and the more sedentary lifestyle that often comes with aging. However, menopause does have a tendency to cause more weight gain around the waist and hip area. While weight gain can be irritating and frustrating to avoid, it usually doesn’t affect a woman’s life in a major way. The thing to watch out for is becoming depressed or irritable when the weight isn’t coming off fast enough, and again, natural solutions like the isoflavones in soy products can help prevent these more devastating side effects. These are but a few of the more minor physical changes a woman’s body goes through during perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. Of course any symptom can be overwhelming to a particular individual, and that’s when it’s time to consult a primary care provider to see whether healthy, natural solutions like black cohosh or soy isoflavones might be the right choice. What are the Symptoms of
Menopause? Pt. II – Minor Emotional >> |
Return to the "Menopause Articles page. " |
