While menopause doesn’t begin for most women until around the age of 50, many women will begin experiencing pre-menopause symptoms as early as their late 30’s or early 40’s. These pre-menopause symptoms are simply a sign that the estrogen levels in the body are decreasing, giving you a chance to prepare for the “change of life” that is to come. When pre-menopause or perimenopause transitions to actual menopause, the ovaries will actually stop producing eggs completely, and the menstrual cycles will end for good. However, the year or two prior to this event can accelerate the pre-menopause symptoms, and you may experience many of the signs of menopause during this time.

What you Might Experience

There are a number of early menopause symptoms that you might experience and the only difference between them and regular menopause symptoms are the time of life in which they appear. pre menopause symptoms can include irregular periods or periods that are missed completely, a change in the flow of your periods, or hot flashes. While these are the most common telltale pre menopause symptoms, other symptoms can include vaginal dryness, dry skin, moodiness or depression, or bladder problems. If you experience any or all of these pre-menopause symptoms, it is important to see your doctor to determine if this is indeed what is going on. Your doctor will do a bit of exploring to see if there might be a reason for your early symptoms, such as an autoimmune disorder diagnosis or a past history of cancer and chemotherapy.

Just as women that go through menopause at the average age, women experiencing pre-menopause symptoms will find that most of these complaints are the result of a drop in estrogen levels. Unfortunately, this hormonal drop can also raise the risk of other health conditions like osteoporosis, periodontal disease and some cancers like ovarian and colon cancer. Because of these risk factors, you will need to work closely with your doctor to alleviate some of these risks through regular health screenings and possible nutritional supplementation.

First symptoms of menopause can be scary for many women to experience, but your doctor can help you to manage the more uncomfortable symptoms and prepare you for what lies ahead. Keeping your pre-menopause symptoms in check will be the first step on the road to better health after menopause.

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The natural age of menopause occurs when the monthly cycle of ovulation comes to an end in a woman’s life. Menopause occurs because the ovarian supply of follicles and eggs declines sharply as a woman approaches her later years of life. So the onset of menopause is basically signifying the end of a woman’s fertility period, when she can no longer get pregnant and have children.

It is easy to see then why so many women find dealing with menopause to be so difficult, and why it can often be so damaging to self-esteem and self-confidence. It is really the symptoms that come with menopause which are the most difficult to deal with of all including hot flashes, night sweats, decreased libido, and vaginal dryness just to name a few.

Say Hello to the Good Stuff

Now is the time of life to increase your intake of the nutrition-packed foods that Mom always tried to get you to eat in your younger years. A healthy menopause diet will include plenty of produce, including citrus fruits and bananas that will give you a healthy dose of potassium, which is great for combating water retention and balancing sodium. Your veggie plate should include dark leafy vegetables, yams and tomatoes for a good balance of nutrients for your menopause diet. Fiber also becomes more essential as your digestive system slows and becomes less efficient, so on top of your fruits and vegetables make sure you include plenty of whole grains like brown rice and wheat pasta. Omega-3 fatty acids are another component of a healthy menopause diet, and you can get yours through fish like salmon and mackerel.

Say Goodbye to the Bad

A menopause diet is a good time to limit the foods that are not so good for you, since calories can pack on easier during this phase of life, and risk factors for certain types of diseases can go up. Saying no to fatty foods as much as possible will keep your heart and cardiovascular system healthy, and help to cut your risk of conditions like cancer and diabetes. Save those rich desserts for special occasions only. It is also a good idea to cut back on your consumption of caffeinated beverages and alcoholic drinks. Replace those types of choices with healthier options, like bottled water and decaffeinated green tea. Instead of frying your foods, go for the broiling or baking that will add less fat and keep the good stuff packed inside. Finally, toss out the less nutritious selections like potatoes, and go for the yams and sweet potatoes instead that are packed with nutrients instead of empty calories.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are always important to include in any diet but especially so when you are going through menopause. You should try and stay away from fatty and sugary foods, as well as those that contain caffeine, or anything else that really has no nutritive value. Calcium, vitamins A, C, D, E, K, B-complex, iron, manganese, magnesium, zinc, potassium, fiber, and phytoestrogens are all also recommended for a menopause diet. But remember that obviously there is no single food that contains all of these and so you need to make sure that you are eating a nutritious and well balanced diet each and every day.

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Women who are going through menopause can experience both physical and emotional changes that are hard to deal with. Sometimes the worst part is the constantly changing emotions that many women experience. Irritability and sadness are the most common emotional symptoms of menopause. Other out of control feelings include aimlessness, anxiety, aggression, difficulty concentrating, and fatigue. And then there’s mood swings. This is one of the most frequently experienced menopause symptoms. You can end up experiencing any or all of these emotions in just a short period of time.

Feelings of depression can also accompany menopause, although it’s not technically a symptom of the condition. Visit your doctor if your mood gets worse and you feel unable to deal with your situation.

As well, you’re likely to feel discomfort over all the physical changes taking place in your body. Women can feel helpless because their whole body seems to be out of control. Things like hot flashes, weight gain, night sweats and the end of your child bearing capabilities are some of the issues you’ll deal with.

And when you think it’s finally over, you start to experience the effects of post-menopause. Once again, there will be physical changes to deal with. These changes will also involve some strong emotions; not just negative, but positive too.

Try to keep a positive attitude towards menopause, no matter how difficult it might be. Tension and anxiety can make your symptoms worse. Use relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises, yoga, and regular exercise to manage stress. It’s important to discuss with others the issues that accompany menopause. If you need to, talk to loved ones, friends, or join a support group. Investigate as many sources of menopause information as you can in order to arm yourself with knowledge.

Often, your symptoms can be managed through lifestyle changes, like learning to relax and reduce stress. The following tips might help you better deal with your constantly shifting emotions. Both your physical and emotional health will get a boost.

* Eat healthfully and exercise regularly
* Get ample rest
* Learn to calm yourself with yoga or meditation
* Stay away from sugar, caffeine, alcohol and tranquilizers
* Find a creative outlet that helps you feel a sense of achievement
* Stay connected with your family and friends

Change is inevitable in this life. If the changes you’re going through are related to menopause, the secret is to manage the physical and emotional symptoms as best you can. You can do this through the recommendations mentioned above. And try not to get stressed over things that you can’t control. Take care of your health, indulge yourself from time to time, and maintain a positive attitude. In time it will be over and you’ll enter a new and exciting phase of your life.

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