11 Things You Probably Did Not Know About Menopause

Weight gain, hot flashes, mood swings – menopause. We know the change is inevitable and are quite familiar with these symptoms. However, there is more to menopause than changing moods and experiencing hot flashes. Menopause itself marks a big transition in every woman’s life and includes things that no one really talks about. In this article, we will discuss what you have never been told about menopause. Let us begin.

1. Bad Cholesterol Goes Up

During menopause, the natural production of hormone estrogen declines. It turns out that estrogen does more than just regulate our menstrual cycles. The hormone keeps LDL or bad cholesterol low and HDL or good cholesterol high. When you are going through the change, as estrogen’s production decreases, LDL cholesterol level increases while HDL cholesterol remains unchanged. LDL cholesterol puts you at higher risk of getting various diseases such as heart attack or stroke. However, you can easily avoid some health complications. Nieca Goldberg, MD, medical director of the New York University Langone Joan H. Tisch Center for Women’s Health states that with physical activity and healthy diet these cholesterol fluctuations can be kept under control.

 2. You Might Feel Less Social

Menopause is an introspective time of your life, which means that you might feel an emotional shift that will affect your social life. However, this does not automatically mean you’re going to be depressed, according to doctors; this period should be honored as you start to pay more attention to yourself, your needs, preferences, etc.

3. You Shouldn’t Skimp On Moisturizer

With the decline of estrogen levels, oil production in your skin decreases as well. The skin becomes drier and starts developing rougher texture or flaky complexion. In order to ensure smoothness of the skin, you should use a rich moisturizer that locks in moisture in the skin and keeps it nourished and soft. Drinking plenty of water is helpful as well for your health and skin at the same time.

4. Ingredients Of Skincare Products Matter

Products that contain harsh ingredients and various chemicals can cause hormonal disturbances. For this purpose, you should avoid products that contain parabens, phthalates, and BPAs. Moreover, due to harshness they can also dry out your skin even more. Opt for more natural products instead.

5. Hot Flashes May Disrupt Your Sleep

Hot flashes don’t go in a flash. Instead, they tend to gang up at night and prevent you from getting much-needed sleep. Using sheets made of breathable materials, lowering thermostat, or drinking chamomile tea before bed can help.

6. Exercise Can Help

Women usually gain weight when going through menopause. This happens because, with an insufficient level of estrogen, your body tries to maintain some body fat, which usually shows in the belly area. Even some women who exercise regularly notice weight gain during menopause. Does this mean you should stop exercising? No, not at all. Sticking to your workout or trying out new regimen can prove to be beneficial in the long run, prevent you from piling on the pounds, increase energy levels, improve your mood and help you sleep better.

7. You Can Expect More Bad Hair Days

Thinning hair is also one of many symptoms of menopause. Due to fluctuating hormones, your hair may become dry or brittle too. You can tackle this issue by purchasing mild shampoos formulated for dry hair and avoid chemical treatments that would aggravate the problem.

8. Menopause Isn’t The End Of Sex Life

Unlike many other symptoms of menopause, vaginal dryness does not usually improve over time. However, this does not have to be the end of your sex life. For example, you can drink plenty of water to supply enough fluid for regulation of genital tissue, which is also done by applying vaginal estrogen cream. Doctors also recommend using lubricants to alleviate painful sex caused by dryness.

9. You Will Want To Nap – A Lot

Alyssa Dweck, MD, an OB/GYN in Mt. Kisco, New York recommends taking power naps every day, particularly if hot flashes prevent you from getting enough sleep at night. The more rested you are, the easier it will be for you to manage menopause symptoms.

10. Supplements Can Relieve Symptoms

Natural menopause supplements are beneficial for relieving symptoms you experience. For example, I-cool is a hormone-free natural supplement that works towards minimizing night sweats and hot flashes in women. The product provides beneficial results in just 7 to 8 weeks of regular consumption. The main active ingredient of the supplement is 30mg of geniVida, which resolves menopausal problems. Furthermore, the product can be safely used, as it’s free of allergens.

11. Your Heart Might Start To Skip A Beat

During perimenopause (pre-menopause period), many women experience heart palpitations (feeling that your heart beats too hard). In some women, these palpitations are a sign of a heart-related problem while in some women they are the result of hormonal fluxes. How to know the difference? If heart palpitations last longer than a few minutes, make it difficult for you to breathe or even cause you to faint, they might be a sign of an underlying problem.

Menopause comes with different symptoms that other women usually don’t discuss. Fortunately, symptoms will relieve over time, and you can always use menopause supplements to help you manage them effectively. Moreover, menopause is the time when you should put yourself first; healthy lifestyle can help you with that.