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What can I take to relieve symtoms of Menopause

By Anonymous August 18, 2011 - 8:26pm
 
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I'm 51 years old and I'm going thru menopause and I can't take Hormone therapy, as beast cancer runs on both sides of my family. Through all this, I have put on 25 pounds of added weight, plus the the hot flashes and night sweats don't help. I excercise 3-4 times a week and it doesn't seem to help, any recommendations?

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Hello, Sorry that you are also going through the uncomfortable sypmptoms of menopause. A am 45 and going through menopause also. It's been 4 months now without a cycle. The past three yrs. I awoke numerous times a night soaking wet and having to change nightclothes. That seems to have subsided some now since the cycle has stopped, thankfully. I do get very overheated during the day now at times though. I also get terrible cramping sometimes and often times feel like a rabid dog w the irratic moods. I also am not a candidate for hormonal therapy and do not know that I would want it even if I were. Health Food stores do carry many herbal and natural remedies for menopausal symptoms which are very helpfull. I will not mention any by name because there are often interactions with other meds people may be on and some research is needed before starting any new supplement to ensure it does not interact badly with current meds. I do recommend going to a health food store and buying a better brand of any supplement due to the fact that supplements are not controlled by the FDA and many on the market at drug stores or such may not be a quality supplement and may not actually contain much of the supplement it claims to be. I found that when it comes to herbal-natural remedies, it does pay to buy the better brands at a store that specializes in them. Just remember to research before taking anything new. 'Well Wishes.

August 19, 2011 - 9:38pm

Hi Anon,

Thank you for your question and welcome to EmpowHer!
I'm sorry to hear that you're suffering from symptoms of menopause, but the good news is that there are many forms of treatment that are non-hormonal.

Here are some things you can do to improve symptoms of Menopause:

Healthful Diet
A healthful diet during menopause can improve a woman's sense of well-being. It may also reduce the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and certain cancers. The diet should be low in fat and high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, calcium , and vitamin D .

Limit Caffeine and Alcohol
Cutting back on caffeine and alcohol may reduce symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, and loss of calcium.

Quit Smoking
Giving up smoking can reduce the risk of early menopause, heart disease, and osteoporosis.

Regular Exercise
Regular exercise may reduce hot flashes. Weight-bearing exercises such as walking, climbing stairs, and resistance exercises such as lifting weights help strengthen bones and decrease the risk of osteoporosis.

Stress Management
Stress management may help ease tension, anxiety, and possibly other menopausal symptoms. Deep breathing, massage, warm baths, and quiet music are examples of relaxation techniques.

Over-the-Counter Products
Moisturizers and lubricants are used to help vaginal dryness.

Nonhormonal Medications for Hot Flashes
Certaion blood pressure medicines (taken in lower doses)
Examples include: clonidine (Catapres), methyldopa (Aldomet)
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
Examples include: fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), venlafaxine (Effexor), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) * 4
Note: SSRIs and SNRIs should not be used if you are taking tamoxifen , a medication to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence.

Hope this helps,

Rosa

August 19, 2011 - 6:55am
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