Signs
of Menopause: More than Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
How
many signs of menopause can you list? Some women will only
feel one or two symptoms, while other women will experience
several. In fact, the signs of menopause number in the dozens.
Most experts list more than 30 signs of menopause, some
of which you may have never heard of.
The
signs of menopause usually begin during peri
menopause, also known as premenopause, the years before
true menopause occurs. (True menopause does not happen until
one year after your final menstrual period.) Many signs
of menopause feel like an illness or disease, but menopause
is neither of these. Menopause is a normal and natural part
of life. Millions of women around the world are feeling
at least one of the following signs of menopause right now:
- Breast
tenderness
- Chronic
fatigue
- Irregular
periods
- Morning
sluggishness
- Depression,
anxiety, mood swings, irritability, feelings of dread
and doom
- Facial
hair growth
- Hair
loss
- Dry
skin
- Headaches
and/or migraines
- Muscle
cramps
- Memory
lapses and lack of concentration
- Sleeplessness
- Water
retention
- Menopause
weight gain
- Incontinence
- Irregular
heart beat
- Loss
of libido
For
some women, the signs of menopause may be amplified by the
demands placed upon her body. Excessive stress, overwork,
responsibilities, lack of sleep, poor eating habits, and
lack of exercise are all ways that women neglect their own
health while struggling to take care of everyone else’s
needs. The signs of menopause only add to a woman’s
already overtaxed body and mind which leads many to believe
there is a link between menopause
and depression.
If
you have been experiencing one or more signs of menopause,
it’s comforting to know the signs are normal, but
you also should give your body the care and support it needs
to stay healthy as you age. Women should also be aware that
the signs of menopause can also be signs of more serious
health issues like diabetes, heart disease, and thyroid
problems.
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