Blaine561's Social and Health Commentary

Unfortunately during menopause, the explosive symptom of dizziness is all too common. You know the feeling – a spinning sensation inside your head ripping down through the rest of your body making it impossible to be at peace. Or the inability to get up quickly not unlike the sensation you have when just hopping out of a roller coaster. In extreme cases, you may feel as if you are on the receiving end of a knock out blow to the head.

Away from menopause, dizziness can be attributed to a variety of factors – most notably fluctuations in blood pressure, low blood sugar and viral infections. When it comes to menopause, anxiety and particularly hyperventilation, migraine headaches, and panic attacks can all cause bouts of debilitating dizziness. Some women suffer so much from this symptom that they become agoraphobic because they should they leave the house, they fear becoming faint and dizzy.

For starters, estrogen and progesterone levels drop, and this is one of the first things that need to be checked by your doctor before you do anything else. Estrogen affects the nerves as well and if not enough is produced, it can leave you feeling “frayed” at the edges. Progesterone is produced in the brain as well as serotonin and if this hormone is lacking, your ability to feel calm can be affected. And, when not enough estrogen is being supplied to the brain, dizziness and other related feelings can result.

Tinnitus, another infamous symptom of menopause, can also contribute to feelings of dizziness. The constant ringing, whooshing, and chirping of the ears can disorient you. Combine that with various other symptoms like migraine headaches, hot flashes, night sweats, and panic attacks and you have a formula for being unbalanced. Women who are suffering from panic or anxiety attacks during menopause are more likely to hyperventilate and this rapid breathing can easily cause dizziness, giddiness or feelings faint.

Some women report that not eating properly including skipping meals can also cause dizziness. If you feel dizzy, first sit or lie down and breathe deeply and slowly. This eliminates hyperventilation, especially if you breathe deeply into a paper bag. If you are feeling fatigued, try cutting out sugar and caffeine and drink lots of water. Walk around the block instead of sitting in front of the TV.

Do a new activity that gets you moving tai chi or yoga. Both of these exercises get your energy moving as well as calm you and release tension from the body. Sometimes menopausal symptoms are aggravated because at this time in many of our lives, the demands on us are increased significantly. We may have grown children who are in college, getting married, or just leaving home. Possibly our parents who are ailing and maybe even some of our friends. Often our relationships are shifting and roles are changing. If you are the type of person who has difficulty with change anyway, this can become an even more difficult transition.

See your doctor to determine the cause of your dizziness. If it is related anxiety, you may need medical assistance. On the other hand, your symptoms may be handled simply with self-care and alternative healing.

The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.

Menopause is a natural condition and not an illness that occurs when the ovaries no longer produce enough estrogen to stimulate the lining of the uterus and vagina. Simply said menopause is when women no longer menstruate or get pregnant. It generally occurs to women somewhere between the ages of 40 and 60. One of the most famous signs of menopause is the hot flash, a sudden reddening of the face accompanied by a feeling of intense warmth. Other common symptoms include depression, fluid retention, insomnia, mood swings, nervousness, night sweats, painful intercourse, anxiety, urinary changes, thinning of vaginal tissues, vaginal dryness and weight gain. It should be noted that some women experience few symptoms while still others encounter none at all.

How Menozac Can Help: One natural remedy for menopause is Menozac, a botanical alternative medicine formulation which contains a blend of all natural herbal extracts developed to ease the transition and provide effective menopause symptoms relief. Leading herbal experts have recommended the Menozac’s ingredients as alternatives to HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy). Recent study shows that herbs worked better than estrogen in eliminating the menopause symptoms and also helped to prevent cancer. It eliminates the health risks associated with the synthetic hormones.

The mid-life phenomenon known as menopause and the stresses of anxiety go hand in hand. Panic attacks, rushes of energy, burning in the chest, unusual vibrations throughout the body, and warm sensations are some of the physical effects you may feel under this condition.

When menopause hits, there is a greater chance women will go through anxiety and depression. Christian Northrop talks about this phenomenon in her book, Wisdom of Menopause, where if a woman has repressed something in her life, she won’t be able to get past menopause employing the same tactics. For example, unexpressed anger will find its way out and sometimes in unusual or uncomfortable ways.

In what is often referred to as a ¨midlife crisis,¨ this time of life forces women to re-evaluate themselves and the role(s) they play as they are getting older. And, often times we are not comfortable with what we find. A little voice in the back of our head is saying, “If you don’t make changes now … you never will!” Our hormonal imbalances (due to decreased estrogen levels) can contribute to feelings of depression or make us feel plain ‘indifference.’ Even if menopause isn’t actually causing these conditions, it can heighten underlying anxiety and bring it to the surface.

Anxiety is an individual’s prolonged feeling of dread and worry with no particular reason behind it. It’s uncomfortable and causes stress particularly on the body. It can be triggered by problems in everyday life like paying the bills and work. Although worrying about these things for a normal person has its ceiling of severity, menopausal women suffering from anxiety tend to think about their problems excessively.

When anxiety finally hits its highest peak, it is often called a panic attack. Panic attacks are debilitating episodes of fright and fear that include chest pains, fear of death, and shaking. In what is called being ¨psychosocially¨ depressed, women have negative beliefs and attitudes in regards to getting older, assuming unwanted roles such as caretaker, and responding negatively to impatient husbands who might demand sex.

Being depressed during the duration of this condition has a lot to do with their overall psychological well-being prior to menopause. Women who have continuous anxiety and depression beforehand are more likely to suffer worse cases of anxiety during this latter phase of life. If life-long imbalances have not been healed, menopause may exacerbate the situation. We might feel unable to perform ¨female duties¨, contributing to feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. Research has found that consistent regular physical activity (i.e. exercise) before menopause has been scientifically proven to lessen the possibility of anxiety symptoms during this transition. It’s also helpful to avoid drinking caffeine-loaded liquids, sleep deprivation, and stimulant use. Also, numerous women report that black cohosh has helped them lessen or eliminate their anxiety.

Psychiatric consultations are highly recommended for anxiety sufferers under menopause. An experienced counselor and/or therapist can help us recover and evaluate our lives including healing emotional imbalances. It is a great time to refocus our attention toward new activities and roles. As is common with anxiety, feelings of worthlessness, fright, and even suicidal tendencies can occur. In this case, antidepressants may be prescribed. Coping with all of the physical changes, assuming new roles, possibly facing many of our fears for the first time, and generally waking up to the fact that ¨life just isn’t what it used to be¨ are all realizations that contribute to anxiety in older women. In these times, it is important to maintain focus and concentrate on the positive things in life. Although it can be hard, it can be done.

Having a plethora of life responsibilities and obligations during menopause can create stress, and having an ´excess´ of this stress can cause adrenal fatigue. Anxiety in menopause sufferers results from hormonal imbalances. In the menstrual cycle, ovulation causes progesterone (which has soothing effects on the mind and body) to be released. Irregular cycles are grounds for anxiety build-up, as a result of the lack of this ¨happy hormone.¨ All of these conditions can be treated with alternative therapies such as natural progesterone cream.

But why do some women go through menopause and barely notice a difference? One consensus among medical doctors theorizes that it has a lot to do with women’s self-esteem and self-confidence. One thing is for sure, if you are having trouble with either of these, you’ll get a chance to deal with them now. One thing menopause is great at, and that is bringing out our unresolved issues. And we all know how anxious that can make us.

The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.

Menopause relief is possible through self care. Western doctors treat women in menopause like they have a disease. In truth, menopause is a transitional imbalance, a change that can be comforted with some study and experimentation.

Peri-menopausal woman report experiencing symptoms including hot flashes, anger, urinary tract infections, irritability, hyperacidity, skin breakouts (acne), rashes, low sex drive, mood swings, and more. If the sole cause of menopause is a loss of hormones, as is commonly believed in the west, then why do some women experience no symptoms at all during menopause while others can no relief from menopause?

In the Ayurvedic tradition (medical practice of India), doctors report that if a woman reaching this stage already has an imbalance often caused by a diet of fast food, or eating foods with chemicals and preservatives causing an accumulation of digestive impurities, or if stress is a daily experience, she is likely to report more symptoms at this stage in life.

What are some of the things a woman can do to treat her most prevalent and disturbing symptoms?

Diet is a good place to start. If you have hot flashes and mood swings, avoid spicy foods such as chili, cayenne and black mustard seed, vinegar, salty and sour foods. Instead, go for bitter, astringent and sweet foods including vegetables, rice, milk, wheat and pasta, fruit (especially pears and plums), and spices such as cinnamon, coriander, cardamom, fennel and cumin seed.

If you are experiencing symptoms such as memory loss or vaginal dryness, eat cooked, warm foods that are low in fat. Include sweet, sour and salty with a breakfast of cooked apples, prunes and figs to cleanse the digestive system. Under all circumstances, avoid packaged, processed, frozen, and canned foods including leftovers.

Do eat organic when possible and foods that are cooked fresh on a daily basis. The bulk of your diet should be whole grains, fresh fruit, vegetables and legumes.

Don’t eat meat, cheese, yogurt and frozen deserts. Don’t skip meals and eat your main meal at noon, and if possible, try to take your meals at the same time each day so your body can count on the consistency.

Asians consume up to 6 servings of soy foods a day, and as a result, they report a significantly lower rate of menopausal discomfort. There are currently plenty of soy products on the market, but to consume the equivalent of 6 cups of soymilk (and its supplement called isoflavones) is difficult and some women find the taste of soy to be “chalky” and somewhat unpleasant. There is, however, a source where you can select The #1 Doctor-Recommended Soy Protein Supplement for Menopause Relief

Other things you can do to get menopause relief from its uncomfortable symptoms include mild, consistent exercise as well as other information for menopause relief on this page.

Insomnia is a very common symptom reported by numerous women at the onset of menopause. It is characterized by sleepless nights and often uncomfortable sleep such as tossing and turning in an effort to get comfortable. If you are primarily a mentally active person, it can become very difficult to calm the mind. You feel restless and irritable. Welcome to the change of life.

Insomniacs sleep is chock-full of waking up at frequent times during the night, waking up too early, and light sleep where the ticking of a hand clock may jolt you awake. This condition occurs during menopause because it is a side-effect of other menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and general physical and mental discomfort. When your body is dealing with night sweats, it’s easy to have your sleep interrupted, which makes it even more difficult to be sharp and at your best during the day.

Consuming stress-inducing foods loaded with things such as caffeine can further stimulate tension, so it is important to maintain a caffeine-free diet. Avoid drinking coffee as late in the day as possible. Do not over stimulate your nervous system. Release tension by learning hatha yoga postures or how to breath deeply and mediate. Try altering your sleep arrangements. If you find that your pillow is not soft enough, or maybe it’s too elevated for your head, make adjustments. If you find that the polyester blankets you’re lying on does not relax the contours of your body – switch them. It takes effort to accommodate these changes and make yourself as comfortable as possible.

Exercise also preps the body for restful sleep. Scientific studies suggest eating fat loaded foods are not recommended before bedtime. So a steady, healthy is a great plus. Insomnia can be treated by consuming foods that increase the serotonin levels in your brain so that your body relaxes. Serotonin is responsible for aiding with sleep by calming your brain. Drink a glass of warm milk before bedtime to help calm your nerves.

There are many causes for insomnia that stem from menopause. Depression is characteristic of this transition and can negatively influence your sleep. Decreasing estrogen levels can cause the on-set of depressive symptoms. In the menstrual cycle, ovulation causes progesterone (which has soothing effects on the mind and body) to be released.

Irregular cycles may cause anxiety to build-up, as a result of the lack of this ¨happy hormone.¨ For some people, taking melatonin is enough to get a restful night. For others, a prescription sleeping pill is necessary. Some women swear by black cohosh to help with body flushes as well as natural sources of progesterone.

In any case, it is important to consult with your doctor in order to decide together what treatment is best for you.

The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.

All women face menopause after the age of 50 years. Menopause occurs over a few years and this time can be very trying for a woman. A reduction in production of the female hormone estrogen and progesterone results in osteoporosis, hot flushes and general fatigue. A lot of research in this field has created effective menopause treatments. Since hormones are involved, all menopause treatments should be in consultation with one’s doctor.

Menopause treatment begins with a change in a woman’s dietary habits. One has to take calcium in the form of tablets or in natural dairy products and vegetables. She must decrease consumption of caffeine products like tea and coffee. This is helpful in preserving bone density and increases absorption of calcium.

Other menopause treatments include physical exercises to build strong bones. This must be in the form of a brisk walk or weightlifting exercises to strengthen her bones. Exercising regularly also helps in weight reduction. It is good for the heart and can reduce one’s cholesterol level.

Menopause treatments for hot flushes involve consumption of natural products like soy and tofu that contain natural estrogens. One can have them in raw or cooked form. Scientific studies indicate that soy definitely reduces hot flushes.

Several medicines can form a part of menopause treatments. The intake of belladonna and clonidine can considerably reduce hot flushes. However, one must study their side effects before consuming them. Some medicines induce sleep while others can be dangerous for those having blood pressure.

Another very popular menopause treatment is hormone replacement therapy. This therapy involves taking the estrogen and progesterone hormones orally or in the form of topical creams. Women who have their uterus intact must take both hormones in regulated doses. It is important to decide the dose as per the doctor’s directions since the intake varies from person to person.

A doctor’s guidance is a prerequisite for hormone therapy. Estrogen replacement can banish all symptoms of menopause like hot flushes, fractures and help build bone mass. This is because this form of menopause treatment can lead to breast cancer, blood clots and a host of other medical problems. It is important to know the woman’s medical record and family history of cancer. Women who are prone to cancer are not advised this menopause treatment.

Hormone therapy is available in the form of tablets and creams. Women under 50 years experiencing early menopause can safely take these types of menopause treatments. However, one must undertake a mammogram once in two years, if on hormone therapy. A host of menopause treatments is now widely available due to rapid advances in science. However, a woman must take a suitable treatment according to her needs and strictly under a doctor’s supervision.

Menopause isn’t typically a life threatening condition – but in extreme cases, it can bring upon symptoms like rapid heart beat that feel like it is. The occasional feeling that your heart “skips a beat” does not necessarily indicate a serious medical problem. For those with menopause, rapid heart beat should be monitored by your doctor to check for a mitral valve prolapse which is a mild deformity of a heart valve.

Palpitation is when the heart races repeatedly without any sign of stopping. It’s not only extremely uncomfortable, it’s downright frightening. Premature contractions cause the heart to beat twice really quickly, causing more blood to enter the heart on the third beat. This increased amount of blood makes the heart contract even more. In essence, it is a forceful pulsation that can sometimes be caused by stress.

Stress can come from menopausal symptoms like irregular periods, annoying ringing of the ears (tinnitus), insomnia, panic attacks, depression, and everyday occurrences like the simple yelling and shouting of a child at the playground.

When you perceive a stressor, hormones form your brain pass into the bloodstream alerting the adrenal glands. In response they secrete corticosteroid hormone including cortisol.

When cortisol raises sometimes twenty fold, the body speeds up its blood sugar burning capacity providing an instant surge of energy. Cortisol causes your heart to beat faster in order to pump oxygen-bearing blood more quickly into your tissues. Too much of cortisol can lead to diabetes or high blood pressure, so this is a process of you can to be conscious of and learn to cope with by practicing such relaxing techniques as yoga, meditation and Pilates.

The addition of caffeine loaded drinks can worsen this condition as can smoking.  In order to avoid rapid heart beat and palpitations, it is best to refrain from stress and maintain a healthy diet. Alcohol and coffee are known to excite the heart’s processes, causing it to work much harder than it has to.

The symptoms of menopause are caused by changes in estrogen and progesterone levels. When estrogen drops suddenly, as is seen when the ovaries are removed surgically (called surgical menopause), symptoms can be more severe. Perimenopause begins several years before menopause, when the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen. Currently, hormone replacement therapy (estrogen with or without progestin) is the primary treatment for the symptoms and long-term risks associated with menopause. The work is the latest salvo in a years-long back and forth about memory, menopause, and estrogen. During menopause, the ovaries produce less estrogen than during the reproductive years. As a result, many problems women have with menopause relate to low estrogen levels.

Perimenopause is the span of time prior to menopause when the ovaries’ production of estrogen begins to slow down. Women experiencing peri- and postmenopause have found that supplemental estrogen provides the hormones they need to produce and maintain physical and emotional well being. During postmenopause, the depleted level of estrogen can increase other health-related risks such as heart disease and osteoporosis. The lower amounts of estrogen that come with menopause will cause changes in your body. Other Therapies Women also can take selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) to help prevent some of the bone problems that can occur during menopause. Generally in the past when a woman advanced into menopause, a doctor would routinely prescribe estrogen or progesterone in various strengths. During menopause, it is believed that when estrogen levels drop, this decreases the amount of serotonin available to the brain. Many physicians recommend estrogen replacement therapy to: Reduce the undesirable symptoms of menopause.

At this stage, many women experience menopause symptoms (see below). Middle-aged herself, Northrup writes from experience and, more important, from her professional expertise as a physician who has treated many women and researched menopause. A population based survey of women’s experience of the menopause. You may begin to experience signs and symptoms of menopause well before your periods stop permanently. Prior to the onset of menopause, a woman can experience major changes in her moods and attitude. Prognosis Although menopause is a difficult period for some, most women will experience menopause without long-term problems. Women in perimenopause transition typically experience abnormal vaginal bleeding such as erratic periods or abnormal bleeding patterns. Women who smoke experience the menopause at an earlier age than non-smokers. However, many women experience major life changes during their middle age including menopause and sleep disturbances, which can increase the risk of developing depression. In the past, menopause was shrouded in mystery and often viewed as a negative experience and a precursor to death. Most women experience menopause between the ages of about but some go through it years earlier or later, as well. “But some fortysomething women are beginning to experience menopause and many find their desire for sex declines,” Gupta informed us. Some experience menopause problems that their friends never do. In the western world about 12% of woman don’t experience symptoms of menopause and about 14% experience intense physical or emotional problems.

Women and physicians have questions and concerns about the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) during and after menopause. Like Sheehy, she reassured women that menopause encourages a journey inwards towards wisdom and serenity.%u201D Menopausally-provoked spiritual insight continues to strike publishing gold. Several generations ago, few women lived beyond menopause. In some women the early menopause occurs spontaneously. The same may be true of women approaching menopause, many of whom live a life filled with stress and worry. Malnourished women begin menopause about 4 years earlier than well-nourished womenEarly onset of menstruation. Each week nearly 30,000 women of all ages and stages find their spirits lifted by the show’s light-hearted look at menopause. While some women choose to live with their symptoms, there are many therapies for the conditions associated with menopause. Today, women can expect to live one third of their lives after menopause.

Pueraria Mirifica capsule Pueragold THAI FDA. G. 10/2003 (E)

Pueragold is a premuim grade Thai herbal product derived mainly from the White Kwao Krua (Pueraria Mirifica) which contains. Phytoestrogen (Natural Plant Estrogen). This all-natural herbal formula stimulates and rebalances older women and men hormones level.

Pueraria Mirifica CAPSULE Pueragold THAI FDA. G. 10/2003 (E)

ALL Natural Dietary Supplement

High Phytoestrogens (especially isoflavones):

*Reduces Menopausal/Post-Menopausal symptoms

*Increases sensitivity and vitality

*Enhances physical and mental ability

*Darken white hair & increases hair growth

*Alleviates sleep disorder & improves eyesight

*Enhances Breast and Skin Appearance

*Supports Healthy Prostate Function

*Supports Healthy Bone Structure

Ingredients: Pueraria Mirifica and other herbs

Packaging: 60 capsules per box

Recommended Dosage:

Men/Post-Menopausal Women: Take 1 capsule after breakfast and dinner everyday

Precautions: *If should not be used in pregnant women,nursing cervix mothers, or women diagnosed with tumors in estrogen-sensitive organs, e.g., ovary, uterus and breast.

As a woman who wants to know about the symptoms of menopause, it is important to have a deeper understanding of what menopause really is. This deeper understanding will give you more insight into what to expect as menopause starts.

There are many women who don’t have all the true information about menopause, except some myths and none-fact information about menopause. Such information only ends up confusing you, instead of helping you.

Menopause is simply the permanent end to menstruation of women. The time that this occurs varies from women to women. In the United States, for example, most women start experiencing menopause from their late 40s. Many other women, start experiencing menopause in their early 50s.

While some women happily and patiently look forward to it, others get scared of it. For those who look forward to it, they could be tired of monthly menstruation and look forward to menopause knowing they would no longer menstruate. This is especially true for ladies who always have painful menstrual periods.

For those who get scared of it, they could still be expecting to bear children and so don’t want menopause since it will signal an end to child bearing.

Whichever category you fall into, menopause signals the end of your ability as a lady to bear children. Menopause in most women is preceded by 10 to 15 years during which the ovaries gradually stop producing eggs and sex hormones. This period is also known as the climacteric period.

Instead of worrying stiff about when menopause will start and the symptoms, it’s more important to start preparing your mind and body for it. If you need to bear children, start early before your late 40s and early 50s. This will ensure you get done with child bearing before menopause catches up with you.

Commonly associated with the advancing of age, menopause is often referred to as ‘the change of life.’ During it’s occurrence, the ovaries stop producing estrogen and the reproductive system begins to gradually shut down. As the body attempts to adjust to the changing levels of hormone during menopause, a variety of symptoms may occur. Among them, depression, anxiety, hot flashes, irritability, changes in moods, the inability to concentrate, etc. In addition to these symptoms, women may experience irregular menstrual periods during menopause.

The average age that a woman begins to see the onset of menopause is 50, but there are women who enter menopause earlier. A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that is often performed in order to help women through the process. Once the cycle is complete, known as being post-menopausal, women will find that they are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis.

The treatment for menopause typically includes Hormone Replacement Therapy and is believed to reduce the weakening of bones often seen in osteoporosis. Through the years, there has been much debate as to whether this type of therapy is actually beneficial. Some women feel that menopause is a natural process as opposed to a disorder. For years, women have been urged to undergo hormone therapy while they are dealing with menopause. They were told to do so under the belief that it would reduce their risk of heart disease, but some experts believe that this type of therapy may actually increase the risk of other illnesses, including breast cancer, heart attack, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.

Because each woman is unique, menopause may ultimately produce some or all of the aforementioned symptoms. Because these symptoms are also common with other illnesses, the only way to confirm menopause is by seeing a physician. Following a diagnosis, a doctor will be able to provide the best type of medication and/or treatment to help guide the woman through menopause and help her body to make up for the hormones that are no longer being produced as before. It is important that women carefully consider any medications that may increase depression or cause other severe symptoms during not only menopause, but any time in life. The fact that some medication is addictive is just one of the issues to remain concerned with anytime a doctor writes a prescription. In order to avoid these problems, women are urged to ask their physician about possible side effects associated with medication that is used to treat menopause.

The information in this article is to be used for informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice. Anyone with questions regarding menopause must consult their physician for further information.