“The average age for women in the United States to experience menopause is 51,” stated Dr. Mary Ann Meyer Jones, Physicians for Women, at a presentation held at the Valparaiso YMCA on “Entering Change With a Positive Outlook: Peri-Menopause.” “The way a woman knows if she’s entering menopause is when her cycles become irregular, then cease.”
Dr. Jones began by discussing some of the most common signs of menopause, including hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats, decreased libido, and vaginal dryness. The symptoms are just the start of potential health issues caused by menopause; “Menopause does have implications for heart health and bone health,” Jones went on to say. Women are more likely to experience osteoporosis and their risk for heart disease increases.
Those experiencing menopause need not suffer; there are treatments for the symptoms to mitigate symptoms and help women feel better. There are increased risks for heart attacks, strokes, blood clots, and cancer with these hormone treatments, but “we experience risks every day, you have to weigh the benefits against the risks,” stated Jones, “It’s a quality of life issue.”
Visit the Physicians for Women Website
880 Eastport Centre Drive, Suite 200
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Phone: 219-464-0409
To help deter bone loss, Dr. Jones recommends increasing calcium and Vitamin D in your diet. For heart health, a low cholesterol diet, exercise, and no smoking are some of the key points to prevent heart disease.
“Mostly, know that there’s help if you just can’t do it alone…you don’t have to live miserable,” encouraged Jones.