Menopause can be a very difficult point in time for a woman, especially because of the intense and often frustrating symptoms of menopause that develop. Although there are actually hundreds of different symptoms of menopause that may be experienced, there are a few in particular which are often noticed first and which tend to be the most problematic.

Hot Flashes

Hot flashes are often one of the first and most frequent symptoms of menopause that a woman will experience at the onset of menopause. Hot flashes can range from being simply a minor nuisance to so severe that they begin to affect sleep and daily life.

Hot flashes are basically the body’s way of cooling itself off, and they can last anywhere from just a few seconds to an hour or more. When a woman experiences a hot flash they will tend to feel warm from their chest to their head, and often in waves. Hot flashes may cause the woman to turn red and may even make her feel nauseous.

Although there is no way of preventing hot flashes, there are ways to relieve them. One of the best tips is to dress in layers, so that if you do begin having a hot flash you can strip off some layers as you need to. Another idea is to drink plenty of water because by keeping yourself hydrated you can help to modulate your body temperature.

Depression

Depression is another of the most commonly experienced symptoms of menopause. It is a condition that can get very serious very quickly, and therefore should be treated as soon as it is noticed.

Participating in relaxation exercises such as yoga and meditation often works well, but in more serious cases your doctor may suggest that you start on prescription medications. Antidepressants are typically prescribed here, and they are used most widely for serious depressions but can also be helpful for some milder depressions as well.

There are ways of dealing with all the different symptoms of menopause, but it is important to remember that each separate symptom will need to be treated differently. It is important to work closely with your doctor during this time and to keep them informed of your progress and improvement.

Especially if you are put on medication you need to be honest with your doctor, keeping them up to date on your menopause and menopausal symptoms and how you are feeling.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, April 20th, 2008 at 9:07 am and is filed under MENOPAUSE. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.