7 Ways To Survive Menopause

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Although menopause is a completely natural part of life for every woman, the symptoms that come with it can make you feel pretty uncomfortable. Some of the most common symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, a decreased sex drive, vaginal dryness, mood swings, hair loss and frequent urination. However, if you take good care of your body, you can decrease the severity of these symptoms. Here are seven effective ways to survive menopause:

Eat a Healthy Diet

Once you hit menopause, it is even more important to feed your body the right nutrients. If you eat a wholesome diet, you can reduce some symptoms and feel a lot better. For example, getting enough calcium can keep your bones strong and prevent osteoporosis. WebMD recommends getting 1,200 milligrams of calcium every day. Besides dairy products, you can get your calcium from broccoli, legumes and fish with bones. It is also very important to get at least 21 grams of fiber a day because it can prevent constipation. Good sources of fiber include oatmeal, whole grain bread, fruits, vegetables and rice.

Wear Layers of Clothing

Hot flashes are one of the most common symptoms of menopause and can be quite embarrassing. When sweat drips down your body in public, you just want to crawl in a hole and hide. However, there is a very simple solution to this dilemma: layers. If you wear several thin layers of clothes every day, you can remove them when you start to feel too hot.

Get Plenty of Exercise

Regular exercise can do a lot more than help prevent weight gain that is common in menopausal women. If you work out at least three or four times a week, you can fight fatigue and sleep more soundly at night. Find an exercise you actually enjoy doing so that you stick with it. For example, you may enjoy taking a dance or kickboxing class at your gym. However, you should avoid exercise too close to bedtime, as it can keep you up.

Take Extra Good Care of Your Hair

Your hair can also thin out during menopause, so it is important to take better care of it. Limit using heat styling tools as much as possible, avoid coloring products with harsh chemicals and do not wash your hair every day. It may also be helpful to try vitamin supplements, such as Biotin, vitamin C and vitamin B3.

Do Stress Reducing Activities

Your hormones fluctuate like crazy during menopause, so you will likely experience mood swings. You can reduce irritability by participating in stress reducing activities every day. For example, when you feel overwhelmed, you could take a few deep breaths or meditate for 10 minutes. Exercises, like yoga and tai chi, can also help decrease stress and mood swings.

Deal With Vaginal Dryness

Vaginal dryness is common during menopause and can make sex quite painful. Luckily, it is possible to reduce dryness with estriol cream. When you see your doctor next, ask him about prescribing you this cream.

Limit Caffeine and Alcohol

If caffeinated and alcoholic beverages trigger hot flashes, you should limit these drinks as much as possible. If you must have caffeine to wake up you up, only have one cup of coffee in the morning.

Going through menopause is certainly no picnic, but it does not have to be unbearable. If you follow these helpful tips, you can get through this change of life a lot easier. However, if you still can't manage your symptoms, you should talk to a gynecologist from a clinic like Central Iowa OB/Gyn Specialists, PLC about hormone replacement therapy. This treatment involves taking female hormones to relieve menopause symptoms.

11 December 2015