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Precautions After Menopause

Women naturally enter the menopausal stage in their late 40s or early 50s. Women who have a hysterectomy or experience suppression in the production of female hormones due to treatments for ailments such as cancer may develop menopausal symptoms prematurely. Menopause brings about uncomfortable symptoms due to the physical imbalance of the hormones. There are also some health problems you should be aware of that are related to this change in life.

  1. Heart Disease

    • Heart disease is considered the leading cause of death in women. Your risk for heart disease rises when your estrogen levels decrease, which is a natural occurrence in menopausal women. You can do a lot to alleviate this risk. If you smoke, then you should consider stopping. Smoking raises your blood pressure and puts you at a higher risk for a stroke or heart attack. Eating a low-fat diet with plenty of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables will lower your risk of heart disease. Including a daily exercise routine is also good for your heart.

    Osteoporosis

    • Women are also prone to osteoporosis after they reach menopause. Women normally lose bone density at a fairly rapid rate during the first few years of menopause before it levels off. This leaves them at risk for osteoporosis, which leaves bones brittle and weak. Of course, this leads to fractures. Women of menopausal age are especially susceptible to fractures of the wrist, hip and spine. So, it is vital that you make sure you are getting enough calcium and Vitamin D in your diet. Women who are going through menopause need 1,200 to 1,500 mg of calcium and 800 units of Vitamin D each day. Exercising is very important, too. You should walk or jog everyday to help keep your bones strong.

    Weight Gain

    • Women who are going through menopause often experience an increase in weight. Gaining weight is not associated with the hormonal changes experienced during menopause. It is due to lifestyle habits, or sometimes it is genetic. You may be more inactive during these years. You could be eating more, and burning fewer calories. This is easily resolved by adhering to a strict diet and exercise schedule. Our diet is very important throughout our lives, but when we reach menopause, it is more apparent than ever just how vital our eating habits and exercise is to our health.

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