Loss of Energy Associated with Menopause

A frequent complaint that physicians hear from their female patients who are nearing, or are in, menopause is that they have no energy; they're fatigued. Loss of energy is often experienced by menopausal women. According to E. T. Poehlman, of the University of Vermont College of Medicine, it is still up for debate whether estrogen deficiency in combination with aging results in worsening health for women, including loss of energy, but it certainly appears that way.

• Tired

Vicious Cycle

• Menopause is linked to reduced energy expenditure. Women who are menopausal tend not to be as physically active as they once were, perhaps because they are fatigued and can't summon the energy to engage in a brisk jog or workout. At the time in your life when you most need to stay active, you are least likely to do so.

The Downside

• Although there are certainly perks to being menopausal, such as no longer menstruating and worrying about pregnancy, there is a definite downside to this phase in a woman's life. The risk of getting heart disease becomes as high as a man's at this time. Osteoporosis (porous bone disease) may occur if your calcium levels and bone density aren't sufficient. Menopause appears to trigger cardiovascular and metabolic processes that set women up for a host of problems, including those above, as well as weight gain, thyroid issues and breast cancer. When you take everything into consideration and couple that with the daily stresses that women this age may regularly be encountering, it is no surprise that many menopausal women are exhausted.

Energy Loss versus Drowsiness

• Dr. David S. Bell, a chronic fatigue researcher at Harvard Medical School and the Cambridge Hospital in Massachusetts, notes that women describe fatigue as an unrelenting feeling of lowered energy level, tiredness and weakness, although it is different from drowsiness, which indicates a need for sleep. Fatigue means lack of energy as opposed to being sleepy. When an individual experiences loss of energy, this may also cause irritability, apathy and a decreased attention span, according to Dr. Bell.

Hormones

• When a woman enters into menopause, her body circulates less estrogen, which can cause her to experience sleep disruptions. In addition, she may find it harder to fall asleep and more difficult to stay asleep, which means that she may be very tired the following day, according to Everydayhealth.com and an article written by Madeline Vann, MPH. If a woman is sleep deprived and constantly fatigued as a result, this can lead to high blood pressure, increased risk of injury because she may be foggy brained during the day, and stroke.

Options

• If the loss of energy is plaguing you, consider changing your eating habits. Don't eat a big meal right before going to bed because this can cause heartburn and other factors that can further impair your sleep. Exercise earlier in the day, rather than in the evening. Exercising strenuously too close to your bedtime may make it even more difficult for you to fall asleep. Some women use herbal remedies, which may reduce menopause symptoms. Others have opted to avoid stimulants, such as caffeine, alcohol and nicotine, because they contribute to poor sleep quality. Some women find great relief by undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT), although there are significant health risks associated with this, including an increase in the risk of breast cancer. Perhaps taking an antidepressant may help you. Talk to your physician about this.