The Menopause Symptom That Can Leave You Sweating

May 30, 2012 By

Dealing with those horrible sweats at night.If you are experiencing menopausal symptoms, you may just know how horrible night sweats can be. You may also be tired of reading about what causes them and how they are a natural and common part of menopause. What you really want to know is how to stop them; or at the very least, alleviate them so you can get a comfortable nights rest. If this is what you are looking for than you have come to the right place. Read on for some tips and treatment suggestions on how to dry up those night sweats!

Foods and Beverages Too Avoid

The food we put into our bodies can have a significant effect on the severity of our night sweats and hot flashes. (Unfortunately, if you have one you probably have the other as well.) The following are foods and beverages that can trigger these symptoms and should therefore be avoided if possible.

  • Drinks that are hot
  • Oranges, pickles and other foods with high acid concentrations
  • Alcohol
  • Food with saturated or hydrogenated fats
  • Caffeine (including chocolate)
  • Foods that are spicy
  • Anything containing white sugar (Sugar in the Raw is an excellent alternative.)

Other Things That Can Cause Night Sweats

In addition to foods and beverages, there are other things that can trigger night sweats. These things include:

  • Tobacco
  • Stress
  • Hot Weather
  • Pent up anger
  • Any intense activity (exercising, making love, etc)
  • Hot tubs
  • Saunas

Before going to sleep, make sure that you do everything you can to have an environment that is conducive to a good night’s rest; one without night sweats! To help make this possible you can wear light pajamas that are lose fitting, put lightweight sheets and covers on your bed and set your thermostat to whatever level you find most desirable. These things will go a long way in making you feel better at night and more rested during the day.

Natural Remedies for Treating Night Sweats

While Hormone Replacement Therapy has been heavily advertised by the medical community as a great way of stopping night sweats and other symptoms of menopause, many people would still rather use natural treatments. Some of the most popular treatments include the following:

Black Cohosh: This popular menopausal treatment has been clinically proven to effectively reduce night sweats and hot flashes. It is known for its effectiveness in treating the majority of symptoms that are connected to menopause.

Sage and Alfalfa: According to professionals at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, sage and alfalfa reduced hot flashes in menopausal women by 60%. While this treatment is relatively new in the United States, Australian women have been finding relief with it for years.

All natural supplement Amberen: is one that many women report as being the very best for treating all menopausal symptoms, including night sweats. With such a large amount of clinical studies done on Amberen, it is a highly trusted and safe alternative for night sweat treatment.

The Perfect Sheets

For even more comfort from night sweats, invest in some bamboo sheets. Just in case the supplements do to provide the maximum amount of relief you are looking for, bamboo sheets can make your life more bearable. With bamboo sheets, you will still wake up in a cool pool of sweat, but within an hour it is dried up; totally evaporated! This is a very nice feature to have when you are menopausal. Another perk to bamboo sheets is the fact that they are odor resistant. So, if you are still getting overheated at night, all is not lost!

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Striking The Hormone Balance Through Diet During Menopause

May 29, 2012 By

Eating right to overcome menopause symptomsThe body processes are practically controlled by hormones which are chemical messengers. They tend to control metabolism, reproduction and even the menstrual cycle. Since hormonal imbalance is the root cause of menopause, achieving that perfect hormonal balance can be important during this period in a woman’s life. As much as the production of hormones is a natural process, certain diet plans can affect the balance of hormones and therefore a good diet during menopause can be advantageous during the transitional period. Understanding the different foods and how they affect the hormones as discussed below can be really beneficial.

Plant foods and estrogen

At menopause, levels of estrogen may significantly subside in turn causing night sweats, hot flashes, and menstrual irregularity all associated symptoms of menopause. Estrogen being the primary sex hormone in women cannot be obtained in normal diet; however, it can be compensated by plant foods containing phytoestrogens which act like estrogen.

Phytoestrogens chemicals such as isoflavones are primarily associated with soy. These chemicals tend to increase vaginal lubrication and reduce severity of hot flashes. Another source of such chemicals is flax seeds.

Diet and insulin

Maintaining a balanced diet is paramount during menopause. Knowing what to partake and what to keep of is vital. Excess calorie intake will most likely cause weight gain. Going for complex carbohydrates such as whole grain bread, beans, legumes and starchy vegetables rather than refined carbohydrates like cookies and white sugar should also be considered. Some women even have had great success with menopause supplements such as Amberen.

This is because the carbohydrates when broken down to glucose, travels into the blood stream triggering the pancreas to release insulin. When the pancreas releases insulin and it is resisted by the muscle and fat in a condition known as insulin resistance, the pancreas will in turn release more insulin to help the glucose travel to body cells. When there is increased calorie intake and in turn deposited as fat, the condition of insulin resistance is normally developed. At menopause this may cause a woman to change shape from pear shape to apple shaped.

The pancreas also secrets glucagon opposite to insulin, its work is to signal the liver to convert stored glycogen into glucose which is supplied to the blood stream to serve as energy source when there is deprivation of food. Maintaining a balanced and correct diet is therefore effective in achieving a good hormonal balance during menopause.

Caffeine/Alcohol and hormone Cortisol

Cortisol is a stress hormone produced by adrenal glands and is part of the flight-or-fight human response during danger. Having excess of this hormone will cause heightened stress levels, blood pressure and fat deposited in the midsection making it to achieve that apple shape. Alcohol and caffeine are contributing factors to the production of cortisol, therefore during menopause a woman is advised to regulate the caffeine and alcohol intake.

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How to Go About Talking To Your Partner about Menopause

May 28, 2012 By

As much as the natural life stage in a woman’s life cycle has much effect to their own life, the emotional and physical side effects also tend to affect the people around them. At this transitional period communication is paramount to keeping the relationships afloat. The unpleasant side effects caused by hormonal imbalance can especially affect your partner and talking to them might not come so naturally.

With the associated mood swings and emotional ups and downs, the bond in your relationship can really be strained. As much as your partner might want to know what the transition is all about it can be very difficult to explain as even dealing with the transition on your own is already tough enough. For you to keep that relationship strong and have a shoulder to lean on during difficult times, it is highly recommended that you educate your partner by giving them an overview of what you are going through at an emotional and physical level.

During the actual conversation, timing is everything and very essential. One needs to ensure that when they choose to talk about it, they are in the right state of mind and they do not feel anxious or upset in any way. Give your partner an earlier notification so that you can find ample time and have opportunity to comfort the partner and it should not just be a brush up conversation when you are distracted by other things.

Your strengths and weakness in the relationship will dictate a lot on how the education goes on. Honesty should be the main objective. You can decide to tell your partner in plain and simple terms just by telling them what you are experiencing and how you feel or clinically by trying to explain the hormonal imbalances and its effects on your body. Give your partner opportunities to ask question and also make him feel comfortable enough to do so.

In relationship matters such an intercourse, it takes the two of you. Menopause causes reduced libido and therefore you should assure your partner that the reduced interest in sex is natural and not because of him. You can also encourage experimenting in the bedroom by use of toys, lubricants and more foreplay to help with the sex life.

Two heads are always better than one. Involving your partner in this transitional period can help to cope with the effects of menopause. You can even come to an understanding of helping each other and changing lifestyle to incorporate activities such as exercise and new diets that will be helpful. This can not only help in managing menopause effects, it can also strengthen the bond between two partners.

Filed Under: Health

Women dealing With Menopause and Night Sweats: Helpful Tips

May 26, 2012 By

When it comes to menopause, there are several symptoms that can be experienced. One of these many symptoms is night sweats. Night sweats are the close relations of hot flashes but occur at night. They can be very disruptive to your sleep patterns and extremely uncomfortable. This is an extremely common symptom and occurs in nearly 75% of women in the stages of menopause.

What Are the Symptoms of Night Sweats?

Night sweats can make it very difficult to get a peaceful nights rest and due to this there are several other problems that may be faced. The main symptoms of night sweats include:

  • Sudden and extreme feelings of heat
  • Irregular heartbeats
  • Nausea
  • Chills
  • Flushing
  • Headaches
  • Extreme perspiration

These symptoms can range from mild to severe and can come in brief spouts or last the entire night. How bad they are depends on the woman and the stage of menopause they are experiencing.

Because of the above symptoms, the following problems can arise as well:

What Causes Night Sweats?

When you are experiencing night sweats, one of the first questions you want answered is why? The truth is that doctors are still unsure of the exact cause of night sweats, but the majority of the evidence points to the imbalance of hormones that is caused by menopause. When menopause occurs, the estrogen levels in the body become erratic in nature. They eventually will begin to decline until they are zero. When this happens, the part of the brain that is responsible for regulating your body temperature becomes confused and hot flashes and night sweats are the end result.

In addition to the hormone imbalances that cause night sweats, there are certain triggers that can bring them on or make them worse. These triggers span over the environmental, behavioral and emotional and include:

  • Too many blankets or overly warm pajamas
  • Sleeping too close to another person; body heat can become overwhelming during menopause!
  • Hot/warm weather
  • Hot baths/showers
  • Hot spaces (rooms, cars, etc)
  • Anxiety
  • Stress
  • Spicy foods
  • Diet pills
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Cigarette smoking

By knowing what the triggers are you can take whatever precautions necessary (or available) to ensure the highest amount of comfort possible.

Treating Night Sweats

Aside from doing your best to avoid the triggers listed above (or any other trigger you have taken notice of), there are some other things you can do to help diminish or get rid of your night sweats. The majority of menopausal women find that alternative medical treatments, such as all natural herbal supplements, are the most helpful when it comes to night sweats and other symptoms of menopause. Following are some of the more popular natural products for this purpose.

Black Cohosh: This supplement has been scientifically proven to relieve both depression, which is also a symptom of menopause for some women, as well as hot flashes and night sweats.

Motherwort: Many women report that this supplement has helped shorten the amount of time they experience night sweats, as well as the frequency that they occur.

Amberen: This supplement has fast become one of the most popular among menopausal women (read this woman’s review of the supplement), many who report that their night sweats disappeared completely after taking it.

No matter what treatment you go for, finding what works for you is the only thing that matters. If you experience night sweats than you already know that this is a fact!

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Hot Flashes & Menopause: What You Can Do To Fight Back

May 24, 2012 By

Menopause if a fact of life for all women and the symptoms that come along with this change of life can be hard to deal with without the proper tools. If you have not had a hot flash yet, lucky you! If you have then you know that they are one of the most unpleasant side effects of menopause.

What causes them?

A hot flash feels like heat that spreads over the entire body. Typically they begin in the upper regions such as the head and neck area before spreading all over the body. They are very common in women who are pre, post and presently menopausal. Though not all women who are entering into menopause will have this symptom, the majority of them will experience this uncomfortable (though not dangerous) feeling. Aside from wanting to know how to deal with hot flashes, the most frequently asked question about them is the cause. The answer to this common question is that the changes in a woman’s hormones during menopause are so complex that hot flashes occur. The drop in estrogen levels cause the body to be thrown off balance and this affects that body’s ability to regulate and control temperature. So scientifically speaking, hot flashes are part of a condition known as thermoregulation.

What are the symptoms

Depending on the stage of menopause, hot flashes can range from mild to intense. Women who are just entering the first stages of menopause may be unsure if what they are experiencing is hot flashes. The certainty grows as they progress though the stages. For those who are unsure of whether or not what they are feeling is a hot flash, the following are the most common symptoms:

  • A feeling of spreading heat that lasts between 30 seconds to a minute, although it can last longer depending on the individual.
  • A feeling of heat along with flushing or reddening of the skin. This does not occur with all women but is a sure sign that what you are experiencing is indeed a hot flash.
  • A feeling of heat during the night that causes night sweats or heavy perspiration.
  • Hot flashes can occur at any time and it they are totally unpredictable.

How they are treated

There are several things that women can try to help get their hot flashes under control and even make them take a permanent vacation. Some of these treatments are pharmaceutical but the vast majority of treatments are herbal and all natural. One of the most preferred choices for hot flash treatment is a supplement by the name of Amberen.

Amberen is a 100% natural supplement that has provided many women with relief from hot flashes. The reason that this supplement is different from others is that this one has 30 years of research backing it up. While some of the research reads a bit sketchy, the reviews and testimonials are enough for many women to at least want to give it a try. If this supplement does not do for you want you want it to, there are several other products on the market that are backed by women who have experienced hot flashes.

What else can I do?

In addition to taking any type of oral medication or supplement, there are some things you can do to cool off from a hot flash!

  • Keep your thermostat set at a temperature that is comfortable to you.
  • Wear light and airy pajamas to bed at night.
  • Keep portable fans handy throughout your home.

You cannot escape hot flashes once you reach menopause, but you can minimize them with natural supplements like Amberen & Ladies choice!

Filed Under: Health

Is Menopause Making You Irritable? You Are Not Alone!

May 22, 2012 By

In addition to the wide array of physical effects that come along with menopause, there are also several emotional effects to consider. One of these emotional symptoms is irritability and it is something that at least half of all menopausal women go through at one point in the process or another. So, if you thought that you were alone in this aspect of menopause, think again and welcome to the club!

We all get irritated with certain things in our daily lives. This is normal and as emotional beings, to be expected. However, women who are menopausal find that things that only irritated them slightly (if at all) before this life change bring them even more stress and irritation now. Even though many women realize that their feelings of irritability are overboard and blown out of proportion, they still have a difficult time controlling this emotion. In fact, many women fail at it daily.

What Does it Mean to be Irritable?

The technical definition for irritability is a response to particular stimuli that is excessive in nature. If there is any question as to whether or not you have been or are experiencing this symptom of menopause, the following list of common symptoms may help put things in perspective for you:

  • Difficulty sleeping at night
  • Lashing our due to anger or frustration
  • Finding yourself becoming less tolerant
  • Overreacting to basic situations
  • Low levels of patience
  • Higher levels of stressful feelings
  • Always feeling as if you’re on the edge of a breakdown

Even if you know what the signs and symptoms are, many women do not understand the cause of this seriously unpleasant menopause symptom.

What Cause Menopausal Irritability?

When a woman is transitioning from pre menopausal to post menopausal, their hormones are running wild. They are totally off balance and the fluctuation in estrogen levels has a deep effect on the brains ability to regulate moods. This is the main cause of irritability during the phases of menopause. In addition to hormone fluctuation, the other symptoms of menopause can take a toll on the emotions as well. Think of it like this; if you were having hot flashes and night sweats, getting less sleep and less sex, you would likely be irritable too! All of these things combined can cause this symptom of menopause to increase. The following is a list of psychological and physical causes of irritability that can make this symptom intensify during menopause:

The above things can make irritability during menopause become intensified.

Treating Menopausal Irritability

There are treatments that can aide in helping you feel less irritable and more like your old self during menopause. There are pharmaceutical treatments as well as herbal treatments. Changes in lifestyle can also be highly beneficial. The following are things you can do to make menopause moods more bearable:

  • Taking “me” time. Concentrating on you can go a long way to providing good mental health.
  • Yoga
  • Meditation
  • Healthy eating
  • Working out on a regular basis
  • Keeping relationships with friends and family close and healthy

Taking natural supplements such as Black Cohosh and Amberen is also a step in the right direction. These 100% natural supplements have been praised by women going through menopause as treatments that work on both the mind and the body. Of both supplements, Amberen is the one that is most preferred, but try them for yourself and see what type of differences you can see!

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How Women Can Control Menopausal Mood Swings

May 21, 2012 By

Do you remember watching the Cosby Show and seeing the children say in light whispers that “mom is going through the change?” If so then you will also remember that this assumption was brought on by Mama Huxtible’s bad mood. Though she was not actually going through “the change”, it was assumed that she was because she was being ill tempered and had just reached a common age for menopause. Mood swings are one of the most commonly known symptoms of menopause and though they are made to look like a comedy sketch on television sitcoms, in real life they are no laughing matter.

What are Mood Swings?

The technical definition for mood swings is abrupt and often extreme mood fluctuations. When a menopausal woman experiences this highly unpleasant side effect, she typically experiences drastic changes in her moods and emotional well being. The term mood swing itself often refers to an inappropriate emotional reaction to whatever the trigger happened to be. (I.E. actually crying over spilt milk)

Why do we Experience Menopausal Mood Swings?

The only thing that can explain menopausal mood swings is hormones. Our hormones serve as regulators for our emotions and moods. During menopause they are thrown off balance and when this happens, the end result is this emotional reaction. Clinical research has shown us that the hormone estrogen plays a significant role in the amount of Serotonin that our brains produce. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter that works to regulate our moods. During menopause, our level of Serotonin drastically drops and this brings on mood swings, depression and other psychological and emotional issues. Aside from the hormone levels wreaking havoc in the brain, having hot flashes, night sweats and other symptoms of menopause can also cause a woman to present with emotional changes. Mood swings during this time in a woman’s life are very common, but troubling nonetheless.

What are the Symptoms of Mood Swings Due to Menopause?

Each woman is different so not everyone will experience the same exact mood swing symptoms. However, the most commonly reported symptoms are as follows:

  • Frequent changes in mood
  • Emotions that are unexplainable (I.E. crying or angry outburst for no apparent reason)
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety
  • Nervousness
  • Melancholy
  • Increased levels of stress
  • Feelings of aggression
  • Low levels of patience
  • Sadness
  • Loss of motivation
  • Extreme changes in moods (comparable to mania in the most severe cases)
  • Knowing the signs of mood swings can help with keeping them under control and in perspective.

Are Mood Swings Treatable?

The good news is that mood swings due to menopause are indeed treatable! For most cases, unobtrusive treatments (which should always be tried first) work wonderfully. The two most common treatments for this menopause symptom are changes in lifestyle and natural supplements.

You will be surprised at just how big of a change you will see simply by changing some of your lifestyle habits. Getting plenty of sleep and eating a good diet with lots of nutrients can go a long way in helping you to feel better emotionally and psychically. In addition to these things, natural supplements such as Amberen do a fantastic service for menopausal women. This all natural supplement is safe to use, has no harmful side effects and its active ingredients work to help balance out the body both physically and emotionally. It is one of the most preferred supplements among women who are experiencing mood swings and other symptoms of menopause.

If your mood swings are becoming bothersome and you feel like you no longer have control of your own emotions, do not be ashamed to seek help for this common symptom of menopause. In the end, you will be glad that you did!

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Stress Management at Menopause

May 20, 2012 By

During this period of a woman’s life cycle, many changes are taking place. Some of the symptoms associated with menopause include stress headaches, hot flashes, night sweats, and weight gain among others. We all know that the women of today tend to be very sophisticated and outgoing. Though menopause is a natural process, the onset symptoms can deal a great blow on the normal life of a woman. This will in many cases cause a great deal of mental and physical stress. Stress should not be taken lightly, as it might have severe side effects such as high blood pressure and increased heart attack risk; therefore, upon the onset of menopause a woman should be armed with techniques of lowering the stress levels. The following techniques can be considered:

  • Exercise
  • Massage
  • Meditation
  • Vitamins
  • Yoga

Exercise seems not to miss in any health boosting techniques. Working out can make the hormone glands produce neurotransmitters in form of endorphins that can reduce stress by boosting one’s mood. It also does help in keeping away the extra weight gain that is associated with menopause. Improved blood flow also lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Exercise should, however, be taken in moderation and with doctor consultation to avoid complications that might come with prior conditions such as heart disease.

Stress normally comes with a bit of tension build up in the muscles and body tissues. With an effective manipulation of exercise, these tissues and muscles can relieve them of their tension and cause the body to relax and also relieve it of toxin build up. As much as massage can release stress, anxiety and depression, these techniques need to be undertaken with consultation as certain massage forms, such as deep tissue massage can cause internal body complications.

Meditation can be simply a focus of attention of the body and mind away from thoughts. Getting rid of stressful thoughts can achieve deep relation through meditation. Meditating has also been proven to relieve other conditions such as anxiety and it can help one be in a state of calmness, even when not meditating.

The body generally works well when having sufficient vitamins to work with. Menopause can work to deprive the body of the required vitamins, in turn causing high levels of stress and fatigue. Ensuring the body is adequately enriched with vitamins through a balanced diet can help in managing stress levels. If you decide to use menopausal supplements such as Amberen, one should seek advice from a qualified medical practitioner.

Next to exercise is yoga. The common objective in yoga is to achieve relaxation of the body and mind through body movements and breathing sequences. Weight reduction is also a factor during yoga, along with relieving fatigue and depression. Despite the benefits, moderation and doctor advice should be considered in taking up yoga.

Family can always be included in the above techniques for that extra support, and finding the right combination of technique that works for stress management is the key.

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