When menopausal symptoms emerge in a woman’s life they never seem to do so gracefully. Instead, they erupt in a woman’s body, invading a once peaceful being.

Let’s take a look at ten common menopausal symptoms and examine other causes that may be introducing these pests to your life. You may not be menopausal at all.

1. Dizziness

Have you noticed a loss of balance recently? While a symptom of menopause, this scary event may also be triggered by anxiety, blood pressure fluctuations, viral infections and low blood pressure.  A complete physical will rule out any conditions that could cause you to be feeling unbalanced.

2. Fatigue

Associated with menopause, chronic fatigue can make daily activities difficult to complete. While you could be experiencing menopausal fatigue, another cause could be an iron deficiency. If you are a younger woman, not ready to being menopause, check with your doctor to have your iron levels tested. Women who still have a menstrual cycle often need an iron supplement.

3. Hair Loss

Hormonal changes in menopausal women can cause hair loss. This can be a devastating side-effect for women who typically have a real sense of attachment to their hair. Other causes of hair loss unrelated to menopause include diseases like diabetes and lupus as well as medications such as blood thinners.

4.  Mood Swings

Mood swings are thought to be the epitome of a menopausal woman. But sometimes more serious psychiatric disorders could be causing this upsetting behavior. Talk to you doctor to determine if your mood swings are a natural side-effect of your changing body or an issue that requires in-depth treatment and medication.

5. Loss of Libido

Menopausal women complain frequently about their decreased sex drive. But certain medications to treat depression, cancer, heart disease and diabetes can also attribute to a loss of sexual interest. Supplements and over-the-counter creams and gels can help a woman get back loss intimacy. If this is not working for you, consult your doctor for additional treatment options.

6. Anger

Anger typically goes along with mood swings. Sometimes though, the anger stays and becomes uncontrollable causing a person to begin making life-altering choice. Menopausal women do not turn into dictators or feel like killing every person who cuts them off in traffic. If your anger symptoms are not subsiding and seem to be increasing, it is imperative that you seek medical attention immediately to prevent harming yourself or someone you love.

7. Water Retention

Let’s focus on something less intense. Water retention is a concern for menopausal women because this is the time when they start to notice an increase in weight, especially in the abdomen area. In menopausal women, this weight gain is contributed to a lowered metabolism. If you have not entered menopause or are beyond menopause, water retention could be a sign of heart disease, kidney malfunction, adrenal problems or circulatory system issues.

If these conditions are ruled out, reducing your salt intake is one way to combat water retention. Another path to getting rid of excess water is to consume more water to naturally flush out your system. Sometime fluid gets stuck in the kidneys and needs some extra water to properly flush your pipes. In addition to drinking more water, adding fruits and vegetables with high water content, like cucumbers, watermelons and cantaloupe, can benefit your kidneys and your waistline dramatically.

8. Indigestion/Bloating

Sometimes bloating goes along with the water retention, but if you are experiencing chronic indigestion you could be the victim of gastrointestinal anguish such as colitis, irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn’s disease. These gastrointestinal conditions can be treated through diet, medication, stress-relief practices (meditation, Yoga) and exercise.

If you are over the age of 50 and experiencing these symptoms, it would be best to visit your doctor and have a colonoscopy to rule out pre-cancerous conditions.

9. Yeast Infections

Yeast infections are caused by an increase in estrogen. Typically, menopausal women find that they have less yeast infections. But if you are on hormone replacement therapy, you may discover the increase of estrogen from the therapy can cause the discomforts of vaginal infections. Over-the-counter medication and creams can help ease these symptoms.

Urinary tract infections can mimic yeast infections. It is a good idea to be tested by your doctor, if you have been using OTC relief for several days without positive results.

10. Anxiety

Lastly, anxiety is another menopausal symptom that rears its’ nasty head at other times in a woman’s life. Anxiety is a mood-altering condition that can leave you unable to go to work, make decisions, and even get out of bed. Sometimes anxiety is misdiagnosed as depression.

Whether or not you feel this is a side-effect of your menopause, it is best to discuss how anxiety is affecting your daily life with your doctor. Natural supplements and prescription medication is available to treat anxiety. Talk therapy can also be helpful, giving you tools to manage the stress in your day-to-day activities that are causing you stress.

The Wrap Up

Menopause is not a change in life that quietly approaches. It brings a variety of symptoms. Ignoring and accepting these symptoms is not always the best choice since they can be signs of more dangerous conditions. If you are experiencing the above symptoms and cannot find relief, consult your doctor immediately to rule out other serious conditions.