Family Doctor 2007 - (Page 159) women MENOPAUSE recommends The following lifestyle changes can help you manage your menopause symptoms: ■ Develop good sleep habits. ■ Eat a healthy diet. ■ Keep your bones strong by getting enough calcium and vitamin D. ■ Don’t smoke. ■ Be physically active on a regular basis. ■ See your doctor for recommended checkups. What to expect when your body is changing Women may not be able to avoid going through menopause, but there are ways to ease the transition. By Karen I. Montemayor can take several years. You’re not really “through” menopause until you haven’t had a period for 12 months in a row. The average age for a woman to have her last period is about 51 years of age. But it’s normal for menopause to occur any time from 40 to 58 years of age. A woman often goes through menopause at about the same age that her mother did. If you stop having periods before age 40, your doctor can do a blood test to find out whether you’re actually going through menopause. Women who have both ovaries removed will go through “surgical menopause” at the time of their surgery. If the uterus is taken out but the ovaries are left, a woman won’t have periods, but she will only go through menopause when her ovaries stop making estrogen. bloating may sound appealing. But when menopause actually begins, it can bring symptoms and emotions that may leave you feeling more frustrated than free. Although you may not be able to avoid all of the challenges of menopause, there are things you and your doctor can do to help you feel as good as possible during this transition. E very woman has probably had at least one month when she wishes her periods were gone for good. Saying goodbye to tampons and pads, menstrual cramps and Common signs and symptoms Time for ‘The Change’ Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her periods stop, and she can’t have children anymore. This happens because a woman’s ovaries make less of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone as she ages. Menopause is a gradual process that Menopause affects different women in different ways. Some women just stop having periods. Others experience symptoms that may include the following: A change in your menstrual cycle. This is one of the first signs of menopause. You may skip periods, or they familydoctor 2007 159
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