Facts about Perimenopause Symptoms
For women beginning to experience perimenopause symptoms, it is important to know that this is a real disorder and you are not going crazy. This condition has a habit of sneaking up on women; interrupting their regularly organized lives and taking control before they even realize it is there. Many women are quite taken aback; not understanding what is happening to their bodies and mental state. Lack of knowledge leads to fear, which only serves to exacerbate the condition.
Every woman will experience perimenopause. When a surgical procedure such as a hysterectomy is performed, the change in hormones will be swift. Nature taking its course is a much more gradual shift; with symptoms often following one another over a period of time as estrogen production slows. Because the condition is inevitable, all women should expect it; however, it never fails to cause an element of surprise when perimenopause is identified as the cause of the strange things happening to their bodies. Many women don’t fully understand the implications and process of the condition, and naturally will have numerous questions.
Perimenopause: What is it?
Perimenopause is the path leading to menopause; a transitional period between a woman’s naturally fertile years to the end of her reproductive era. Akin to the prepubescent years only in reverse, this is a time in a woman’s life when the hormonal gears suddenly shift in a lower gear in preparation for menopause. In some women, it occurs much earlier than they would expect; experiencing some of the signs of perimenopause while still in their 30’s. Typically, though, it begins around age 45. Estrogen production begins to slow; affecting the natural operation of the ovaries. As a result, menstrual cycles will become erratic. There is no prescribed duration for perimenopause, either. It can vary from woman to woman, lasting anywhere from five to fifteen years. Signs of the natural process are not generally intense throughout that time; rather, they begin almost unnoticeably and gradually increase before they stabilize and begin to ebb. While all women experience perimenopause, symptoms are not evident in all.
Common Symptoms of Perimenopause
Because the body is such a well run machine, changes in any form are apt to disrupt normal functions. The decline in estrogen production affects the body, in particular the hypothalamus, in a variety of ways.
●Hot Flashes
The decrease in estrogen serves to mystify the body’s internal heat regulator, the hypothalamus, which for some unknown reason sends a message to the brain that the body is too hot. Immediately, the brain sends out alerts to the heart, blood vessels and the nervous system to begin efforts to cool the body down. As the heart beats faster, the blood vessels expand to send more blood coursing through them to emit the heat, and the sweat glands produce copious amounts of sweat in its cooling efforts. Some women experience a warning prior to the hot flash; rapid heartbeat, dizziness, headache or a feeling of unease. The actual hot flash intensity also varies; some women have severe and frequent episodes while others have mild, almost unnoticeable occurrences. Still others report having no hot flashes at all.
Remedies: Hot flashes often have triggers; situations that aggravate and instigate the process. These triggers can include: alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, hot temperatures of food and environment and smoking. Identifying your triggers and avoiding them can help alleviate your perimenopause symptoms. Exercising is another great way to reduce the effects, plus it carries the added benefit of making you feel and look fabulous. If you are overweight, losing some of those extra pounds can help; however, it is a fact that thin women often have worse incidences with hot flashes than those within their healthy weight range. Vitamins and herbs, such as Vitamin E, B6, ginseng, black cohosh, licorice root, damiana and others have provided many women with relief. For those who experience severe flashes, discuss with your doctor the possibility of prescription medication.
●Sleep Issues
Often sleep problems can be associated with hot flashes and sweating. However, the hypothalamus also controls sleep cycles. In its role as a key component to regulating sleep, the hypothalamus, directly affected by the lower estrogen levels, is responsible for a woman’s inability to get to sleep or stay asleep. Naturally, lack of sleep aggravates other symptoms as well, as the body is not able to function optimally when it has not received the rest that it needs.
Remedies: Making your bed the most restful place it can be is of the utmost importance. Keep the sleeping area as dark as possible; turning your clock face away from you, pulling shades and keeping nightlights to a minimum will be helpful. Avoid drinking alcohol or caffeinated beverages as well as tobacco products before going to bed. A cool environment provides the best atmosphere for sleep, so turn down the thermostat before retiring. If stress is an issue in your life, try yoga or breathing exercises to release stress. (continued...)