Common Symptoms of  Climacteric

 

 

                                               

Symptoms commonly associated with the  climacteric, such as joint  pain, sleep disturbances, memory loss, discomfort during sex, stress incontinence and  free  floating anxiety,  have their basis in biology, not  psychology and all of  them can be alleviated,  often with simple  measures. 

 

Here's what some of the menopause experts recommended.

 

 

Vitamins for Joint Pain 

 

While the hot flash is the  symptom most people-- women and doctors  included-- associate with menopause, studies show that joint pain not associated with arthritis is the problem many  menopausal women suffer from most.

 

What causes this pain ? No one knows for sure. But expertise suspects that the  climacteric affects the  adrenal glands. where the  precursor to  estrone ( a substance that's  changed into a form of estrogen in the body) and cortisone ( which keeps your joints lubricated ) are produced.

 

She recommends that plagued by joint pain first be tested for arthritis. Once that's ruled out, she suggests visiting a physical therapist and  experimenting with vitamins. Some of the women who write to her say they've found relief by taking a daily combination of  vitamin E ( 400 international units,) cod liver oil ( one capsule or one teaspoon) and vitamin B₆ ( 1.5 to 2 milligrams daily ), which doctors sometimes prescribe to  relive symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome ( numbness, tingling and  pain in the thumb, index and middle fingers). 

 

 

Stay Cool and Sleep Better 

 

Many women approaching menopause suffer from a particular kind of insomnia: They may fall asleep before their heads hit the pillow, but  a few hours later they wake up suddenly with  a rapid heartbeat or an urge to toss off the  covers. 

 

"They're experiencing a subtle form of the  hot flash," explains Judith Seifer, R.N. PhD, a West Virginia sex therapist who lectures women's and physician's  groups on the  climacteric. This  isn't a full blown hot flash or night sweats but a blushing  or warm  sensation that's  caused by the same trigger fluctuations in  estrogen levels. 

 

" These heat fluctuations may occur during the  daytime, too . But they tend to be  less obvious then, because you  are usually more distracted," says Dr. Seifer. " You may notice a little dampness under your bra, or think ,' Oh no my deodorant's  failing . But that's about it. 

 

Nighttime body temperature changes, on the  other hand , generally prove more bothersome. If  you're losing sleep because of the  try exercising daily  avoiding caffeine and  alcohol, drinking warm milk in the  evening and indulging in a relaxation technique such as yoga before you go to bed. If these measures don't  do the  trick, talk with  your physician about prescribing low-dose estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) or an oral  contraceptive. Most  women sleep through the night  after a week or two  on hormone therapy' says Dr Seifer. 

 

You should also  try to stay cool . When you experience a flush , your body temperature rises just  as it does when  you  have a fever. So you'll  stay cooler - and be less likely to wake up- if you wear cotton rather than  nylon or flannel to bed . 

 

 

Forgetful or Just Plain Busy?  

 

Lewis  had always prided herself on her keen memory. But that was before she found herself purposefully striding into rooms-and then wondering why she was there. " I can sing the entire theme song to the old TV show  Maverick," she says. " So why can't remember when my son needs to be picked up from soccer practice?"

 

The research indicates that there are slight memory differences between younger  women and menopausal women and between women who have lost their ovaries and  those who haven't, but the differences aren't significant  or lasting. In fact, the memories of all the women studied are very similar.

 

The problem is that most women have overdeveloped  memories - primarily because they are routinely called upon to remember thing for other people; sports and activity schedules for their children, dinner dates for their husbands, doctor's appointments  for their  parents,  so while our memories may slip a little during menopause, they are only falling from the extraordinary to the normal.

 

Still, memory looses can be confounding when they occur. So Dr. Seifer suggest making lists until the problem disappears usually long with menopause.

 

more in next issue….