Go Red for February..National Heart Awareness Month
February is National Heart Awareness month and the color is RED…What does that mean GO RED? Although Red is the color of Valentine’s Day it is the celebration on women who have battled Heart disease, it is the color for bringing awareness to Heart Disease the #1 Killer among Women in the Nation. It is a very important cause for me because my mother has heart disease and it was very scary and continue to be scary. Heart disease is the leading cause of death and a major cause of disability in the United States. Nearly 600,000 Americans die of heart disease annually. With heart attacks being so regular, we should all find the time to become trained in CPR. Visiting Mississauga Coast2Coast might prove to be life-saving. This represents almost 25% of all deaths in the United States. To raise awareness of this disease, February has been recognized as “American Heart Month” since 1963.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) strongly recommends cholesterol screening for men aged 35 and older. For people who have a family history of early heart disease the USPSTF recommends cholesterol screening beginning at age 20 for both women and men. Health care providers can help patients evaluate their family histories to determine a screening approach that is best for them.
Heart Disease is the #1 Killer for women in the Nation.
42 million women in the US have Heart disease
#1 Killer among African-American women
#1 killer among all Americans both men & women
1 in 26 women die from Breast Cancer
1 in 3 will die from heart disease
My mother’s life was saved twice once in 2005 and again in 2013 because she recognized the signs and went to see her doctor…What are some of the signs to recognize:
Extreme Fatigue
Shortness of Breath
Light-headed
Nausea
Intense heart palpitations
If you are administering these symptoms seeks medical attention, better to be safe than sorry…This my friends is not just a disease that hits older white men. It can attack anyone at anytime at any age. There are some preventative actions you can do as well:
Loose Weight
Develop a Healthy Plan
Exercise
Snack through-out the day with healthy snacks
drink plenty of Water
Decrease sugar and Salt intake (Star Jones recommends Stevia, a natural sugar substitute)
organize a 30 minute walk a day…Make it fun walk with friends
EAT LESS & MOVE MORE
Other things could even be practicing stress relief techniques, which could even mean traveling to reduce the risk of heart attacks, according to websites like https://www.casaderosie.com/why-we-should-travel-more-in-2021/. Take Control of your life Hamptons MouthPiece Readers….YOU CAN DO IT!
Go Red for February..National Heart Awareness Month..for more information visit American Heart Association, http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/
Easy ways to help fight heart disease…join National Wear Red Day! It’s easy. On Friday, February 7th, wear red and collect $5 donations from your friends/colleagues! They get a red dress pin and you can all feel good about supporting the fight against heart disease & stroke! I can sign you up to be your organization’s coordinator. Just email my friend [email protected].
795,000 Americans face stroke each year, and the number of Americans living with stroke is expected to grow to 3.4 million by 2030. Despite many medical advances, there is still so much work to be done. That’s why we need Congress to make stroke research funding a priority this year. Our lives truly depend on it. http://spr.ly/6180xIL4
Hamptons Wellness: Are You Getting Restful Sleep
We all need to sleep. It is an essential function of life, but sleep nowadays can be significantly disrupted. You may have been in bed for eight hours, but then you wake up feeling groggy. You now live in a world that requires you to go, go, and go. Many nights, you may be unable to shut your mind off, which reduces your ability to get enough restful sleep. Those with insomnia struggle further and find their quality of day-to-day life decline due to a lack of energy. Luckily, some people turn to natural treatments such as smoking marijuana to help them get a restful nights sleep. You can get more information on cannabis and its positive impacts at Leaf2Go. However, if this isn’t for you, another method to turn around your lack of sleep must be found. In turn, you have trouble staying alert throughout the day. Moreover, it can have a profound effect on your daily life. Here are some ways to make sure you are getting enough quality sleep:
Stick to a sleep schedule. Go to bed at the same time, and wake up at the same time, even on weekends.
Avoid taking naps. If you have insomnia, this could be why. However, if you need a cat nap, 30 minutes should be the limit.
Dont be a victim of after-dinner dozing. Get up and do some activity after your meal. Moreover, big meals right before bed can cause stomach issues and heartburn.
Avoid that nightly drink after work. Alcohol interferes with the quality of sleep.
Caffeinated drinks can also be a culprit. It can cause sleep problems many hours after you finish drinking it.
Make sure you get enough exercise. 20-30 minutes of daily activity, like a walk or a bike ride can help you sleep more soundly.
Turn off the television. Many people use them to fall asleep. However, TVs stimulate the brain. That goes for your computer too. Read a book instead.
Keep your bedroom cool. A bedroom that is too hot or too cold can reduce sleep quality. The temperature should be around 65 degrees.
Manage your stress. A simple thing as getting organized can help. Moreover, taking a break when you need one goes a long way.
You may use smoking as a coping mechanism. However, you should stop. Nicotine is a stimulant.
Make sure your mattress is comfortable.
Increase your exposure to natural light during the day. This will help with the production of melatonin.
Take a bath before bed. It will help you wind down.
Stop worrying about the day. If it can be put off until tomorrow, deal with it then.
Write down any bothering thoughts in a journal. This way you can unload.
Dont watch the clock while trying to fall asleep. It can increase your stress.
If you follow these tips and are still having trouble with getting a restful night’s sleep, you should see your doctor. It could be a sign of something more, such as:
Diabetes: frequent urination, symptoms of low blood sugar, nighttime limb pain, and night sweats.
Fibromyalgia: a condition characterized by painful ligaments and tendons. Researchers have found that about 50% of fibromyalgia sufferers have an abnormally deep sleep, in which slow brain waves are mixed with waves usually associated with relaxed wakefulness. People who suffer from fibromyalgia may find themselves in a lot of pain most of the time, and this doesn’t help when the time comes to get a good night’s sleep. Not only can products like these cbd topicals help with chronic pain symptoms such as fibromyalgia, but they have also been known to help people who are suffering from insomnia to get the sleep that they are desperately craving. Sleep is important for us all, so if there hasn’t been any luck to help improve your sleep pattern as of yet, it may be worth it to check out sites like everydayoptimalcbd.com, in the hopes of trying alternative methods to dealing with sleep, as well as the pains experienced from Fibromyalgia. With this being said, for anything new, do some research beforehand. This research is vital due to the confusion that can be experienced due to the different types of CBD available. For example, looking into the difference between full spectrum vs broad spectrum cbd is essential to decide what’s best for resolving your problems.
Most people may decide to use this course of treatment after checking with their doctors first so that they know they are safe to take. If you think that you are suffering from fibromyalgia, make sure you seek medical advice.
An overactive thyroid stimulates the nervous system, making it hard to fall asleep. It also causes night sweats.
Heart failure: the heart’s inability to circulate blood properly. It can cause fluid to build up in the lungs and tissues. Patients with heart failure may awaken during the night feeling short of breath.
Kidney disease: these damaged organs can no longer filter fluids and keep electrolytes in balance. Waste products build up in the blood and can result in insomnia or restless legs syndrome.
Enlarged prostate: a person can have the urge to urinate constantly, getting up five or six times a night.
The writer, Trisha Vassello, is a student of medicine at University of Florida’s College of Medicine who uses writing on medical topics as a means to provide supplemental income. Many of her friends work in the trucking industry, and so she also intends to get certified for DOT physical examinations, and to better facilitate this she plans to register her future practice online through www.driverphysicals.com.
Hamptons Wellness:EBOLA FEAR, What you need to know
Ebola is a rare and deadly infectious disease that is characterized by the following signs and symptoms: fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising). Symptoms may appear anywhere between 2-21 days after an exposure to the virus. People DO recover from Ebola but it is dependent on early identification and good supportive clinical care. The mortality rate is anywhere from 40-80%.
Ebola was first identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1976 near the Ebola river. Although it is unknown what the natural hosts of the virus is, it is believed to be animal borne. It is believed that when humans ate bat or bush meat (a delicacy in some parts of the Congo and Liberia), the Ebola virus was acquired in humans.
Ebola is spread through direct contact. It is highly contagious! Ebola enters the body through what is called a 'Portal of Entry,' broken skin, mucous membranes in the eyes, ears nose or mouth with contaminated blood or body fluids including but not limited to urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk and semen. The human body remains contaminated even after death. This is why it is imperative to dispose of the dead host properly, sometimes by cremation or burial in a specially sealed coffin.
The persons most at risk for getting infected are the family members caring for the sick, healthcare workers and people preparing and disposing the dead. Improper disposal or sterilization of contaminated material increases the risk for transmission of the virus. It is very important to note that even after recovery from Ebola where an individual is no longer infectious, Ebola virus has been found in semen for up to 3 months. Abstinence or the use of condoms will help prevent the spread of the disease. Pets may harbor the virus and they must be tested to insure they are virus free. Animals that are infected will unfortunately have to be euthanized.
The individuals most at risk for exposure are persons who have recently traveled to the western part of Africa. Healthcare workers involved in the recent cases inTexas are obviously at risk. But a word of caution. This disease is a now a world traveler. Ebola has appeared in Africa, Spain and the United States in this most recent outbreak. From a public health position, people everywhere in the United States should expect the possibility of outbreak in their community some tie in the future. It is important that our population not panic! Past outbreaks in Africa have been contained although the components of this current situation is much more problematic and dangerous. The disease spread from a rural area in Africa to the urban city. Dense populations, myths and denial has contributed to the spread in Africa. The use of 'home remedies and refusal to self-identify has made this outbreak much more difficult to contain. Ebola has always been a death sentence and the stigma attached to families with infected relatives is a powerful deterrent to seeking care. Suspicion of the government has made the task of identification and treatment very difficult (if this sounds familiar just think of the Swine Flu during the Nixon administration).
What do we do here and now? This would be a very good time to reinforce the techniques for preventing the spread of illnesses in our own backdoor. Hand-washing is the single most important aspect of reducing the spread of disease and illness. Parents should be teaching their children, schools should be teaching their students and employers should mandate in-service training for all employees about using good hand-washing techniques. ALL public buildings with bathrooms should have signs illustrating hand-washing techniques. Local governments should have public service announcements about hand-washing. These interventions are that important. The next step is more difficult. We must begin to become disciplined about keeping our hands away from our faces, especially our eyes, nose, mouth and ears. This is an unnatural act and must be made into a habit. Again, practice will make perfect. This is less about preventing Ebola as it is about preventing the Flu (influenza season is beginning soon!), reducing the risk of the common cold. Parents must insist that their children wash their hands upon coming home and before each meal. Schools must have ample supplies of hand sanitizers and liquid soap in appropriate dispensers in bathrooms and around their schools (bar soap is a great source of spreading infection). I am not a great proponent of antibacterial soaps because I feel regular soap and friction from hand washing with good technique will remove most germs. The removal of door knobs (an great source of infection) and the use of swinging doors should be proposed.
If children are sick, keep them at home. If an employee is sick, do not pressure them to come to work. This only exposes more people to their germs. Ebola can be contained but it will take a more coordinated response to the epidemic in Africa than has been presented. I am astute enough to know that because this epidemic occurred in Africa as opposed to Europe, the world's response was muted and slow. In this global, interconnected community that we are all a part, it is more important than ever to know that we are all neighbors now. What happens in my backyard is sure to affect you. I hope that we don't get to the point that we have to close borders and restrict passage. People who are restricted in their travel WILL find a way to get out. By keeping borders open and travel regulated, the path of least restriction allows us to identify travelers who are at risk and by extension, a risk to others.
We must remember that everyone in the 1980's did not know anyone who had AIDS except if they were a part of the Gay and Lesbian community, inner city Blacks or IV drug abusers. AIDS was not a problem for the greater unaffected population. In the 21st century, we have ALL been touched by the AIDS catastrophe. We as a society fell asleep at the switch because it was the 'OTHERS' who were affected. Well, this is about all of us now! If we fail again through the lack of moral imperative and political will to act aggressively to combat this disease now, I shudder to think what the results will be this time. We must not make this mistake again.
Hamptons Wellness:Fix the Foot and Fix the Rest of the Body
The IET team attended a course back in May that would expand our knowledge and ability to help our clients more then we would have imagined all through natural 3D movement techniques. That course was level 1 and 2 Anatomy in Motion (AiM). The 2 weekends each consisted of hands on training and knowledge that included a greater understating in human movement anatomically, 3D stretching, gait phasing and how to get the body to find its center with a return of full mobility. What your feet do or more specifically don’t do affects your movement all the way up to your head!
All 4 of us walked away after the first night blown away with amazement! Hands down this is one of the best courses I have taken and learned from. Gary Ward, the founder of AiM was an awesome instructor along with Chris Sritharan, David Mc Gettigan, Karen Lacey and Robert Kavanagh who were all are very knowledgeable and were there for us to learn but really grasp and understand the information presented.
I look at the body in a totally different way…starting with the foot! That’s right- look down and take a good look at your feet…think of all the work they do for you each and every day. Think of all the injuries you have ever had and how your body has been able to adjust to keep you out of pain…good chance it all leads back to your feet! And if they didn’t start the problem, they can fix the problem!
Most of us are living with some kind of body ache or pain, of course all on different scales. Our bodies are natural compensators, so when we have an injury to the body it will naturally find a different route to still allow you to be functional and move…the body is amazing!!! BUT over time when your body keeps acting in a compensatory state real pain and injuries are going to occur. That’s where we start looking at the body and asking the question; “What is your body not able to do? Or why is it not moving properly?”
AiM taught us to look at the body as a whole but starting with the foot. If your foot is locked up and isn’t able to do what its suppose to, through all our gait phases, then the rest of our joints up the body aren’t going to be able to do what they are suppose to do…chain reaction…thus in turn a compensation pattern and over time pain.
We have been seeing instant results with our clients when using the AiM techniques. By giving support to the foot and showing the foot that it can do what its been avoiding (that could be supinating, pronating, inverting, everting, just to name a few examples) the brain will perceive it can do the movement its been shifting you away from. By using foam wedges and putting your foot into the position its avoiding, the brain perceives its touching the floor and doing what its been not able to do, while moving thru a 3D stretch… that way when you go and walk the brain has the perception that the foot can do what we just “showed it”.
AiM has been a great addition we have added to our toolbox here at IET. Its helping our clients get out of pain, move better and get stronger! Like I said, the past 3 months we have seen instant results with our clients, from the youngest 9yrs old to our oldest 84yrs old. The body can heal itself! Looking at it as a whole from the foot up to the head, we understand what it needs thus show it that it can do it!!!
Hamptons Wellness: 34 Menopause Symptoms
I am slowly approaching the next phase of my life and in my quest to understand what is going on with me, I found an article called 34 Menopause Symptoms and I knew I needed to share this with all of you traveling this journey with me. Let me assure you, you are not losing your mind……we are just a MESS and God helps the people who have to live with us.
Many women experience some physical and emotional symptoms during menopause, caused by hormonal imbalance. Some women may find that detox foot bath therapy, for example, may help alleviate the symptoms of menopause, so going through this may not be as tough for some people.
Some women begin to experience menopause symptoms around her mid-40’s as her body’s reproductive capability comes to the end. I find it fascinating that women bleed for 5 days every month except those month you are pregnant for nearly 40 years. Sometimes women decide to go to places like Advanced Gynecology (http://www.gyngeorgia.com/) for help with menopause management.
http://www.menopause.org/for-women
34 Menopause Symptoms
1. Hot Flashes
Hot flashes: a sudden feeling of warmth spreading all over the face and upper bodyHot flashes, also known as hot flushes, are a sudden, transient sensation of warmth or heat that spreads over the body, creating a flushing, or redness, that is particularly noticeable on the face and upper body. The experience of hot flashes can range between delicate flushes and a sensation of engulfing flames. You can help relieve the effects of the hot flashes by taking an Alfalfa supplement.
2. Night Sweats
Night sweats are a common symptom of menopause that occurs during sleepNight sweats are classified as severe hot flashes that occur during sleep accompanied by intense bouts of sweating. Also known as “sleep hyperhidrosis”, night sweats aren’t actually a sleep disorder, but a common perspiration disorder that occurs during sleep in menopausal women. These episodes of nighttime sweating can range in severity from mild to intense, and can be caused by hormonal imbalance combined with environmental factors, such as an excessively warm sleeping environment.
3. Irregular Periods
Irregular periods are most common in the mid 40s, as menopause approachesMost women will experience absent, short, or irregular periods at some point in their lives. A wide range of conditions can cause irregular periods, though during perimenopause the most common cause is hormonal imbalance. Periods may come earlier or later than before; bleeding may be lighter or heavier than usual; and periods may be brief or go on for what feels like an eternity. Skipping periods and “spotting” – bleeding between periods – are also common symptoms of hormonal imbalance.
4. Loss of Libido
A hormonal imbalance or prescription drug can lower sex driveEveryone experiences peaks and valleys in sexual desire, an ebb and flow in libido that could be caused by any of a variety of factors. However, for women going through menopause, this sudden drop in desire for sexual activity or intimacy can be troubling. In menopausal women, the main cause of low sex drive is hormonal imbalance, predominantly androgen deficiency. Loss of libido can also be caused by other menopause symptoms themselves, such as vaginal dryness or depression, or by prescription drugs, including medication prescribed to treat menopause symptoms.
5. Vaginal Dryness
Vaginal dryness is the lost of moisture inside the vagina Vaginal dryness occurs when the usually moist and soft feeling of the lining of the vagina disappears, bringing about symptoms such as itchiness and irritation. When estrogen levels drop during perimenopause, the vaginal tissue becomes drier, thinner, and less elastic. Lack of lubrication leads to sex becoming uncomfortable, and the vagina is frequently itchy, easily irritated, and more prone to infections.
6. Mood Swings
Chronic, intense mood swings may be a psychological disorderMenopausal mood swings are surprisingly common, but can be hard to cope with. A woman experiencing mood swings may feel like she is on a rollercoaster of emotions: one minute she’s up, the next minute she’s down. Mood swings can be sudden and intense, although the experience of them may differ from woman to woman.
7. Fatigue
Fatigue is a persistent feeling of weakness, tiredness, and lowered energy levelFatigue, one of the most common menopause symptoms, is defined as an ongoing and persistent feeling of weakness, tiredness, and lowered energy levels, rather than just sleepiness or drowsiness. Other characteristics of fatigue may include apathy, irritability, and decreased attention span. Crashing fatigue is a phenomenon which comes on suddenly, leaving a woman devoid of energy and unable to continue her activity.
8. Hair Loss or Thinning
Hair loss can be sudden or gradual shedding or thinning of hair on your headHair loss, one of the most physically noticeable menopause symptoms, is caused by estrogen deficiency, because hair follicles need estrogen to sustain hair growth. Hair loss may be sudden or gradual, or manifest as thinning hair on the head or other parts of the body, including the pubic area. Hair may also become drier and more brittle, and may fall out more while brushing or in the shower.
9. Sleep Disorders
During menopause, you may have problems with insomniaWaking many times during the night, tossing and turning, and insomnia, are all sleep disorders connected with menopause. Women going through menopause may find that their sleep is less restful and that getting to sleep becomes increasingly difficult. Research indicates that women begin to experience restless sleep as many as five to seven years before entering menopause.
10. Difficulty Concentrating
Not getting enough sleep or having sleep disruptions can contribute to concentration problemsIn the lead-up to menopause, many women are concerned to find they have trouble remembering things, experience mental blocks, or have difficulty concentrating. This can be confusing or worrying for women, and can have a big impact on all aspects of daily life. The main reason why these symptoms occur during menopause is hormonal imbalance, specifically estrogen deficiency. However, not getting enough sleep or sleep disruptions can also contribute to memory problems and cause difficulty concentrating, as well as the nagging pain of other physiological menopause symptoms.
11.Memory Lapses
Memory lapses are a normal symptom of menopause Women approaching menopause often complain of memory loss, memory lapses, and an inability to concentrate. Misplaced car keys, skipped appointments, forgotten birthdays, and missed trains of thought might seem like trivial occurrences, but these can be extremely distressing for women who have never missed a beat before. However, these memory lapses are a normal symptom of menopause, associated with low levels of estrogen and with high stress levels.
12. Dizziness
Dizziness is a temporary feeling of spinning and/or unsteadiness Dizziness is a transient spinning sensation, which may be accompanied by a feeling of lightheadedness or unsteadiness, as well as the inability to maintain balance upon standing or while walking. Episodes can last for as little as a few seconds, but can leave a woman feeling out of sorts for an extended period of time, or may even lead to falls, which can impact her daily home and work life.
13. Weight Gain
Weight gain is another sign of changing hormones Weight gain, specifically a thickening around the waist, is another sign of changing hormones levels during menopause. While some sources claim that menopause has nothing to do with weight gain, hormonal changes during menopause actually influence weight gain and redistribution of fat. For example, fewer circulating estrogen hormones lead the body to retain more fat cells as an alternative source of components of estrogen.
14. Incontinence
Incontinence is the involuntary excretion of urineIncontinence in menopausal women can be divided into three types. Stress incontinence is the accidental release of urine while laughing, coughing, sneezing, or due to over-exertion. This usually happens when the internal muscles fail to work effectively, because of age, surgery, or childbirth. With urge incontinence, the bladder develops a “mind of its own,” contracting and emptying whenever full despite an individual’s conscious efforts to resist. Overflow incontinence is the absence of the sensation of a full bladder, whereby accidental urination occurs because the individual doesn’t realize the bladder is full. Incontinence can be helped by visiting urologists like Advanced Urology, who can advise you on different treatment methods tailored to you, and improve your quality of life.
15. Bloating
Lactose intolerance causes gassiness, bloating, and discomfort after eating dairy foods Bloating occurs in most women throughout their lives, due to digestive issues or as a part of PMS. This symptom is characterized by a swollen belly, a feeling of tightness, and discomfort or pain in the stomach area. Typically, this arises from intestinal gas caused by poor food transit; this is due to low levels of bile, which is caused by estrogen deficiency. One other cause of bloating could be lactose intolerance, or the body’s rejection of dairy foods. As people age, they produce less lactase – the enzyme needed to digest lactose.
16. Allergies
Allergic reactions due to hormone imbalance are experienced by womenHormones and the immune system are inextricably linked, so hormonal changes during menopause can lead to an increase in allergies among menopausal women. Many women experience increased sensitivity to allergies, while others may suddenly become allergic to something that never bothered them before. This is particularly the case with hay fever, asthma, and dermatitis.
17. Brittle Nails
Brittle nails may be caused by different underlying conditions Nail appearance can tell a lot about a person’s general health and habits. There are a variety of nail changes that occur during menopause that could indicate an underlying problem, but the most common is brittle nails, or nails that are softer, or that crack, split, or break horizontally across the top of the nail. This can indicate a nutritional deficiency; however, in menopausal women brittle nails are usually due to hormonal imbalance. Low estrogen levels cause dehydration in the body, leading to dryness of the skin, hair, and nails.
18. Changes in Body Odor
Odor is produced by bacteria that grow on the skinChanges in body odor can make the menopausal women experiencing them very self-conscious. Menopausal hormonal changes cause an increase in sweat production, in response to physical menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats, or psychological symptoms such as anxiety and panic disorder. This increase in sweat production can lead to increased body odor, even while maintaining a good personal hygiene regimen.
19. Irregular Heartbeat
A pounding heart is a common complaint associated with perimenopause Irregular heartbeat is one of the more concerning menopause symptoms. Bouts of pounding, rapid heartbeat scare many women because of their sudden onset and the difficulty in calming them. One of the causes of these symptoms during menopause is hormonal imbalance. Estrogen deficiency can over-stimulate the nervous and circulatory systems, causing irregular heartbeat and palpitations, as well as certain arrhythmias.
20. Depression
Severity and duration are factors in distinguishing ordinary sadness from a depressive disorderFeelings of sadness can be normal, appropriate, and even necessary during life’s setbacks or losses. Feeling blue or unhappy for short periods of time without reason or warning is also normal and ordinary. But if such feelings persist or impair daily life, it could signal a depressive disorder. The severity and duration of the sad feelings, as well as the presence of other symptoms, are factors that distinguish ordinary sadness from a depressive disorder. Other symptoms of depression include loss of interest in usual activities, sleep and eating disorders, and withdrawal from family and friends.
21. Anxiety
Panic attacks include agitation, palpitations and shortness of breath Anxiety is a vague or intense feeling caused by physical or psychological conditions, typified by feelings of agitation and loss of emotional control. Anxiety or feelings of anxiousness are also associated with panic attacks, and can manifest as physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and palpitations. Anxiety during menopause is caused by the sudden drop in estrogen levels circulating in the body, which reduce the production of neurotransmitters responsible for mood regulation, such as serotonin and dopamine.
22. Irritability
Irritability involves mood swings and loss of interest in usual activitiesIrritability is a pervading “bad mood” characterized by feelings of stress, reduced patience and tolerance, and lashing out in anger or frustration over matters that may seem trivial to others. Irritability during menopause is most often caused by hormonal changes, whereby low levels of circulating estrogen have an adverse effect on the neurotransmitters in the brain that are responsible for regulating mood.
23. Panic Disorder
Panic attacks usually strike suddenly. Panic disorder consists of significant and debilitating emotional episodes characterized by sudden and overwhelming fear and anxiety. These feelings can be intense, and caused by physical or psychological conditions. An episode of panic disorder may entail rapid heartbeat, feeling of dread, shallow breathing, nervousness, and feelings of extreme terror. These panic “attacks” can range in frequency from a single episode to regular occurrences.
24. Breast Pain
Breast tenderness or pain is often associated with the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause. Typically, breast pain is characterized as a generalized discomfort or pain associated with touching or applying pressure to the breasts. Breast pain, soreness, or breast tenderness in one or both breasts is symptomatic of hormonal changes, and as such often precedes or accompanies menstrual periods, and can also occur during pregnancy, post-partum, and menopause. The specific imbalance of hormones that causes breast pain is unique to each individual woman, so breast pain might occur at different times or at different intensities in individual women.
25. Headaches
Dropping estrogen levels may cause more frequent and intense headachesHeadaches can be caused by a variety of factors such as muscle tension, drinking too much alcohol, or as a side effect of common illnesses such as the flu. However, headaches are also linked with the effects of hormonal imbalance, and therefore with the various stages of reproductive life.
26. Joint Pain
Joint pain can be caused by hormonal fluctuations instead of traumaJoint pain is one of the most common symptoms of menopause. It is thought that more than half of all postmenopausal women experience varying degrees of joint pain. Joint pain is an unexplained soreness in muscles and joints, which is unrelated to trauma or exercise, but may be related to the effects of fluctuating hormone levels on the immune system. Estrogen helps prevent inflammation in the joints, so low levels of estrogen during menopause can lead to increased instances of inflammation, and therefore increased joint pain.
27. Burning Tongue
Burning mouth syndrome involves a burning pain without signs of irritationBurning mouth syndrome is a complex, vexing condition in which a burning pain occurs on the tongue or lips, or throughout the whole mouth, without visible signs of irritation, but accompanied with other symptoms such as bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth. Burning tongue affects up to 5% of U.S. adults, women seven times more than men. It generally occurs after age 60, but it may occur in younger people as well.
28. Electric Shock Sensation
Electric shocks involve a tingle between skin and muscle This symptom presents a peculiar “electric” sensation, like the feeling of a rubber band snapping in the layer of tissue between skin and muscle, or, when it appears as a precursor to a hot flash, it is often felt across the head. Electric shocks usually only occur for a brief moment, but it can still be quite an unpleasant sensation. The cause of electric shock sensation in menopause is thought to be related to the effect of fluctuating estrogen levels on the cardiovascular and nervous systems.
29. Digestive Problems
Digestive problems involve many changes in gastrointestinal function Digestive problems are defined as changes in gastrointestinal function, with symptoms such as excessive gas production, gastrointestinal cramping, and nausea. There are a couple of reasons why menopausal women might be experiencing more digestive problems than previously: hormonal imbalance disrupts the natural transit of food in the gut, and stress has an adverse effect on the normal functioning of hormones.
30. Gum Problems
The most common gum problem is known as gingivitis and involves swollen gums Gum problems are common among menopausal women; although these could be due to poor dental hygiene, they are also caused by menopausal hormonal changes, mainly estrogen deficiency. The most common of the gum problems experienced in menopause is gingivitis, or inflammation and bleeding of the gums. Left untreated, gum problems can lead to tooth loss, infections, and heart disease, so it is important to seek treatment for gum problems in menopause.
31. Muscle Tension
Muscle tension leads to an increase of aches and pains throughout the body.Muscle tension is when muscles, especially the ones in the neck, shoulders, and back, feel tight or strained, or when there is a general increase in aches, pains, soreness, and stiffness throughout the body. Muscle tension is a common symptom of menopause, because low estrogen levels lead to a rise in cortisol, known primarily as the stress hormone. Continued high levels of cortisol cause the muscles in the body to tighten and become fatigued.
32. Itchy, Crawly Skin
Loss of collagen causes the skin to become dry and less youthful looking When estrogen levels drop during perimenopause, collagen production also slows down. Collagen is responsible for keeping skin toned, fresh-looking, and resilient. So when the body starts running low on collagen, it shows in the skin, as the skin gets thinner, drier, flakier, and less youthful-looking. Skin dryness leads to pruritus, or itchy skin, a frustrating symptom that can disrupt both women’s sleeping and waking lives.
33. Tingling Extremities
Tingling on only one side of the body requires immediate medical attentionTingling extremities is where menopausal women experience the feeling of “creepy-crawlies” walking all over their skin, a burning sensation like an insect sting, or super-sensitivity in their hands, arms, legs, and feet. In most people, tingling is harmless, usually occurring due to a pinched nerve or compressed artery, which reduces blood flow through the extremity causing it to “fall asleep”. However, in menopausal women, tingling extremities is likely caused by the effect that low estrogen levels have on the central nervous system.
34. Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis: a degenerative thinning of the bone that decreases its mass and densityOsteoporosis is a degenerative bone disorder, characterized by thinning and weakening of the bone and a general decrease in bone mass and density. Menopause negatively affects bone growth. Normally, bones go through a process whereby old bone is replaced with new bone cells, but the body’s ability to handle this process changes with age. By around age 35 there is less bone growth than there is bone removal.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) strongly recommends cholesterol screening for men aged 35 and older. For people who have a family history of early heart disease the USPSTF recommends cholesterol screening beginning at age 20 for both women and men. Health care providers can help patients evaluate their family histories to determine a screening approach that is best for them.
