A Woman's Guide to Menopause Help

Every woman could appreciate a breakthrough guide that lists alternative, self-care, and medical strategies for avoiding just a few of the unbearable complaints of menopause such as hot flashes, memory loss, joint and muscle pain, fatigue, and vaginal dryness. Menopause help is on the way! If a woman does not want to take hormones or if she cannot take hormones for medical reasons, there are other ways to relieve some of the symptoms brought on by menopause. Hot flashes seem to be a major complaint of menopause. It is important for a woman to dress in lightweight clothing during the summer months and layers of clothes in the winter.

Another strategy for menopause help is to drink fewer caffeinated and alcoholic drinks and of course, cold drinks are a better choice than hot ones. It has been studied, but not proven, that vitamin E may even help prevent hot flashes. A second common complaint of menopause is memory loss. Not only is it bothersome for a woman who forgets where she puts things, but she often feels frightened by the increased risk of arteriosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease in mid-life years. More often than not, memory loss is natural and the good news, it can be prevented.

A woman’s memory can remain sharp and active well into old age. It is very important that women get a sufficient supply of necessary nutrients and oxygen to the brain. If a woman does not have a proper nutritional intake, the brain can easily become malnourished over time. Another type of menopause help includes proper diet and nutrition, which is extremely important. A third complaint of menopause has to do with joint and muscle pain. This type of pain could be associated with the beginning of osteoporosis. Keep in mind that osteoporosis can sometimes be prevented by eating foods loaded with calcium and vitamin D, which would include milk, cheese, and yogurt. Now, if a woman is allergic to milk products, she has many other alternatives for obtaining calcium such as broccoli, kale, and other dark green leafy vegetables.

Even salmon and sardines are also excellent source of vitamin D. For added calcium, she might consider foods like breads, cereals, and orange juice. In addition, it is common for women to get enough vitamin D from the sunlight. However, if a woman is not getting adequate vitamin D through food products or sunlight, she should ask her doctor about taking a vitamin supplement. As added menopause help, the FDA has approved several prescription drugs to prevent and treat osteoporosis. Some of these drugs include Miacalcin, which is a nasal spray containing the hormone calcitonin, Fosamax, which is a drug without hormones, and Evista, a drug that acts similar to estrogen in preventing osteoporosis, although it does not have some of the other side effects associated with estrogen. Remember that these drugs are not for all women so each woman should ask her doctor what is best for her.

The last, but not least, complaint of menopause is vaginal dryness. Because of the significant drop in estrogen after menopause, membranes of the vagina become thin, lose elasticity, and decrease the production of lubricating fluids. The good news is that there are ointments that can be purchased without a prescription such as KY Jelly, Replens, Astroglide, or Moist Again, all highly recommended. In summary, not every woman has unbearable complaints during menopause. In fact, some women go through menopause with very few problems. On the other hand, some women struggle with the many challenges associated with the change of life. Because only a few complaints have been listed in this guide, it is suggested that if a woman has other complaints or symptoms, or needs further menopause help, she should talk with her doctor.