Introducing three most common symptoms of menopause

There are 34 different symptoms of menopause, but three of them are the most common ones that medical practitioners have to deal with: hot flushes, sleep disturbance and changes in menstrual cycle. These symptoms can interfere with the daily activities of women who experience them. However, there is hope for relief, as researchers have made significant progress in understanding causes and developing treatment for these symptoms. therefore, women longer simply have to endure.

Hot flushes

Hot flushes often start after age 50, however can be experienced earlier. While more than 70% of menopausal women have them, some for up to 10 years. The sensation of heat, frequently across the face and chest, redness, sweating and night sweats can really interfere with your life day and night.

Soothing these symptoms of menopause

• Dress in layers with natural fibres
• Reduce spicy food intake
• Try to reduce alcohol and caffeine, as both impact on blood vessels.
• Exercise significantly reduces hot flushing 
• Use tools such as mindfulness to reduce symptoms
• Hormone Therapy can reduce these symptoms

Sleep disturbance and insomnia

Symptoms of menopause around sleep cover several areas:

• Initiation – trouble falling asleep
• Maintenance – trouble staying asleep
• Early morning wakening

Causes of sleep disturbance are many, and some come with long-term complications, like sleep apnoea. Accordingly, we recommend prioritising sleep during menopause. We would strongly suggest speaking to your doctor about your sleep if any of these apply to you: 

• Snoring
• Waking gasping for breath 
• You feel you have stopped breathing in your sleep 
• You are quite overweight
• Waking unrefreshed
• Day time fatigue with napping

Other things can impact on your sleep, including:

• Poor sleep routine, including night-time screen use
• Restless legs 
• Pain
• Daytime stress
• Flushing
• Urinary symptoms

For our top tips on getting sleeping under control check out this article.

Menstrual cycle changes: a common symptom of menopause

Inconsistent hormone levels cause irregular ovulation and lead to changes in the bleeding cycle. Changes include more frequent bleeding, less frequent bleeding, a longer cycle or bleeding in between cycles. A health professional can work through your individual symptoms and develop a management plan with you.

There are, however, several other aspects that should be considered. If the answer to any of the below is “yes” then, really, you should be talking to your doctor for some advice:

• Is there something else contributing to your irregular cycle?
• Do you need to do a pap smear?
• Are your iron levels low?
• Do you still need contraception?
• Would hormone therapy help with other symptoms of menopause?

Summary

• The three most common symptoms of menopause are hot flushes, sleep disturbance and changes in the menstrual cycle. However, there are steps women can take to manage these symptoms to improve their quality of life.
• Hot flushes occur in over 70% of women. Lifestyle modifications and hormone replacement therapy may be beneficial to alleviate symptoms.
• It is common for women to experience difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep and getting sufficient sleep. Sleep studies can help determine the type of sleep interruption you may be experiencing and the best treatment for your circumstances.
• Changes in your menstrual cycle are expected during this time, and bleeding more frequently, heavily or between cycles, could show a need to speak with your medical practitioner about iron levels, contraception and whether hormone therapy may be of assistance.

Metluma provides evidence-based health and wellbeing support for women at all stages of life. Learn how to live longer, be healthier, and optimise your health during menopause.

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