MenopauseEarly.com

As women move toward their forties and begin to experience many changes in their bodies they begin to question why. Menopause or perimenopause is often one of the last thoughts. The myriad of symptoms associated with perimenopause can be confusing and overwhelming. To add to the confusion and overwhelm each woman’s transition through perimenopause and menopause is different. The symptoms experienced and their severity vary drastically. The information available often varies widely from viewing menopause as a disease to the view of ‘it’s all in your head’. It’s no small wonder women are confused. Clinically speaking menopause is defined as the cessation of menstruation for 1 year or more. Perimenopause, also referred to as climacteric, is the period of time prior to cessation of menstruation when the bulk of symptoms occur. This transition commonly begins between the ages of forty and fifty five and last for two to seven years. It is not unheard of too begin later or earlier. Menopause is not a disease. It is a natural transition process for women similar to adolescence, only this time moving out of the child bearing years. There is a wide variety of symptoms associated with menopause. Here are the most common twenty. 1. Change in Menstrual Cycle - frequency, duration, flow 2. Hot Flashes/Night Sweats 3. Insomnia 4. Weight Gain 5. Headaches 6. Mood Swings 7. Irritability 8. Depression 9. Infertility 10. Change in Body Odor 11. Decreased Sex Drive 12. Fatigue 13. Forgetfulness/Brain Fog 14. Hair Loss/Thinning Hair 15. Frequent Urination/Stress Incontinence(leaks) 16. Dizziness/Light Headed 17. Increased Anxiety 18. Increased Facial Hair 19. Vaginal Dryness 20. Increased Bloating and/or Gas

It is important to note that these symptoms may be from other causes so it’s always advisable to check with your health care provider.

What exactly is responsible for all these symptoms? A woman’s body is undergoing hormonal changes. Usually the first change is a gradual decline in progesterone. During this time estrogen levels generally remain stable. Estrogen and progesterone play a check and balance act in a women’s body, so when they are out of balance symptoms occur. As perimenopause progresses progesterone continues to decline and estrogen levels begin to fluctuate greatly, again triggering symptoms. At the same time the hormones associated with ovulation and follicle growth, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), are increasing resulting in changes in ovulation. The medical tests for menopause traditionally measure FSH and LH levels and increased level is considered a positive result. The problem with this method is that it doesn’t measure estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone levels which can not only confirm menopause but assist in a treatment plan. There are two other testing methods that are thought to be reliable. Salivary hormone testing measure free hormones in the saliva and can easily be done at the same time for several days to determine a women’s personal baseline. The other is a blood test for free (unbound) hormones in the blood. These are options to discuss with your healthcare provider especially if you are considering hormone replacement therapy. Ultimately developing an individual holistic approach is the best way to manage the menopause transition.

Cathy Brennan, owner of Pathways Coaching, is a Professional Coach specializing in Menopausal Women. She thrives on helping her clients maneuver through the menopause transition and design a life that they can’t wait to greet each morning. She has been a Professional Coach for 5 years and has 25 years experience as a Registered Nurse and Holistic Health Practitioner. To contact call 860-774-0006, email coach@pathwayscoach, or visit “http://www.pathwayscoach.com” http://www.pathwayscoach.com. For a free Menopause Assessment go to “http://www.assessmentgenerator.com/h/crcoachcmb1156881430.html” http://www.assessmentgenerator.com/H/cRcoachcmb1156881430.html

Cathy Brennan, owner of Pathways Coaching, is a Professional Coach specializing in Menopausal Women. She thrives on helping her clients maneuver through the menopause transition and design a life that they can’t wait to greet each morning. She has been a Professional Coach for 5 years and has 25 years experience as a Registered Nurse and Holistic Health Practitioner. To contact call 860-774-0006, email coach@pathwayscoach, or visit “http://ww” http://ww -
Chiropractor treatment is an alternative remedy that can be effective at providing relief from physical symptoms suffered during menopause. Although many women have success with this treatment, others have found success with another drug-free therapy known as biofeedback. What is biofeedback? Biofeedback is a technique that teaches an individual to consciously control their body?s involuntary responses including blood pressure, temperature, muscle contractions, heart rate and brain waves. A person receiving biofeedback is hooked up electronically to machines so their physiological process can be monitored and relayed back to the person as a tactical, auditory, or visual signal. How can biofeedback help women during menopause? During menopause, women suffer from a variety of physical and emotional symptoms which are typically cased by a deficiency of estrogen and progesterone. The following are the symptoms that biofeedback has been known to effectively help menopausal women find relief from: ? Migraines and/or headaches ? Hot flashes ? A low libido related to anxiety ? A loss of appetite related to anxiety ? High blood pressure caused by stress ? Specific types of pain and depression How is biofeedback performed? Patients are treated individually, so a menopausal woman will first be asked about her health and the symptoms she is experiencing. She will then be treated based on the decision of the practitioner. Most biofeedback sessions begin with the patient sitting in a chair. A band that has three wired metal sensors attached to it is placed on the head and the patient is given headphones. The headphones produce audio that sounds like static. Each static click means that alpha waves are being emitted by the brain. These waves are a sign of relaxation. The quicker the static clicks, the more a patient is relaxing. The practitioner will then analyze the patient?s level of relaxation and measure the temperature, heart rate, and muscle tension for a few minutes. The patient will then be asked to perform a mental task that presents a challenge which will lower the temperature in the hands and raise blood pressure. The patient will then be taken back to the original relaxation stage where they will rest for a moment before they are then asked about their emotional issues. This is how a typical session of biofeedback is conducted, but treatment varies based on the menopausal symptom. For instance, a number of studies have found that biofeedback has been effective at improving bladder control in some women. During menopause, women may suffer from stress incontinence (bladder leakage). This condition is believed to be caused from lack of estrogen. Estrogen helps to keep the lining of the urethra and bladder strong and healthy. Thus, lack of estrogen can weaken the bladder and reduce muscle control, resulting in a leakage of urine when the body receives pressure from coughing, sneezing or laughing. Biofeedback can relieve stress incontinence by helping a woman strengthen her pelvic floor muscles. To show the woman how she needs to effectively contract her pelvic muscle to make them stronger, one end of a transvaginal sensor is inserted into the vagina and the other end is hooked up to a computer to monitor and measure muscular activity. The computer provides instant information on which muscles require more strengthening. How long are sessions? Most people begin with ten sessions under the supervision of a trained practitioner. Each session lasts one hour in length. However, the purpose of biofeedback is to teach an individual how to control their vital functions on their own so they can effectively treat themselves to control and prevent symptoms. Of course, knowing how to perform biofeedback takes plenty of know-how and practice. Therefore, it is mandatory that you are taught by a professional. If you would like to try biofeedback to treat your menopause symptoms, consult your health care provider to learn more. About the Author : Grab your free copy of Kathyrn Whittaker’s brand new Menopause Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to relieve menopause symptoms & discover more about menopause signs

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