6 Bad Symptoms Of Menopause
Women go through different hormone-regulated phases in their lifetime, one of which is menopause a transition that leads to the end of fertile years. One of the signs you are going through this phase-called perimenopause—is that your cycle begins to change. Your periods may become heavier or lighter, come more frequently or less frequently, be heavier. What are the symptoms?
1. An unusually heavy bleeding.
When you suddenly start experiencing unusually heavy flow up to twice in a month or notice that you’re bleeding or spotting after you have sex, then there is a need to see your doctor. They could a warning sign of have uterine fibroids, polyps, or even cervical or uterine cancer. So it’s very important you have it checked it out.
2. Persistent hot flashes and night sweats.
Generally, up 75% women going through the early phase of menopause experience hot flashes and some sweating in the night. It varies in severity between women with some having no noticeable temperature rise. Most women simply endure these sudden surges in body temperature. It has been said to be associated with gradual drops in oestrogen levels, causing reduced ability of the body to regulate temperature
Red flag: Some other medical conditions can cause hot flashes and night sweats, one of which is an overactive thyroid gland. (Hyperthyroidism). There are other associated signs of hyperthyroidism that fit into the experience of menopause, like hair loss and irregular periods which can make the scenario a little more confusing. So you can have a discussion with your doctor about having a thyroid screening test.
3. Hair loss.
One of the effects of declining oestrogen hormone on your hair is that it gradually begins to thin out. Some women may more hair loss than others due to the genes of female pattern hair loss they carry. So for experiencing minimal hair loss, it’s usually nothing to worry about.
Red flag: A sudden and rapid loss of significant number of hair is a reason to have a check-up. If you experience your hair falling off or pulling off in your hands, you need to see your doctor as soon as possible. Again, an abnormally functioning thyroid may be the culprit, in which case may be under-active or overactive. Other signs that may come along with it include fatigue, weight gain, body aches and memory problems.
Once you hit a certain age, it’s easy to blame hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and other bothersome problems on menopause. While “the change” may very well be the true culprit, sometimes seemingly common issues turn out to be signs of something more serious. Here’s a look at 6 that you shouldn’t automatically dismiss
4. Fast heartbeats
One of the commonly experienced symptoms when women attain peri-menopausal age is occasional palpitations. Fluctuation in oestrogen levels may effect on heart rate, leading to intermittent palpitations. You may suddenly feel your heart racing or beating irregularly. This often happen during the episode of hot flashes.
Red Flag: If you notice that heart is beating fast or skipping beats at rest, when you’re not experiencing hot flashes, you need to go and see your doctor. Having abnormal heart rhythm can sometimes be a harmless part of ageing process, but it could also be a sign of an underlying problem. It could be a developing heart related condition or an overactive thyroid gland. Relevant tests will be conducted by you doctor arrive at the accurate diagnosis.
5. Joint aches.
It’s not out of order to feel occasional joint aches and pains as one gets older, it’s all part of the package of ageing. Women who are overweight are more likely to have achy joints.
Many women generally develop joint issues around menopause. Gradual reduction in oestrogen causes progressive loss of bone density and integrity of joint cartilages. Some women opt for oestrogen replacement therapy to help with these unpleasant effects
Red Flag: When persistent pain begins to make daily living a difficult task, then that should raise a red flag for conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia or SLE.
6. Depression.
Mood swings is one of the possible experiences women can have during this life phase. The sudden realization that old-age has crept in, with its associated issues is enough to draw a cloud of gloom on women. Effects of hormonal changes and the resultant reduced sleep can further dampen the mood. Insomnia leads to fatigue which contributes to feelings of depression.
Red Flag: Having a slight feeling of gloom is one thing; but when you become severely depressed it’s another thing entirely. Severe depression in women leads to feelings of hopelessness, a significant lack of interest in most activities, insomnia or excessive sleep. Feelings of worthlessness, and thoughts of death or even committing suicide can happen in extreme situation.
When you begin to have a pervasive feelings listed above, you may have crossed the line and need to see your doctor immediately. There are medications and therapy that can help resolve the issues safely.
In summary, as you gradually get by with the symptoms of impending menopause, it is important to pay close attention to all that has been listed above.
Age gracefully. Cheers!
