How to Deal With Kids and Menopause

You may be too familiar with the weakness, lack of energy, tiredness, and discomforts that come with menopause, and if you still have to take care of your young, energetic kids, you are in for a real challenge.

Many women who wait and become mothers after forty, may experience the first stages of menopause while the kids are still pretty young and demand lots of energy and attention. So, how do you deal with all their stamina and still cope with debilitating menopause symptoms?

1. First and foremost, take care of yourself. If you are in good condition, physically and emotionally, your kids will be too. Find creative ways to get rest and rejuvenate yourself. Take the time to look for natural therapies or inquire about Bio Identical Hormone Replacement to help you ease the symptoms of menopause. Spend time outside exercising or relaxing. Take at least five minutes every day to meditate, breathe deeply, or do yoga. The time you devote to yourself will greatly improve the time you devote to your loved ones.

2. Take your time. Do not allow schedules to run you; on the contrary, plan for family activities and kids activities to fit your life. There is time for everything, just take it easy and enjoy each moment, if you do not, stop and adjust. Do not be afraid to ask for help from family or friends to drive the kids to their activities if you need some time off; you can even plan schedules with other parents and share driving responsibilities to free some of your time.

3. Teach your children about "resting time". Set aside half an hour every day for you and the kids to rest; they can read a book, color, take a nap, listen to music, or do any other relaxing activity. Eventually, they will learn to really enjoy these moments and will be more willing to calm down if you are feeling weaker on a particular day.

4. Remember that you are not alone. Ask for help, and learn about practical ways to deal with homework, fights, planning, and scheduling; this will get rid of a lot of stress and will enhance your relationship with your kids. There are many tricks you can learn to ease your routine with the kids and lighten up your life, so that you can look after yourself in a better way.

5. Talk to other parents and share advice about dealing with the kids and daily activities. Maybe you can share responsibilities with other parents to care for the kids some days of the week so that you and the others can take turns and have a whole day to yourself.

6. Ensure your children are getting a good night's sleep. This will guarantee they are more manageable and calm during the day, giving you a break and easing stress. Enforcing a consistent routine of going to bed at the same time every day will create good physical and mental habits.

7. If you feel extremely weak or tired, you will not be able to deal with anything. Ask for some time off and for help. Explain to your kids that you need to relax for a while in order to be able to function. Ensure your children are safe and go take care of yourself.

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Studies Show Vitamin E and Minerals Help Menopause Hot Flashes and Insomnia

A high percentage of menopausal women around the world are experiencing regular hot flashes and night sweats. Due to the side effects of hormone drugs, many are reaching out to seek natural remedies for relief. Vitamin E is famous for the health benefits it provides to glands, organs and the heart, however it may not be generally known that vitamin E is a proven remedy for menopausal hot flashes and night sweats.

A hot flash, also called a hot flush, is a sudden unexpected feeling of warmth and often a breakout of sweat in the upper half of the body. These flashes occur with up to 80% of women around the time of menopause, and men can also have them due to a lessening of testosterone at middle age. A night sweat is a "hot flash" that occurs in the night, often while one is sleeping, and can cause frequent awakenings.

Vitamin E was shown in a recent study from Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation to be a natural alternative to estrogen therapy and an effective remedy for hot flashes. The researchers found there were significant statistical differences in the hot flash severity score after women took a 400 IU vitamin E (softgel cap) daily for 4 weeks. They concluded that based on the trial, vitamin E is recommended for the treatment of hot flashes.

Adelle Davis, the first nutritionist to base her recommendations on science-based studies, says: "During the menopause the need for vitamin E soars ten to fifty times over that previously required. Hot flashes and night sweats often disappear when 50 to 500 units of vitamin E are taken daily, but they quickly recur should the vitamin be stopped."

Calcium is directly related to our cycles of sleep. In one study published in the European Neurology Journal, researchers found that calcium levels in the body are higher during some of the deepest levels of sleep, such as the rapid eye movement (REM) phase. The study concluded that disturbances in sleep, especially the absence of REM deep sleep or disturbed REM sleep, are related to a calcium deficiency. Restoration to the normal course of sleep was achieved following the normalization of the blood calcium level.

Regarding the need for calcium need at the time of menopause Davis says: "During the menopause, the lack of the ovarian hormones (estrogen and progesterone) causes severe calcium deficiency symptoms to occur. At these times, high amounts of calcium should be obtained and every step be taken to insure its absorption into the blood. When these precautions are taken and the diet is adequate in other respects, the woman at menopause usually loses her irritability, hot flashes, night sweats, leg cramps, insomnia, and mental depression."

Calcium works best when it's balanced with about half as much magnesium in a two to one ratio. Mildred Seelig, M.D., a leading medical researcher on the benefits of magnesium says: "The Ca/Mg ratio of two to one (twice as much calcium as magnesium) has long been considered physiologic and best for normal functioning. This was confirmed on the basis of long-term metabolic studies in young men and women done by the Research Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture."

In magnesium deficiency, chronic insomnia is one of the main, central symptoms. Sleep is usually agitated with frequent nighttime awakenings. On the other hand, a high magnesium, low aluminum diet has been found to be associated with deeper, less interrupted sleep. This was proven in a study done by James Penland at the Human Nutrition Research Center in North Dakota.

Estrogen-based hormone drugs may increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. An increasing number of women are turning to non-pharmaceutical remedies for night sweats and insomnia. Vitamin E and highly absorbable forms of natural minerals are proven, soothing alternatives.

Menopausal Acne: When Your Skin Goes Back to Your Teenage Years

Menopausal acne is a disturbing and actually common problem. This flaring up of skin problems normally experienced in teenage years can come back during the menopausal years as they are also marked by pronounced hormone imbalance. Hence, by experiencing strong fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels, the skin of a woman in this stage can experience menopausal acne.

Natural solutions to menopause acne are the same as those recommended to teenagers: good skin hygiene and regular cleaning with an anti-acne soap and healthy living and eating habits.

Menopausal acne is usually not a welcomed sign of menopause and a woman might find it even more disturbing to see her body image change again. She can consult her pharmacist and physician to discuss the optimal treatments for her condition. A woman should keep in mind though that as ugly as she may find her menopause acne, it will probably resolve on its own when her condition stabilizes.

It is highly recommended to all women going through menopause to drink plenty of water daily (eight to ten glasses per day on average). Drinking water regularly will also improve the condition of menopausal acne as it will ensure proper hydration of the skin.

Another very important step in treating and minimizing menopausal acne is by keeping to a minimum the amount of food rich in fat in one's diet. When a woman has a diet rich in fatty food, her sebum production is then increased thus making her skin oilier and more prone to menopausal acne.

There is nothing better than a nice sweat to open up the pores of the skin. When exercising regularly, a woman ensures that she will keep her heart and lungs in healthy condition and will also help her skin stay away from menopause acne and keep that radiant glow. The care of a specialized esthetician after checking with one's doctor can be of great help to control and prevent menopausal acne.

There are also a lot of natural products offered on the market to help deal with menopausal acne. Discussing the options with one's pharmacist can be of great value for a woman experiencing menopause acne. Mild skin cleaning before bed time is a very good habit to control menopausal acne.

Sometimes more pronounced menopausal acne can be a problem and a topical antibiotic cream or medicated gel might be indicated. Discussing these menopausal acne treatments with your physician will prove helpful. Rarely a woman will need to use antibiotics by mouth or surgery to deal with her menopausal acne. One has to keep in mind that menopausal acne is a transient phenomenon and will get better over time as hormone levels settle.

Participating in discussion groups with women who are also going through menopause and experiencing such symptoms as hot flashes and menopause acne is a great way to find and share tricks and tips to help this condition. If such a support group does not exist in a woman's community she can decide to form one and start helping her fellow menopause women. Another valuable option is to join an internet forum dedicated to menopause problems such as menopause acne and exchange with like-minded women.

Menopause - Finding Relief From Mood Swings

I looked in the mirror and wondered, what happened to the sweet, kind and loving person that I used to be. How did I become so mean and unkind? What has happened to me? Ah yes! The nasty menopause mood swings were to blame. But what could I do to get back to my old self? Something has to be done immediately - I can't take this anymore (and my husband is not real thrilled with me either).

I'm not one to take drugs; there must be a natural remedy for this problem. So on to the computer I went to research my options. There is a lot of information to sort through. It is mostly about hot flashes and night sweats. Fortunately I made it through those symptoms after a year of suffering. I found that the black cohosh and soymilk did help me. Walking every day for 30 to 45 minutes did wonders for my hot flashes and also helped the terrible insomnia that plagued me since menopause.

I did notice that all of my menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, insomnia) got worse when I would get stressed. So maybe getting rid of the stress is part of the solution. I researched many different natural stress relievers and was impressed with the results people had with meditation. I have never done meditation before so I decided that I would try a few of the meditation tapes. I found several sites that had sample meditation tapes that could be downloaded for free. So I bought an MP3 player and downloaded the meditation sample recordings. You may think that I'm exaggerating (I'm not) but after listening to the recordings the first day I felt an immediate calm come over me. It was amazing! I am now hooked on meditation tapes. I purchased the full versions of the sample tapes that helped me the most and now I take an hour (or half hour if I'm pressed for time) out of my day to listen to them. Every once in a while I have a crazy day and don't get to listen and I can feel the stress creeping up again.

You owe it to yourself (and your family) to take time out for meditation. You will be pleasantly surprised. I now also listen to Brain Entrainment and Dream Programming tapes which have also helped me tremendously; but that's for another article. Finding meditation has been a true blessing for me. I am back to my old sweet self and feel better about myself than I have in years. I hope you will give it a try - you'll be glad you did.

Treatment of Vaginal Dryness and Painful Intercourse

Women who are nearing the menopause state face problems such as vaginal dryness and painful intercourse. The main cause is the lowering of the estrogen level which leads to the thinning of the vaginal lining and also of the drying up of the wall. This condition is known as vaginal atrophy. However, there are other causes also which might cause the vaginal dryness and painful intercourse. These include the Sjogren's disease, surgical removal of the ovaries and issues related to stress and depression. If you are one of those women who are suffering from the symptom of vaginal dryness and painful intercourse, then you should keep in mind these following remedies which would help you in getting relief. However, before taking any of these medications, you should consult a doctor.

Vaginal moisturizers is one of such remedies that you can use for getting relief from the vaginal dryness and painful intercourse. These are easily available over the counter and gives immediate relief. However, because of their consistency and smell they are not liked by most of the women. Also these do not help in thickening the lining of the vagina and thus is not always effective in giving long time relief.

Another medication which is easily available over the counter is the water soluble lubricants. This also provides temporary relief and helps in gaining natural lubrication but also has the problem of consistency and smell and therefore is not liked by many women.

Many doctors prescribe, depending on the condition of the patient, low dose vaginal estrogen ring. It helps to prevent the thinning of the vaginal tissues and also they are regarded as much safer than consuming estrogen pills regularly. However, small amount of estrogen consumption does occur into the body.

Oral consumption of estrogen pills is regarded as another treatment of vaginal dryness and painful intercourse. They are prescribed by the doctors when the other remedies fail to provide any relief to the patient. These pills bring relief in many ways. They help in preventing the vaginal tissues from thinning and therefore you would get long term relief from these menopausal symptoms.

They are also effective against symptoms such as bone loss and hot flashes. Along with the benefits there are some risks also involved with the intake of estrogen pills. It might lead to the increase of risk of breast cancer in many women, if it is taken with progestin. The risk of uterine cancer also increases if a woman is taking the estrogen pills without the progesterone. The risk of blood clots also increase with this medication.

With proper medication you can easily get relief from the irritating symptoms of vaginal dryness and painful intercourse. However, along with these medications you need to follow a balanced diet as well as have lots of fluid.

Prescription Menopause Medications That Bring Relief

There are many prescription menopause medications that can help to relieve the symptoms of this phase of a woman's life. Some of those symptoms that cause such distress include hot flashes, fast heartbeat and high blood pressure, vaginal dryness, mood swings, trouble sleeping, fatigue, anxiety, depression, irregular or heavy periods and many others. The reason they happen is because of hormone changes or lack of hormones associated with the onset of menopause.

Hot flashes are probably one of the most irritating symptoms that take place during the change of life. This is when a wave of heat comes over the woman, usually in the face and chest area, which causes flushing, sweating, heavy breathing and the feeling of being thrown into a furnace. The heart may race and hot flashes can last from 3 minutes up to 30 minutes. They can come up at any time throughout the day and sometimes even at night.

Some antidepressants seem to make good headway when it comes to minimizing the symptoms of menopause. Effexor has been known to reduce hot flashes and help with depression. Prozac is another medication that relieves hot flashes along with anxiety or mood swings that some women are plagued with during this phase of life. Zoloft, Aventyl, Norpramin, and Tofranil are often prescribed to the menopausal woman in order to deal with depression. They may help hot flashes and the symptom of confusion that often accompany the change of life.

Women who have never had high blood pressure before may suddenly be stricken with this disorder during menopause. Clonindine is frequently prescribed for it in these women because it also seems to help with hot flashes. However, this drug does have side effects like insomnia which could induce another menopausal symptom, sleeplessness. Conversely, it also has a tendency to make you drowsy throughout the day.

In the 1970's synthetic estrogen and progesterone drugs given to menopausal women were found to be linked with endometrial cancer, then to breast cancer, heart disease and strokes. This spurred a search to look for alternative methods to treat menopausal symptoms using more natural ingredients.

The result was the creation of Bio-Identical Hormones for use in treating menopausal symptoms. These are hormones that are molecularly identical to the hormones that are produced in the body. Physicians can write a compounded prescription that is tailor made to the women and balances all three hormone categories within the body: estrogen, progesterone, and androgen. Although there isn't any actual medical proof that these things work, women who use them will tell you that they do.

You may also wish to try out some over the counter menopause medication. Some of these natural products are quite effective at dealing with your symptoms without the side effects you might get from prescription menopause medications.

Vitamin E and Menopause; Recent Research Results

Research concerning vitamin E and menopause began in the forties. Because of the health risks associated with hormone replacement therapy, there has been an increased interest in menopause and nutrition over the last several years.

Reports from the Women's Health Initiative in 2002 caused a significant drop in the number of women who choose hormone replacement. These studies found an increased incidence of blood clots and stoke among women using hormone replacement therapy for several years. Hormone replacement is also associated with an increased risk of breast and uterine cancer. The only clear health benefit is an improvement in bone density, but this health benefit does not outweigh the risks.

Women still have need for relief from unwanted symptoms associated with menopause. There is a long list of dietary supplements, botanicals and herbal remedies that may be effective. Results of research focused on vitamin E and menopause, as well as other nutritional supplements, have been mixed. Some studies indicate that these supplements are promising, while others found little or no benefit.

One of the primary focuses of research concerning menopause and nutrition is the prevention of osteoporosis. Increased calcium intake is typically recommended, but calcium supplementation alone is probably not enough. Vitamins and minerals work together. The body cannot effectively absorb calcium without an adequate supply of vitamin D. Magnesium, co-enzyme Q-10 and other trace elements are also needed and often lacking from the average American diet. Exercise also plays a role in calcium absorption, as does estrogen.

When it comes to vitamin E and menopause, the most recent study by the Mayo clinic regarding the vitamins affect on hot flashes in women being treated for breast cancer. After nine weeks of dosing with 800IU per day, the study concluded that the degree of relief achieved was not significantly different from that of placebo. Study after study has shown that vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats) are relieved by about 20% in women taking a placebo or an inactive compound. Studies typically compare results to this placebo effect. In order for the majority of experts to recommend a treatment, it must be more effective than this "placebo effect".

While vitamin E is a necessary anti-oxidant and is important for the proper function of nerves and muscles, a good daily multi-vitamin typically contains more than adequate amounts of this vitamin. The USRDA to prevent deficiency is much lower than the 800IU used in the above study. Taking this vitamin at dosages greater than 400 units per day on a long term basis can cause blurred vision, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, nausea, stomach cramps and weakness or fatigue.

Good nutrition is important throughout a woman's life. An easy transition through menopause and nutrition go hand in hand, but even with a healthy diet, regular exercise and overall healthy lifestyle, some women still have unwanted symptoms. Studies concerning vitamin E and menopause do not indicate that this vitamin is all that a woman needs to prevent these symptoms. Studies have shown that other dietary and herbal supplements are more likely to be effective.