Fibromyalgia and Menopause Facts For Women

Are you suffering the symptoms of menopause? If they include symptoms such as muscle stiffness and soreness, tenderness around the knees, elbows, hips and other joints, or pain and numbness in the hands or feet, then you may have the beginning of what's known as fibromyalgia. What is it? It isn't a disease as such but a condition that affects the joints and soft tissue including the muscles, and also includes fatigue in most cases. It also affects mostly women, which leads many doctors to believe it may be related to menopause.

The reason many doctors and others believe that fibromyalgia is related to menopause is that the majority of sufferers are not only women, but women over the age of 40 (approximately 80% according to statistics). So how are they related? That remains to be seen, but many researchers believe that an imbalance in hormones is partly to blame, even though they cannot find evidence of which ones specifically as of yet. Current focus is on the brain chemicals that control sleep cycles and mood, hormones released by the pituitary which are sensitive to estrogen, and possibly even changes in growth hormones. This link is likely because many women who suffer fibromyalgia are approaching menopause, have recently had a baby and are over 35 years of age, and women who have had either a tubal ligation or a hysterectomy.

The worst part about fibromyalgia is that there is no cure as of yet, only treatments that can help ease the symptoms. Treatments vary according to varying symptoms but include certain exercises specific to affected areas, pain relieving medications or muscle relaxants to help ease discomfort, and in some cases injections of analgesics to specific areas. There are other therapeutic treatments such as massage therapy, heat therapy, and a new therapy called hydrotherapy which involves movements in the water that help with circulation and don't involve putting pressure on the joints like other forms of exercise.

Some doctors and health specialists think that diet can play a role in helping to prevent fibromyalgia, eating more holistic foods that are full of nutrients such as phytochemicals and antioxidants, for instance. Eat more organic foods such as fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and even dried fruits. Drink plenty of water each day, which many people hear about but fail to follow through on, make it a habit. Some dieticians believe that lowering your intake of sodium rich foods and completely eliminating additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG's) and artificial sweeteners like Aspartame can help to relieve symptoms of fibromyalgia. Recent studies show that the practice of eating a vegan diet may even help alleviate symptoms.

Menopause Symptoms and How to Face Menopause and Its Symptoms

It's a fact that every woman faces at some time or other in her life - menopause or "the change". Menopause represents going from a reproductive phase to a non reproductive phase and the menopause symptoms and how to face menopause and its symptoms are of immediate concern to women going through this phase.

Menopause symptoms vary from woman to woman. Menopause is different for each woman but the usual symptoms include hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness, fatigue, hair and skin changes, menopause weight gain, etc. Long term issues include osteoporosis and vascular and heart disease.

The transition to menopause or perimenopause involving the change in reproductive life involves the experience of menstrual cycles that are shorter or longer than usual which results from the significant fluctuations of the secretion of ovarian hormones during this time. The transition usually begins at 47.5 but can be as early as the late thirties or early forties. This varies women to women.

You may have asked yourself, if I have to go through this unpleasant phase, how long does menopause last? Perimenopause lasts for an average of 4 to 8 years. Women will experience emotional and physical changes for a number of years before they reach menopause. Menopause is the period from the last menstrual cycle and the twelve months after this last period. This usually occurs at about 51 years of age.

The length that menopause symptoms last vary from woman to woman and are due to the changes in hormones and the imbalance in the body.

Mood swings affect approximately 10% of the women going through this transition. These mood swings are characterized by drastic changes in mood over a very short time period such as laughing one minute then crying or yelling next and then falling into a depression the very next moment. A lot of these women seek solutions from traditional medicine however, more and more women are looking to natural or holistic remedies for these mood swings.

Less than 10% of women go through menopause without having some change in their menstrual cycle. Besides periods being shorter or longer than usual, the blood flow may become lighter or heavier. Birth control is usually prescribed to cause periods to become more regular.

One of the most taxing symptoms are the hot flashes experienced during this period. These begin either during the pre-menopausal stages of peri menopause or after the woman has her last menstruation. When the hot flash starts, women may feel tense, agitated, anxious and unsettled as well as have heart palpitations.

Hot flashes are usually at their worst during the first year following the last menstrual cycle. The physical manifestation of the hot flash is the skin turning pink or red as well as sweating. The severity varies from mild to very severe and some women may experience chills soon after the hot flash.

A lot of women experience the majority of their hot flashes at night which may lead to insomnia while other women experience difficulty sleeping even without hot flashes. Most women will sleep for a few hours, wake up and not be able to go back to sleep. Some women also complain about having difficulty concentrating, short term memory loss during the transition which may be due to lower estrogen level although others think that this is due to the aging process.

This transition is very stressful and affects women differently. Some women will show all the signs of menopause while others will only experience mild symptoms. It is important for each woman going through the transition to find ways to alleviate her symptoms and enjoy a full and productive life during and after menopause.

Menopause Relief Supplements - Reduce Menopause Symptoms Naturally

The pains of menopause are just as bad as that of any other emerging disease; and for your information, menopause itself is not a disease that demands a cure but how to relief the associated symptom is the in thing. Pain is pain and a reliever must be found at all costs. It is unfortunate the western culture is very timid and looks at the loss of eggs as the beginning of the end of life; in fact many women in other cultures don't experience much of a change warranting medical attention at all. Instead this period is embraced as a momentous gain to the society and the many changes become assets to the young generation in counseling and training on many facts about life.

In brief these are the pains: absence of calmness at night, sweat may be present; insomnia, night menstruation hot flushes alternating with chills confused menstrual cycle, mood swings, hot temperament, etc. Now what should be prescribed to relief all these pains is the issue. The answer is left to dietary supplements mainly. It goes without saying phytoestrogens are the main initiators of this dynamic scene of pumping estrogens back to the blood. These plant hormones at no time have been studied extensively than this time when menopause is sending shockwaves and degrading women. The sources are varied and supply remains abundant in Soya, black cohosh and red clover. These hormones besides boosting estrogen generation, so as to balance off the normal sex hormones, works also on bad cholesterol thus providing the heart with cover against cardiovascular diseases associated with menopause too. In all treated cases using phytoestrogen secreting plants, hot flushes die a natural death.

We cannot forget food supplements especially the good quality multi vitamins and mineral rich capsules synthesized purposely for this provision. Any with vitamin C is excellent because the bioflavonoids with time have been confirmed as agents working to reverse hot flushes. It has antioxidant properties; it also rejuvenates collagen fibers of the skin thus reinvigorating the vagina walls to resume normal functions of lubrication. Vitamin E is a sex vitamin; it works directly on hot flushes and vaginal dryness; it is usually applied directly on to the internal walls of the vulva during the night for a specific period. Continuous use of this vitamin also reduces chances of heart attacks and associated ailments. Vitamin B is usually served as vitamin B complex and as the name suggests, it is known to outshine by handling stress and anxiety symptoms very well.

Menopause often causes tension and anxiety with resultant disaster if not sorted on time. There is another group of food that is called essential fatty acids; which mean a lot especially when you come to discover what it means when you don't have. Absence of these fats mean lifeless hair will attempt to shine; there will be dry skin and eyes, no motivation and the like. Other elements that count in this line are magnesium, calcium and zinc. All support stability and restoration of bones incase they are becoming fragile as years go ahead. Other plants that deserve mention include Agnus castus, Ginkgo biloba etc.

10 Common Symptoms of Perimenopause

Perimenopause is the symptom of the cessation of the reproductive system of a woman which is the indication of termination of the menstrual period for 12 consequent months. The most prominent symptom of Perimenopause is fluctuating menstrual cycles, which indicates the decrease of reproductive capabilities. For some this may be worrisome especially to those who are about to reach the age, but it is a normal natural procedure in which the estrogen level starts decreasing rapidly. This is a sign of hormone imbalance.

Due to less or no ovulation before menopause, perimenopause symptoms appear. In a healthy and ovulating woman, estrogen is produced during the first part and progesterone is produced during the later part of the monthly cycle. If there is no ovulation then there will be no progesterone produced. Perimenopause can occur due to lack in progesterone production and hormonal imbalance.

There are many symptoms of pre-menopause that a woman has to suffer from. Ten most common symptoms observed during Perimenopause are:  

·        Mood swings, depression and anxiety
·        Hot flashes and night sweats,
·        Vaginal dryness,
·        Tender Breasts,
·        Weakened finger nails,
·        Water Retention and Unexplained Weight Gain
·        Sleep problems,
·        Thinning hair, or hair loss and increased facial hair,
·        Itchy skin, crawly sensation on skin,
·        Aches and pains in muscle and joints

Above mentioned symptoms of perimenopause indicate that woman is reaching the age of menopause and her monthly menstrual cycle is coming to a complete stop. Symptoms differ from woman to woman and can affect women differently.

Pre-menopause is an inevitable and natural process but it also a distressful stage in a woman's life. It affects every woman in a different manner. The symptoms of pre-menopause may last for months or can last for a few years only. 

All the above mentioned symptoms lead to many difficult situations and make her susceptible to illness. Therefore, it is advisable for every woman to see a doctor when this stage starts as some symptoms can lead to major complication like; night sweats can result in lack of sleep which in return can cause tiredness and fatigue. In this way one symptom can lead to another. Only a good doctor can help and suggest best remedies to lessen the pain of these symptoms and lead a better after menopause life.

Treating Menopause With Phytoestrogen Cream

Many people are under the statement that the only time a woman would need a phytoestrogen cream is during menopause. However this statement is incorrect. Anytime there is a hormonal imbalance and regulating those hormones is very important to a woman's health.

Menopause, pregnancy as well as birth control are all times when it may be necessary to correct an imbalance. All of those situations can create very similar symptoms. A progesterone cream USP can be used to help relieve the menopause symptoms just like these regardless of what time in life they happen for a woman.

Skin conditions

There are many women and people in general who are unaware of how important hormones are in their overall health. A hormonal imbalance also can spell skin disaster for some women. In this case acne and severe blemishes aren't uncommon. If a woman already has problems with psoriasis or eczema those situations can become more severe. Treating yourself with a natural estrogen cream can help you prevent those unpleasant side effects of progesterone loss.

Urinary incontinence

It is a long standing joke that women who pregnant can't control their bladders. Certainly it really isn't funny to the lady dealing with urinary incontinence. However in the later part of the pregnancy, it makes sense for this to happen due to the uterus on the bladder and the weight of the baby.

As it happens earlier in the pregnancy, it is the sign of a hormonal imbalance and can be treated. Pregnancy isn't the only time this can happen to a woman as perimenopause and menopause are culprits as well. Using natural sources such as progesterone cream can help diminish this embarrassing hormone imbalance effect.

Low libido and painful intercourse

Complaints abound from both men and women about the lack of sex drive a hormone imbalance can make. As you compound that with the pain which sometimes accompanies the act, many women willing to do anything to prevent it. However intimacy and sex with your partner is a vital part of a healthy relationship and not something you should miss. Regaining this part of a woman's life is one of the biggest progesterone cream benefits.

These are some very good reasons for choosing a phytoestrogen cream to treat menopause symptoms. Women are finding a lot of relief with the menopause treatment which mention in our website. The best part is it isn't difficult to learn how to use progesterone cream and the benefits are tremendous.

Things That You Need To Remember About Menopause Relief

To fully appreciate the importance of menopause treatment, it's always important to remember that the effects of menopause will always be different for different women. Some women will experience more hot flashes than others, while some will have more problems with their skin and vitality. And then there are the lucky few who will not even experience any negative symptoms at all.

Since this is the case, in order to cope with your menopausal problems you should always give attention to what you're experiencing. If you're having more trouble with hot flushes for instance, you may be glad to know that there are many forms of menopause treatments for it, seeing as how it's the most typical symptom of all. However, if you want to reduce the negative effects of hot flushes, you will need more than just supplements and medication. You will also need to make some changes on your diet and lifestyle.

Yes, even the simple things like the kind of food you eat can bring you menopause relief. Foods which contain a lot of salt, saturated fat, sugar, alcohol and caffeine for example can trigger hot flashes.

Just as there are plenty of foods which can make the problem worse, there are also some foods which can help you. Foods which contain a lot of bioflavonids and isoflavones for example are particularly helpful in helping you treat hot flashes. You can get these substances from oranges, grapefruits, soya and linseed.

Vitamin E is another important thing that can give you hot flush relief. This particular vitamin is very good for blood flow and sexual hormones. Good sources of Vitamin E include vegetables, vegetable oils, whole grains and beans. However if you are not prepared to start eating these kinds of foods full time, you could try buying vitamin E supplements.

In addition to Vitamin E, it's also important to remember that a good menopause cure is able to replace the depleted amounts of vitamin B, vitamin C, magnesium and potassium inside your body. Most hot flush remedies can give you these vitamins.

What you eat is also just as important as how much you eat. Eating large meals regularly can dilate your blood vessel, which consequently increase your body's blood temperature. In addition to the amount of food you eat, you should also drink a lot of water especially if you are having a lot of problem with severe menopause symptoms.

And lastly, watch your weight. Being overweight or underweight can worsen hot flushes and other symptoms. Being overweight oftentimes stimulates metabolism which in turn raises blood temperature, which is obviously bad for those who suffer from hot flushes. Likewise, women who have little fat cells will also have less estrogen, and that will lead to more hot flushes.

So remember that as far as dealing with hot flashes, treatment has a lot to do with the kinds of nutrients you take into your body.

Menopause Pain Relief Supplement, Reduce Menopause Symptoms

Although menopause in itself is not a disease, but a period of intense, but natural, changes in a woman's body, the one going through it might experience, among other symptoms, pain. Fortunately, since we are not talking about a medical condition, all the menopause symptoms can be dealt with using natural supplements. They reduce menopause symptoms, this including not only pain, but also hot flashes, irritability, depression, night sweats, mood swings, vaginal dryness and irritation and many others. Menopause pain relief supplements are in most of the cases natural, so they don't harm the woman's body in any way and they reduce menopause symptoms smoothly, without using any aggressive chemicals or artificial substances.

Menopause pain relief supplements are best to also contain vitamins, especially vitamin C, minerals and Omega 3 fatty acids. Soy, in any form, be it soy milk, soy seeds or soy flour is very beneficial to reduce menopause symptoms because of its high content of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Soy products are also very helpful in alleviating pain associated with menopause.

In order to reduce menopause symptoms, many people turn to herbs because they don't have any side effects and they solve the problem in a natural manner. Some herbs offer relief from the great majority of the menopause symptoms, while others are only beneficial in what concerns one symptom. Many supplements contain a combination of herbs. Black haw for instance is a plant widely used in menopause pain relief supplements because it has antispasmodic effects, reduces pain and also promotes a peaceful sleep. It is usually associated with other herbs that balance the hormonal levels in the body and provide relief from other symptoms.

Black cohosh and ginseng are two herbs that do this exact thing and they can be found on the market in various forms, including capsules. Dong Quai is a Chinese herb that helps a woman's body to restore its normal estrogen level. It is very efficient in reducing menopause symptoms, especially if combined with other plants like red clover, red sage and even black cohosh. This way, the woman receives benefits from more than just one herb.

Menopause pain relief supplements containing evening primrose are very popular because this herb is a natural sedative and it alleviates all the pains associated with menopause, like breast pain or bladder pain. Supplements with nettle leaves are also efficient because they are very rich in vitamins and minerals and once a woman's body is properly nourished, it will face the changes easier.