24
HEALTH
Midlife: Changing with grace! PART 1
Heather Shannon
W
hat is midlife? For a woman it is considered a time of transition from perimenopause to post menopause and usually occurs during the ages of 45-55. The average age in the United States is 51 and nearly 6,000 women go into menopause each day. Have you ever wondered what is happening to your body and why you experience certain changes? Here are some answers to your questions. We are born with thousands of eggs in our ovaries. These eggs eventually mature and are released (ovulations) monthly in order to make a baby. If you do not get pregnant, you will have your period. Approximately, 400 eggs are released over a woman’s lifetime and the body absorbs the rest. When there are no more eggs, there are no more periods. Hence, menopause. It sounds so simple, but we know better. Did you know there are three phases of menopause? Perimenopause, menopause and post menopause (PMP). Perimenopause is the first phase and occurs over seven to ten years. This is the time we notice new physical and emotional changes within our body.
July 2021
Most of the time we consider these changes unpleasant and at time difficulty to deal with. Menopause is the phase of no menses and lasts for one year. Symptoms continue and they may even intensify. Post menopause is the phase with no menses for one year and thereafter. Know that many of these symptoms may continue into your sixties. During the perimenopause and menopause phases, many changes occur. The most common changes are hot flashes, insomnia, weight gain, emotional changes, period changes, vaginal changes and decreased sexual response. Know that not every woman will go through perimenopause or menopause the same. Some will struggle with symptoms while others will seem to breeze through unscathed. Makes me jealous! Lifestyle and genetics can play a role into this. Here are some interesting facts about hot flashes and night sweats. About 70 percent of women will experience hot flashes, while 75 percent will have night sweats and feel just like they are described hot and sweaty. These symptoms begin one to two years before the end of your period and can last up to 15 years. Ouch! The Summer, Food & Entertainment Edition
