5. THE “GOOD ENOUGH” FACTOR - We put a great deal of pressure on ourselves to be good mothers, loving wives, fantastic employees, and so on. Tired, busy moms may want to adopt the idea of being “good enough” rather than perfect! So what if your cookies for the bake sale were from a mix; they got the job done and you saved some time. Same concept for being a mom – the “good enough” mom is all a child needs, to provide love, nourishment, shelter, and a stable childhood. Perfectly clean houses and perfectly planned extracurricular schedules not required. 6. CHECK UP – see your own physician to rule out medical causes of fatigue (for instance thyroid problems, diabetes, or anemia).
Q
Dear Dr. Jen – A good friend of mine is just starting menopause – and I can’t be too far behind…it’s got me thinking about Hormone Replacement Therapy. When do you know HRT is for you? Are there more natural routes?
A
Menopause is actually defined as not having any menstrual periods for a 12 month period. The average age of menopause in Canada is 50 years, but can occur anytime between age 45 to 55. While nearing menopause, many women complain of hot flashes, vaginal dryness, irregular menstrual cycles and bleeding, and mood changes (like anxiety and depression). Since these symptoms can last at least a full year or longer, many women consider HRT. HRT can come in numerous forms. There’s the traditional estrogen replacement that most women think of, in the form of pills, patches, gels, vagi-
nal creams. It’s often combined with a second hormone, progesterone, and is prescribed to most women. Oral contraceptive tablets are also used as HRT to help control irregular cycles. HRT is often effective at improving symptoms, and is thought to have other benefits. Natural products can also provide a modest improvement, most commonly phytoestrogens (like soy), or black cohosh. HRT is not right for every woman, of course, especially those with a history of breast cancer, blood clots, or women who smoke. Be completely honest with your doctor about why you want to try HRT, you and your family’s health history, so that you can come up with the best possible HRT fit. DISCLAIMER:
this information is for general purposes
only and is not intended for use as medical advice.
Please consult your health care practitioner for advice tailored to you.
Tarot by FREYA
• Guidance • Enlightenment • Answers • Action • Freedon • Knowledge
To book appointments
613-771-1064 www.tarotbyfreya.blogspot.com
Dr. Tracy Bray
Visit me at Mystical Moments 147 Front Street Downtown Belleville
263 Bleecker Ave at Victoria Belleville, ON
613-771-1117 backinmotionchiropractic@bellnet.ca HEALTH & FITNESS NOW: SPRING
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