The menopause can make you feel as if you're not in control of your own body, but there are ways to ease the symptoms, as these 5 self-help tips show.
The menopause can make you feel as if you're not in control of your own body, but there are ways to ease the symptoms, as these 5 self-help tips show.
To ease hot flushes and night sweats:
Psychological symptoms associated with the hormonal changes brought about by the menopause can include feeling down,
, irritability, mood swings, tiredness and lack of energy.However, the menopause can often coincide with other psychological stresses, such as dealing with ageing parents who may become more dependent, the death of older relatives or friends, divorce, or children leaving home ("empty nest syndrome"). For these reasons, it can be difficult to tell whether your psychological symptoms are a direct result of the menopause.
The following tactics can help improve your mood:
Restful sleep will help you cope with night sweats and other menopausal symptoms. Improve your sleep by:
There's evidence that women who are more active tend to suffer less from the symptoms of the menopause. Exercise is important not only for the relief of short-term symptoms, but also to protect your body from
and . will help keep your bones and the muscles that support them strong. It will also increase your flexibility and mobility, which will in turn improve your balance.The benefits of exercise in preventing bone loss and fractures are well known. It's thought the best kinds of activities are aerobic, sustained and regular. Brisk walking about three times a week is a cheap, easy and great way to start exercising.
Women who smoke have an earlier menopause than non-smokers, have worse flushes and often don't respond as well to tablet forms of HRT. It’s never too late to
.Important: Our website provides useful information but is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your doctor when making decisions about your health.