Perimenopause / Menopause Awareness
What causes the symptoms?
- Decrease in ovarian hormone production, mainly estrogen.
Symptoms/changes to expect during menopause.
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Weight gain (from 5-20 lb)
- Vaginal dryness
- Urinary incontinence
- Decrease in libido
- Irritability/moodiness
- Changes in hair and skin texture
Metabolic changes during menopause (what is happening inside the body)?
- Change in body fat distribution favoring gain in abdominal fat
- Decreased lean muscle mass
- Insulin resistance
- Changes in lipid panel (increase in bad cholesterol and decrease in good cholesterol)
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Decrease in bone density
Recommended lifestyle, dietary changes, and supplements:
- Decrease consumption of caffeine, spices and alcohol helps to decrease the intensity of hot flashes
- Consume a diet rich in protein
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- No/very less added sugar and processed food is very important to prevent excess weight gain and ensure good metabolic health
- Adequate and good quality sleep (7-8 hours) is very important
- Mindfulness and relaxation activities like yoga, meditation, Tai chi
- Regular physical exercise program is very important to help bone health, stress management and insomnia
- To preserve bone mass, make sure to take adequate calcium (1200 mg from diet and supplement combined) and vitamin D
- Over the counter supplements like black cohosh, soy isoflavones, evening primrose oil are sometimes helpful for the same (these are not FDA approved).
- Regular health check-ups and age-appropriate screenings like bone density scan, mammogram, pap smear and colonoscopy
Role of an Endocrinologist:
- Your Endocrinologist can help you during this time of change, with hormonal and non-hormonal medications, to ease the transition.
- Not all medications are safe for all women, this needs to be personalized. Also, appropriate dosing is important to avoid side-effects and ensure your safety.
Dr. Neha Lalani at Bluebonnet Diabetes & Endocrinology, striving to give high quality, comprehensive and personalized care for Menopause to patients. Book your appointment today by visiting our website at https://bluebonnetendocrinology.com/contact-us/ or call us at (512) 387-4224.