Identifying Menopause Symptoms

Menopause is a part of the aging process for women. It basically means the end of menstruation and occurs mostly in women aged between 42 and 58. The effects of menopause vary from woman to woman. Some women may have to bear with the physical effects while others will go through a mental and emotional roller coaster. An unlucky few may have to suffer both whereas some will be fortunate enough to not have to experience either.

Menopause is often characterized by certain physical symptoms. Some of these symptoms are include
I.Longer menstrual periods... If a woman usually has a short menstrual period of, say, 4 days and it starts lasting longer than 4 days, it could be a sign that she is approaching menopause. So, do not get alarmed if you have longer periods and are in your late 40s, as this is only a symptom of menopause.
II. Heavier menstrual flow... If you notice that your menstrual flow is now heavier than before and you are in good health otherwise, then this could be another sign that you are approaching menopause.
III. Spotting... Spotting is when small amounts of blood appear at the time when you are normally menstruating. In such a case, if you are not pregnant, then it could well be another menopausal symptom.
IV.Irregular menstrual periods... Another good sign of a woman approaching menopause is irregularity of menstrual periods when she does not have any other physical problems.
V.Loss of sex drive... As women approach menopause, the estrogen levels in their body begin to fall. This makes the vaginal walls less elastic and thinner which eventually leads to pain and discomfort during sex. So the loss of desire to have sex in women approaching menopause occurs because they simply do not enjoy sex the way they used to. So lack of interest in sex is also a symptom of menopause.

Apart from the physical symptoms mentioned above, women go through a wide range of emotions when approaching menopause. The initial stages are characterized by mood swings. At this time, women suffer from a drop in self esteem. They may feel that they have no identity or may feel unwanted and unattractive. Some women go through extreme mood swings causing them to go from being inconsolably depressed to being irrational and irritated. For many, it is hard to accept the fact that they can no longer give birth.

Menopause Vitamins - Are There Really Vitamins For Menopause?

Menopause vitamins and menopause herbs do exist. When considering menopause vitamins, understand that if your primary hormones are out of balance, experiencing menopause symptoms can be the result.

For women, estimates are as high as 90% of women will suffer the aches, pains and emotional stresses of PMS. Other symptoms affect nearly half of women who report irritability, mood swings, cramps, hot flashes, breast tenderness, migraines or headaches, lack of energy, bloating and bad skin.

For men, there is a 50% chance of developing an enlarged prostate before the 60th birthday. And the loss of libido and sexual desire that is experienced by many men in their forties and beyond can have a serious effect on personal relationships.

There are menopause vitamins and herbal supplements that help support the body and its production of important and needed hormones. What are the hormones?

Estrogen and progesterone are two primary hormones for women while testosterone and progesterone are two important hormones for men. There are herbal supplements and menopause vitamins that can provide support for the production of estrogen and testosterone in women and testosterone in men.

Certain nutrients act as hormone precursors. In the human body, hormone precursors are needed for the body to produce hormones. Examples of nutrients that are hormone precursors include:

Black Cohosh - this herb is used for the treatment of hot flashes, heart palpitations, nervousness, irritability, sleep disturbances, tinnitus, vertigo, perspiration and depression, painful menstruation and premenstrual syndrome.

Dong Quai - is used for premenstrual syndrome, menstrual cramps, irregularity and weakness during the menstrual period. It is also used to manage hypertension, rheumatism, ulcers, anemia and constipation, psoriasis and treatment of allergic attacks.

Isoflavones - soy isoflavones are found in soy-based food products and are thought to protect against hormone-dependent cancers such as breast and prostate cancer. They can support the lowering of cholesterol and also suppress the production of stress proteins in cells, proteins that will help cancer cells survive destruction by the immune system. They are of help in autoimmune conditions, osteoporosis, vaginitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia in men.

What Causes Early Menopause In Women?

Normal menopause is a gradual process that starts between the ages of 45 and 55. It is defined as occurring in women who have at least one ovary, and takes 5 to 10 years, though it can take up to 13 years. Early menopause, on the other hand, can start in the 30's or early 40's, in women who have at least one ovary.

Premature menopause has the advantage that the whole process is usually quicker than regular menopause. 1% of women will have finished their mid life transition by the age of 40. On the whole, 1 to 3 years is shaved off.

There are a number of things that can lead to premature menopause. Sometimes these things are a result of lifestyle choices, that include:

• poor nutrition
• heavy smoking
• heavy drinking
• chronic stress to the body - this can include excessive athletic training

However, sometimes factors outside of a woman's control lead to early menopause. For example, autoimmune disorders can affect menopause as well. Mumps and other serious viral infections can damage a woman's eggs. Given that menopause is associated with fewer primary follicles being able to develop and ovulate, it is easy to see why a woman with fewer follicles, or damaged eggs unable to develop into an ovulatory egg, is prone to an earlier menopause.

If a woman has undergone radiation therapy or chemotherapy, large numbers of eggs can be destroyed. With fewer eggs left, menopause will be earlier than in healthy women.

Some women are just born with fewer eggs. They will also experience premature menopause. When a woman's mother underwent menopause is a good guide to her own genetic predisposition.

Women who have had their ovaries removed before they experience a natural menopause will undergo what is called 'artificial menopause'. This is a very abrupt form of menopause, and hormone replacement therapy is usually recommended because the body has not had a chance to get used to the hormonal changes.

Cramping Your Style: How To Prevent Muscle Cramps

Muscle cramps happen to all athletes at one point in time or another. In fact, muscle cramps happen to most people regardless of athletic training. Muscles cramps are the involuntary tightening of muscles which you usually can control, and the most common problem areas are the legs and abdomen. They can put a real kink in your workout, so practice healthy habits to prevent your muscles from cramping as you train.

No one knows exactly what causes your muscles to cramp, but the first thing you can do to prevent it from happening during your workout is warm up your muscles at the beginning of your training session. Use the mat area of your gym to stretch out your muscles and do some light lifting to prepare your muscles for the day's activity. This is a good practice to prevent other injuries as well. When your muscles are warmed up, they will expand and contract better during training, preventing you from cramps.

Remember to "warm up" on a larger scale as well-if you are unconditioned, start off slow and work your way up to harder and more intense physical activity. Athletes just returning to their sport after the off-season or an injury are more prone to muscle cramps, as are beginners. Building intensity will help you build muscle mass more quickly as well, so don't overdo it from the start, and be sure not to overtrain-take enough time to rest between workouts.

Finally, keep your muscles, and the rest of your body hydrated. Drink lots of water before, during, and after your weight training or cardiovascular workout. Your body needs water before you feel thirsty, so drink at regular intervals, and if you are out in the sun or doing something that is making you sweat, avoid water poisoning. Drink sports juices to help you replenish all the nutrients your body is losing. Loss of these nutrients may cause your muscles to spasm and cramp.

If you do get a muscle cramp, don't worry. It is normal and will probably go away in a few minutes, although you may be sore for a lot longer. Stop what you are doing and gently stretch and massage the muscle until it is no longer cramped. Applying heat will also help relax the muscle, and if you are sore, cold compresses will help your muscles heal. If your cramps become routine or do not release for long periods of time, see your doctor to make sure everything about your body is in good condition.

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Cranberries Are Great Antioxidants

Cranberry antioxidants is a subject that has become a hot topic the last few years - and for good reason. We face a daily assault against our immunity which affects our appearance as well as our internal body systems and organs.

And nutrition experts have learned that cranberries are one of the richest sources of bioflavonoids, antioxidants proven to destroy tissue-damaging free radicals and reinforce the cells that make up blood vessel walls which results in significantly enhanced blood circulation.

Some beauty experts now tout cranberries and their juice and extract to be so powerful that just one eight ounce glass of pure cranberry juice (or the extract equivalent) daily will diminish cellulite dimples in as little as three weeks.

How do you keep free radicals at bay? By the use of free radical scavengers.

These free radical scavengers occur naturally in the body and neutralize free radicals. Certain enzymes serve this vital function and four important enzymes are superoxide dismutase (SOD), methione reductase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase.

The body normally produces these enzymes but it needs help for full spectrum free radical prevention and damage control. That's where a diet rich in antioxidants is vital. These antioxidants are also scavengers, gobbling up the sometimes deadly free radical particles.

Many health care practitioners see the wisdom in daily intake of plenty of fruits and vegetables in a variety of colors. Some recommend daily: Intake of 1 quart (1.1 litre) purified water a day PLUS 1 quart (1.1 litre) fresh fruit or vegetable juice.