Menopause Care & Treatments
Management of Menopause
Doctors usually define menopause as not having a period for over a year (naturally, without the aid of birth control medication). When a woman’s period stops, that means she is no longer releasing an egg to be fertilized. In some cases, menopause can be brought on prematurely due to surgeries and medications.
When describing their menopausal symptoms, many women speak of hot flashes and waking up in the middle of night in a cold sweat. Other symptoms include pain when having sex, vaginal dryness, mood swings and an increased urgent need to go to the bathroom. A menopausal woman may also experience strange cravings similar to the symptoms associated with pregnancy. The body and its hormonal balance are changing, causing strange reactions.
Managing menopause may be a part of a number of adjustments that women make in midlife. Some of these adjustments include: 
Updating Your Diet
To have a healthy transition into menopause, it is important to change the foods you eat and the beverages you drink. For older women a calcium and iron-rich diet is important in this stage of life. Pile up on vegetables, fruit, fiber and whole grain foods. Try adding more fish to your diet, as well, because it is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which helps with mood management and preserving your heart health. Flax seeds and flax seed oil may also help to reduce or prevent hot flashes—try to add it to your food each day.
Avoid spicy foods and beverages that are high in caffeine to help prevent hot flashes. Giving up cigarettes is also helpful when trying to successfully manage menopause.
Relieving Stress
Stress exacerbates the symptoms of menopause and in some cases, extreme stress can actually cause early menopause. To improve your stress levels, try to remove stressful people and situations from your space. You may even want to take a vacation to get away for a while when experiencing the onset of menopausal symptoms. One of the simplest ways to get healthy endorphins flowing through your body to combat the negative effects of stress and symptoms of menopause is to exercise. Do more cardiovascular exercise, such as a bit of running on the treadmill, or join a Yoga class.
Changing Your Mindset
Once you get control over your menopause symptoms, you can start to relax and enjoy the benefits of this stage of life. For one, you no longer have to worry about experiencing painful periods every month. If you are concerned about unplanned pregnancies with your husband it is no longer an issue. A new confidence and happiness may develop in women who embrace being post-menopausal.
