Health Choices
Am I going mad? That’s the most common question I hear from women going through the menopause. Physical symptoms, such as hot flushes, are well documented but the emotional issues aren’t.
Many women start suffering from anxiety, low mood, unexplained crying, anger and irritation – they’re worried and often don’t know where to turn. Doctors aren’t taught much about menopause as it’s not actually an illness but it can have a huge impact on a woman’s life, especially because symptoms last for an average of five years – eight in some cases.
It’s such a taboo subject. It seems to be getting better but for years it wasn’t spoken about and it can be scary if you have nothing to reference your symptoms against.
I ended up doing this job by accident. I’ve always been interested in the health area and was working for the supplement company A. Vogel when, six years ago, they realised they were getting more queries about menopause than anything else. I started giving online advice (avogel.co.uk/health/ menopause) because I was interested in the menopause and had been through it myself, so could empathise.
Obviously, if women are experiencing serious medical issues, I tell them to go to their doctor, but lifestyle advice can really help lessen some symptoms. Healthy eating, regular exercise and time for rest and relaxation are particularly important.
One of the best pieces of advice is to drink plenty of water. When your oestrogen levels fall, it affects your body’s fluid balance and you can become dehydrated, making menopause symptoms worse. Try to drink 2ltr a day and cut back on caffeine, fizzy drinks and high-salt foods.
Basically, you need to look after yourself properly during menopause because it’s like going through puberty in reverse. And that hormone flux can really play havoc with your body, so be kind to yourself.