1. Does Menopause Have Your Man on Pause?
Going through menopause and considering the prospect of sex can bring up some really far flung thoughts - either you're excited with the prospect of wild, crazy, spontaneous intercourse primarily because you have no longer have any worries about procreation (or avoidance thereof) or you're avoiding it because you have no desire whatsoever to have sex in any way shape or form or you're dreading it because it freaking hurts!
Yup, you are surely going through menopause. The problem is that you never know which symptom will be yours, or when you will have them, and worse, that you may have all three of them, one after the other or a combination of them. Fun stuff, huh?
Estrogen loss in menopause, for many women, means that they haven't got the juice (i.e. the estrogen) to help them reach the arousal stage. The caressing and touching that you used to enjoy so much may not feel as wonderful as it once did. It may even be abhorrent, sad to say.
And even when you are emotionally charged enough to get into it, you know - the spirit is willing - you may have pain when you get down to it. What happens is that the blood flow to the vagina is decreased, and it makes the lower third of the vagina shrink (OUCH!). Its agony and ecstasy; your partner may feel as though he hit the virgin jackpot all over again, while you're feeling like you're insides are being split apart. Simple over the counter treatments with water-soluble creams or lubricants can help with the Sahara desert issue. And you needn't buy the old-fashioned K-Y stuff that you once found in your mom's dresser drawer and used on your lips, thinking it was like Vaseline (wrong lips, by the way). They now come in assorted flavors (though still not to be used on your lips). For the more difficult problem, you may need to talk to your doctor (sorry about that) about hormone replacement therapy, which should help you put your libido back in working order. Estrogen alone may or may not help with your sex drive, but at a minimum, it will improve the dryness problem. Your doctor may suggest a combination of estrogen and testosterone hormone therapy, to increase your "urges." In case you're not aware, testosterone is the predominant hormone in the male body (and we all know what sexual animals they are), so if this is the course your doctor sets you on, better stock up on the economy sized cherry flavored lubricant, just in case
2.Fuzzy Thinking: What Are The Symptoms Of Menopause?
This part of what are the symptoms of menopause deals with something very familiar to women in menopause: fuzzy thinking.
How often have you forgotten your car keys, right after you put them down? Or your reading glasses? Some women have 5 or 6 pairs of glasses because they just cannot keep track of them! Of course, this may not have anything to do with the symptoms of menopause, but very often it is one of the most common symptoms: fuzzy thinking.
Frequently, fuzzy thinking means that your body is trying to tell you that it is overburdened, stressed out and in need of some attention. The stresses of modern day living, with it's multi-tasking and endless bombardment of information can take a huge toll on your hormonal balance. This imbalance can cause the very annoying menopause symptom of fuzzy thinking.
What causes fuzzy thinking?
When the body is overburdened it automatically shuts down for a spell. It is just a simple matter of survival. Imagine a filing cabinet full of folders that keep getting more and more added until it is over-capacity. Add a lack of adequate rest, poor nutrition, too much caffeine, etc. and the stage is set for a period of fuzzy thinking.
During menopause it is normal for the hormones to slow down production. This can easily cause a hormonal imbalance that sets off the foggy, clouded thinking. Try as you might, something is just missing and you cannot focus or concentrate. This is because the necessary hormones are simply not there in adequate supply.
What can you do about fuzzy thinking?
First realize that, in all likelihood, your case is not so severe. Also, you can rest assured that there is almost always a great deal you can do on your own to help. Of course, very severe cases should be treated by a medical doctor.
One of the first places to look is your daily planner. If it is jam packed to the max with appointments and things to do you should find a way to change this. It may not be so easily done, but it can be done and will bring quick results.
Another likely suspect is your sleeping pattern. It does not take long for a chronic lack of sleep to do damage to the brain. There is no way around it: the human body requires adequate sleep and rest to function properly.
You might think that a lack of sleep has little effect on the brain, but many studies have shown a decreased ability to recall things from the short-term memory and an inability to process information for the long term memory. Not only that, but the ability to quickly react is affected by a lack of quality sleep.
Nutrition plays a huge role as well in preventing fuzzy thinking. A good example is to remember how it was to participate in a lengthy meeting on an empty stomach! Or the wasted feeling of too much sugar and caffeine, especially when it wears off!
On the other hand, having a healthy diet can work wonders for the body and mind. Good nutrition supplies the ingredients our bodies need to operate at their best. Taking a quality vitamin/mineral supplement is also good advice.
What are the symptoms of menopause is a series of articles dealing with the many symptoms of menopause. Fuzzy thinking is one of the most common menopause symptoms, and one of the easiest to do something about on your own.
3.Is There A Lasting Solution To Vaginal Dryness?
Vaginal dryness makes you sensitive, self conscious and you repel sex. Your sex life makes a turn around and heads for the worst. But you can overcome your agony by trying out various remedies and medical solutions to pull you out of such a stalemate. Vaginal dryness is caused by lack of adequate estrogen. You have tried all manner of remedies to no success. It is time to try vaginal estrogen therapy which comes in various forms. Estring or vaginal estrogen ring is a soft and flexible ring which is placed or inserted into the upper most part of the female sex organ. It is a unique ring as it consistently but surely releases a dose of the needed estrogen. The ring is usually replaced after every three months. Vaginal estrogen cream like Premarin and Estrace are inserted directly into the vagina using an applicator moments before bed time. Your doctor will usually give you the right prescription and dosage which is generally three or two times in a week.
Sometimes vaginal dryness might be triggered by the onset of menopause in a woman. Menopause is known to affect hormonal changes in the body. This sometimes affects the chemical balance in the vagina which results into severe vaginal dryness. Some of the menopause symptoms include moderate or sometimes severe hot flashes. The doctor might recommend a gel, patches, estrogen pills or a higher dose estrogen ring. It is always good to hold talks with your doctor so that a decision can be made on whether estrogen treatment is good for you. If you settle on estrogen, your doctor should advice on what is best for you. For instance he can recommend a vaginal estrogen tablet which is placed in your vagina using a disposable applicator. Your doctor gives you the right dosage and usage, usually taken twice a week.
There are also self care measures if you are really uncomfortable with vaginal dryness. These remedies come in form of lubricants and moisturizers. The moment vaginal dryness starts making you uncomfortable, you can just order a lubricant or a moisturizer over the counter. Water-based lubricants are the best. Avoid gels, soaps and bubble baths as lubricants, they might turn out to be irritants or inflame the vagina. The best over the counter lubricant is Astroglide, K-Y gel. It is a water-based lubricant which lubricates your vagina for several hours. You can apply the lubricant on your partners penis just before intercourse or better still, you can apply it on your vaginal opening. Vaginal moisturizers such as Replins and Lubrin are renowned for decreasing vaginal dryness for up to three consecutive days with a single application. They have a capacity of lasting longer than lubricants.
Complimentary and other alternative medicines can be used to combat vaginal dryness. Some of these alternative therapies include products like wild yam, isoflavones and black cohosh. However it is important to note that there is no concrete evidence to indicate that any of these alternative remedies are effective. Some of these approaches are subject to debate and more research to determine their effectiveness and safety. It is therefore advisable to always consult with your doctor before venturing into alternative and complimentary therapies. This is important especially if you are pregnant, nursing a child or on medication.
4.Essential Foods for Women Over 40
Say the phrase healthy eating and you're bound to think of boring garden salads, celery and carrot sticks. They certainly are healthy, nutritious foods, of course, but nothing you'd call epicurean cuisine.
As you reach you 40th birthday, though, you realize that eating healthy is more important than ever. And you're serious about changing your diet to include more nutritious choices.
Well, eating healthy may never be quite as fun as experiencing exotic entrees, delighting in delicious desserts or even anticipating an appetizer. But if you know what foods to choose, you may even find you enjoy eating them.
And once you've checked out these foods, you'll no doubt go digging for others. Trust me, healthy foods surround you if you just look into them a little!
The Strawberry
Remember the joy of eating strawberry shortcake when you a child? You no doubt rejoiced in the whipped cream and the shortcake itself. But the real power of the dessert lies in the strawberries.
Mother Nature, in fact, has created just about the perfect food in the strawberry... and the blueberry... band the raspberry... and every other berry as well.
Eight medium strawberries contain absolutely no fat and only 49 calories. But more than that they also possess three grams of fiber (that's the substance that helps to not only keep you "regular" but also keep you feeling full long after you've eaten!) But packed into these eight berries is a whopping 149 percent of your vitamin C for the day! What a delightful way to keep your immune system performing at its peak!
You'll also receive three percent of your total iron requirements and two percent of your calcium for the day - and when you reach 40 every bit of this bone-building nutrient helps!
This colorful fruit is also a great way to get your folate, potassium and manganese.
These berries are attractive and healthy because they are low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium.
We've saved the best attribute of strawberries for last: they are one of the most potent sources of antioxidants around!
And unlike some healthy foods, you can eat this fruit in endless ways and never seem to get tired of eating healthy!
The Apple
Then there's the classic apple. Perhaps not quite as versatile as the berry, it packs such a nutritional wallop that you just can't ignore it (and quite frankly, it sure does taste better than tofu!). The disguised as a modest, humble fruit is really a superhero in the nutritional world.
The apple is a tremendous source of those hard-working antioxidants, which work tirelessly to destroy free radicals. And we all know that free radicals are responsible for a host of degenerative diseases related to the aging process, including heart disease and cancer. And now some experts say that antioxidants could even help keep wrinkles at bay (oh, now I have your attention!)
Here's a quick piece of trivia you might not know about the apple: If you eat just the peel of the fruit - not even the apple itself - on a regular basis, you can reduce your risk of developing cancer by 48 percent!
And you don't even need to gorge yourself. An apple a day... just like the proverb... is all you need to keep your system happy and healthy!
Peanut Butter?
Now, here's a food that will take you back to your childhood: peanut butter. It may sound strange, but it's true. But right up front, we recommend you eat the all-natural kind. You'll have to stir the jar every time you use it but the rewards - and the taste - are worth the effort!
Not only are peanuts a great source of those "good fats" but peanut butter can help keep you feeling fuller for a longer period of time. A recent study showed that peanut butter reduced hunger in women for up to two and a half hours. By contrast, rice cakes only staved off the hunger pangs for a measly 30 minutes!
Peanut butter also a good source of iron. When you combine it with a high-fiber wheat bread, you'll probably notice that you stay satisfied even longer than that!
A half a peanut butter sandwich on wheat bread and an apple make a nutritious mid-day snack - and takes you back to your school days as well
No comments:
Post a Comment