My husband loves to recount this story: When we were first married, he came down with the flu. One night, he was having a particularly tough time sleeping. "Honey, wake up. I don't feel well." I barely moved. "Honey, please. Wake up. I can't sleep." Grunt. The pleading got a bit more insistent until I managed to register that someone was talking to me, and I wasn't … [Read more...] about Is Menopause Playing Havoc With Your Sleep?
Menopause
8 Ways to Deal With Hot Flashes in the Heat (Or Is-It-Hot-In-Here-or-Is-It-Just-Summer?)
The last time I wrote about hot flashes was back in February, when it was so frigid that stepping outside was almost painful. But I suspect it was a relief to you if you were coping with those mighty power surges. Throw open a window or step outside and voila—instant cool. Now that the heat of the summer is engulfing the country, it's not as easy to find immediate relief from those hormonal … [Read more...] about 8 Ways to Deal With Hot Flashes in the Heat (Or Is-It-Hot-In-Here-or-Is-It-Just-Summer?)
The Beginner’s Guide to Menopause
A (younger) friend of mine recently began having debilitating hot flashes and night sweats. She's in her mid-40s and was caught by surprise when her doctor told her she was beginning her menopause transition. With two young children under the age of 10, she thought menopause would come much later— "like, when they're in high school or college!" she moaned. Well, um, no, I said, not for … [Read more...] about The Beginner’s Guide to Menopause
Migraines and Menopause: What’s the Connection?
Menopause can make migraines better. But it can also give you migraines for the first time or make the ones you already have worse. "I wish I had a migraine. At least then, I could lie down and rest," said no woman ever. Migraines cause pain, nausea and sensitivity to light, sounds and smells. No one wants one. They can come frequently and furiously or only occasionally. But I'm sure … [Read more...] about Migraines and Menopause: What’s the Connection?
Menopause and Anxiety: What’s The Connection?
After writing about menopause and hot flashes and stress/anxiety being a possible culprit, I started wondering about the link between menopause and anxiety. How are the two linked? Are women feeling anxious about menopause? Or, is it the other way around: does menopause cause anxiety? Is it a by-product of shifting, dipping, all-over-the-chart hormones? And how can we control our anxiety? As … [Read more...] about Menopause and Anxiety: What’s The Connection?
10 Secrets to Sail Through Menopause
Menopause happens. Granted, not everyone reacts the same to it. Some people breeze through it without much fanfare. Yet others bemoan its crazy-making symptoms, besieged by one or a combination of these common hallmarks: hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, weight gain, sleep disturbances, fatigue and forgetfulness. You can't cure menopause—it's not an illness, after all!—but you sure can … [Read more...] about 10 Secrets to Sail Through Menopause
The Anatomy of a Hot Flash
If you asked a bunch of women which symptoms they associate most with menopause, most would answer with these two words: Hot. Flashes. Although you might know some lucky soul who went through menopause never experiencing one single hot flash, it's more likely that you know more who are well acquainted with these heat surges that are the hallmark of menopause. Indeed, hot flashes affect between … [Read more...] about The Anatomy of a Hot Flash
What are the 3 Stages of Menopause?
You might not think much about your period. Until it plays games with you, that is. One month it’s normal; the next it’s barely there (or not there at all). It’s then that you might begin to think not only about your period — but about menopause. Menopause is a significant event in a woman’s life and a normal part of the aging process, marking the end of your reproductive years. But it doesn’t … [Read more...] about What are the 3 Stages of Menopause?
Menopause in the Workplace: How Women Can Cope
Each day, an estimated 6,000 women reach menopause. It begins with a significant transition around age 45 called perimenopause, which can last upwards of 14 years. And with a growing number of women 45+ in today’s labor markets, that translates to possibly millions of symptomatic women struggling in their working environment. Up to 75% of them have troublesome vasomotor symptoms, according to … [Read more...] about Menopause in the Workplace: How Women Can Cope
Why So Many Doctors Fail Women With Menopause Care
For me and scores of other women, rarely are we questioned about symptoms of menopause, which can be severe for some and last as long as 11 years. Hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, sleep problems and weight gain are common, yet many physicians are not asking, and many women are not telling — too embarrassed or uncomfortable to bring it up. Read more on doctors and … [Read more...] about Why So Many Doctors Fail Women With Menopause Care