Welcome to Mood Swings and Hot Flashes

This is my little contribution to women and men of the world who undergo, experience, endure...the wonderful and terrifying world that menopause can sometimes be. I'm hoping it will be a helpful and perhaps at times, humorous addition to your (our) voyage through this bumpy road that life gives us.

About Me

My name is Buddy and I live in Massachusetts with my lovely (perimenopausal) wife and three cats: Jalepeno, Thai, and Cricket; or as we call them Wenyo, Bo, and Crackhead. I'm an internet marketer, tai chi teacher and alternative health professional. I am co-owner of Harmony Healthworks, LLC with my student Keith. We practice oriental bodywork, energy healing, qigong, and structural alignment. We teach people how to be more comfortable in their own bodies and to develop a deeper sense of self and well-being.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

When Does Menopause Start?

One of the first questions an OB/GYN hears from a woman is “when does menopause start?” And actually the question has two answers. The most obvious one is the average age is 51. It’s different for every woman, of course, but the range can be from 47-53. But the other, not so common answer to the question- when does menopause start -is it starts at the end of perimenopause. Perimenopause is the roughly four year period leading up to menopause. Menopause itself is that day when a woman has not had her period for twelve months.

Common but troubling symptoms can include:

· Hot Flashes

· Vaginal dryness

· Severe mood swings

· Irregular periods

· Joint pain

· Stress

Stress can be a real problem for many women. It leads to severe feelings of overwhelm. It can wreak havoc on your emotional life. These symptoms can be linked to hormonal changes. There are a number of popular approaches to stress reduction. You might try bicycling or yoga. Qigong and tai-chi are both very effective for reducing stress. My wife likes this tai-chi standing exercise that I taught her. She is able to get into a zone for ten minutes or so and says her stress just melts away. It seems to help with the hot flashes and mood swings, as well. I know a couple of women who swear by acupuncture for relieving symptoms. My middle sister, who’s 46 and just starting perimenopause, says she couldn’t do without her black cohosh supplements. This is a common herb native to North America.

We started with the question- when does menopause start –and answered it. Then we talked a little about symptoms. And finally we discussed what you can do to help treat those symptoms. Menopause does not have to be the harrowing experience that is sometimes made out to be. With a little patience, everyone will survive it.


1 comment:

TaurenChieftain said...

The age that menopause will occur to a woman will most likely be in her late 40s or early 50s (45-55) and indicates the end of the fertile stage of a woman’s life. For more info feel free to check this What age does menopause start