Page 30 - Dainfern Precinct Living issue 9 2022

Health & Wellness
general fatigue, loss of libido, vaginal
dryness, irritability and mood swings,
slower metabolism leading to weight
gain, thinning hair, dry skin and
loss of breast fullness, among other
symptoms,” she says.
“Many women are anxious about
this experience and it is important to
approach it with self-compassion and
an awareness of your mental health,
as it is a big life change. There are also
a number of steps you can take and
28 DPL issue 9 2022
constructive behaviours to introduce “Alcohol consumption has a negative
into your daily life, if you have not impact on calcium production, which
already done so, that will support can heighten this risk and worsen
you through the process and assist existing osteoporosis. Smoking and
in lowering your risk of developing poor diet are other contributing
various conditions after menopause.” factors. Doing regular weight-
bearing exercises can go a long way
BEGIN WITH A VISIT TO YOUR to maintaining and increasing bone
DOCTOR density levels,” she says.
If you think that you may be starting
menopause, begin with a visit to your Dr Hassim adds that simply paying
doctor. A blood test may be taken to more attention to making healthy
check your levels of specific hormones choices can help women through the
and your doctor may want to first period after menopause. “Starting an
rule out the possibility of pregnancy, exercise programme, if you are not
which can sometimes be mistaken for already on one, and eating healthier
menopause in later years. food can make a big difference. A little
weight loss can be remarkably effective
Dr Hassim notes that there are a – a loss of just a few kilos can reduce
number of treatments available blood pressure and help to stabilise the
to relieve severe symptoms and metabolism, which will make you feel
manage any associated conditions, much fitter and able to cope.”
which vary from woman to woman
and which require a personalised In addition, she advises all women
approach. over 65 to go for a bone density test,
as early diagnosis of osteoporosis is
“From this time of life onwards it is treatable with medication that stops
important for a woman’s health to the progression of the disease and
be carefully monitored, especially for can, in some cases, reverse some of
some conditions that postmenopausal the bone loss that occurred prior to
women are at greater risk of diagnosis.
developing. Menopausal women
should practise preventative care SEX AND MENOPAUSE
by regularly going for important “During menopause, sexual function
health screenings including a bone may be impacted due to physical
density test, mammogram and and emotional changes brought on
breast ultrasound, Pap smear, pelvic by decreasing oestrogen levels. This
examination, colonoscopy, cholesterol can include urinary incontinence
and blood sugar screening, as well as a and more frequent urinary tract
thyroid test.” infections, thinning vaginal tissue
and decreased lubrication, among
BE AWARE OF ASSOCIATED other conditions,” she notes.
CONDITIONS
Many women mistakenly believe “You can expect these changes
that cardiovascular disease tends to alter the experience of sex in a
to be a male health issue but this is number of ways. Keep your doctor
far from the truth. The risk of heart informed about this so that they can
disease escalates with age and studies advise you on how to bring joy and
have found that the rate of heart pleasure back into your sex life, if it is
attacks increases for women 10 years being impacted. Strengthening your
after menopause. It is believed that pelvic floor with Kegel exercises is
the drop in oestrogen production an excellent way to maintain pelvic
influences the flexibility and health health as you age.”
of blood vessels. Eating a balanced
diet and maintaining a healthy body It is also very important to talk to your
weight are two of the most important partner about what you are going
things a woman can do for herself through, so that they can better
from a young age. understand and support you during
this time – not only in terms of your
“This drop in oestrogen can also lead sexual relationship but overall.
to the development of osteoporosis,
a condition in which bone density “By being proactive and preparing
starts to decrease, making bones yourself physically and mentally for
more brittle and susceptible to the changes you will experience,
injury. Postmenopausal women menopause is manageable. Putting
are at a greater risk of developing your health first can only benefit you,
osteoporosis than any other group,” now and in the long run,” concludes
she continues. Dr Hassim.