Constant hot flashes, sleepless nights followed by night sweats, erratic emotions and memory loss. If any of these symptoms sound familiar, you probably just boarded the menopause express. My name is Rebecca Hulem and over the past five years I've used my own menopause experiences to educate women and clinicians about the choices available for symptom treatment.
To successfully navigate this life stage, you must realize there's not a one-size-fits-all solution. Each woman has a unique set of needs when it comes to her health. However, these days when you can't read a paper without encountering another alarming discussion about hormone therapy, it's easy to reach a highly informed state of confusion. That said, you may ask:
"If I don't want to use hormones, how do I relieve my symptoms? "
What Are Your Triggers?
Most women know the common symptoms of menopause. But you may not realize what triggers these symptoms. Many times, this is based on diet. The most prominent activators are chocolate, caffeine and wine. Women battling menopause should try to either avoid these items or become more attune to how you feel after consuming them so you can prepare accordingly. Some menopause-friendly alternatives include brown rice, fresh fruit and green tea.
What Can You Do To Naturally Relieve Menopause Symptoms?
· Incorporating exercise into your daily routine is a good first step. The increase in serotonin can even help mood swings. Aim to exercise three or four days a week.
· Take all-natural supplements. Estroven products are my favorites. They contain natural mood and memory herbal blends to support mental clarity, restore energy, improve cognitive function, help build a strong immune system and make you feel like yourself again!
· Aromatherapy products including oils, chamomile and oranges are great for relieving tension because of their sedative properties. Dab some oil on your temples to release stress and enjoy blissful sleep.
So if you're on your way or already are a resident of menopause land, you are now better equipped to take on the battle. Remember, you're not alone. There is a community of millions just like you.
Encouraged that simple changes can make a difference, I couldn't wait to read Rebecca's book. Both humorous and insightful, it contains 144 pages of down-to-earth advice on recognizing and managing menopausal maladies while focusing on maintaining a lifetime of health.
A certified Menopause clinician backed by 28 years in the field of women's health, Rebecca openly discusses how to handle hot flashes, memory loss, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, weight gain and other menopause markers. Her been there-done that attitude shines through in chapters like While You Are Not Sleeping, Where Oh Where Did My Libido Go? and Weight No More, communicating a keen understanding of the stress and turmoil associated with our transition to the second half of life.
How's a girl to handle it? As our fellow baby boomer says, there are many women and many choices. Since no one treatment is right for everyone, she offers ammunition for assessing the risks and benefits of conventional and alternative treatments and suggests you:
Select a...
Health care provider who is...
Open to your...
Point of view...
An uninhibited dialogue with your doctor can help you get command of menopause when information from sources like "Feelin' Hot?" fuels the discussion. Boomer babes would do well to schedule some much-needed me time to review it.
Author: Rebecca Hulen
Publisher: RJH Communications, LLC
Penned: August 2003
Time Out: You can scan the 144 information-packed pages in an afternoon but you'll need longer to dig into the details.
Beach Worthy: Yes so long as you're prepared to take notes. You'll want to remember and try out tips like Inviting Mr. Sandman to Your Bed Chamber and Creating the Perfect Sex Date.
Available: $14.95 from Amazon.com