Around age 50 menopause occurs, which signals a change in the levels of hormones in the body. This causes a variety of symptoms both physical and emotional. For some women the symptoms are mild. For others there can be extreme symptoms of menopause that interfere with everyday life. To help manage this change it is important to understand what the common symptoms are and what treatments are available for symptoms that become severe.
Severe Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are a common symptom for many women in menopause. According to Breast Cancer.org, about 10 to 15 percent of woman who experience hot flashes have them so severely that they are debilitating and interfere with everyday life. Hot flashes that occur at night--night sweats--can disrupt sleep and lead to excessive daytime fatigue and difficulty concentrating. Learning about personal hot flash triggers and taking steps to avoid them is the best option as medications to treat hot flashes can have side effects.
Mood Swings and Clinical Depression
The hormonal changes in the body during menopause plus the many emotions that can occur during this period in life can lead to periods of feeling anxious, stressed or sad. However for some women these mood swings can become severe and clinical depression may occur claims the North American Menopause Society. Feeling depressed on most days of the week, losing interest in hobbies or socializing or severe mood swings that occur on a regular basis should be evaluated by a physician. Medications can be tried to help restore the chemical balance in the body, which may help to relieve this symptom.
Incontinence
As the levels of estrogen drop in the body, symptoms such as vaginal dryness can occur and the tissues in this area can become less elastic as well. If significant dryness occurs it can contribute to incontinence. At this stage the tissues can no longer hold the urine in. Urine can leak with no reason or when coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercising. Kegel exercises, medications and in severe cases surgery can help to regain control over the bladder muscles.
Irregular Heart Rhythms
In most cases estrogen levels decline slowly over time. However in some cases due to unknown causes, removal of the ovaries or from treatments for disease such as cancer, estrogen levels can drop too quickly creating severe symptoms. The National Institutes of Health states that along with a drop in estrogen there may be an increase in cholesterol levels. This can lead to heart disease, irregular heart rhythms (pounding or racing pulse) and high blood pressure. Keeping track of cholesterol and blood pressure readings along with eating a healthy diet can help to manage any complications.
