Do These Things Now to Avoid Being Miserable During Menopause Later

If you haven’t gotten your period for the last 12 months and there’s not an underlying condition that could’ve caused it, you might be entering menopause. Menopause happens when your ovaries no longer release an egg each month, and you no longer get your period. On average, women enter menopause around age 50. 

While not worrying about severe pelvic pain or heavy periods might be a relief for some, other side effects of menopause, like hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, and brain fog, can be huge downsides. However, you can take several steps to reduce the severity of these symptoms. 

At Tu Clinica, located in Arlington, Texas, our team offers comprehensive women’s health care. This includes helping women prepare for menopause and everything that comes with it. In this blog, we review eight things you can do now to avoid being miserable during menopause later.

1. Move your body

When you go through menopause, your risk for health issues such as heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, and weight gain increases. By exercising regularly, you can mitigate that risk and also regulate your mood.

While starting an exercise program isn’t always easy, we recommend establishing a solid workout routine sooner rather than later since it can be more difficult once menopause starts.

2. Fuel your body

The things you eat and drink play a huge role in both your physical and emotional well-being. If you start making healthy changes now, it sets you up for better health as you get older. 

Foods to focus on include fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. Try to avoid foods that are highly processed and packed with saturated fats. You could also try taking some multivitamins to make up for any lacking nutrition. 

3. Maintain a healthy weight

As you age and your hormones start to shift, it becomes more and more difficult to lose weight. Since shedding some extra pounds can help to reduce your risks of health issues, like heart disease, losing some weight before menopause hits can make the process much less frustrating and beneficial to your health.

4. Find ways to manage stress

Menopause is going to bring about a lot of changes in your mood due to fluctuating hormone levels. When you’re also dealing with hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep issues, you may find that your stress levels are higher than ever. 

If you start learning how to manage your stress now, you are much more likely to be able to support your emotional well-being. We recommend trying strategies such as meditation, yoga, or breathing techniques. 

5. Form a healthy relationship with sleep

Menopause not only increases your risk of sleep apnea, but the drops in your hormone levels can also make it more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. If you’re not getting enough quality sleep, it can make it harder to deal with all the symptoms of menopause. 

You can better your sleep habits and bedtime routine by using these tips.

6. Educate yourself

If you know what to expect before entering menopause, you can take back control of your health and well-being. You can try reading all you can find about the stages of menopause and learn about what menopause symptoms you might experience, like vaginal dryness, sleep problems, mood changes, and low libido. We’d also love to answer questions and discuss any of your concerns with you.

7. Learn what treatments are available to you

At Tu Clinica, we have a wide variety of treatment options for menopause. We can discuss them with you and help you to determine which works best for you and your needs. In addition, we can refer you to support groups that can give you a safe space to share your experiences with women going through the same stage of life. 

8. Do not neglect your health

Just because you’re going through menopause doesn’t mean you don’t need routine screenings like mammograms or pelvic exams anymore. Seeing us regularly can help identify potential health issues before complications can occur. Plus, these visits are an opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns, and discuss treatment options.

If you’re currently going through menopause and would like to discuss treatments, or you’d like to learn more about how to prepare for menopause, contact our team for additional information. You can do this by calling us at 682-237-8725 or you can use our online scheduler to request an appointment today.