What are symptoms of low estrogen?
For some unknown reason, some women who have low levels of estrogen just go through life without any real hassles. In others, low estrogen can cause a variety of symptoms including:
Generalized fatigue is one of the most common complaint among women who are passing through menopause. The fatigue is gradual in onset and then become moderate. Most women feel they just do not have the desire to do anything and do not feel motivated.
Hot flashes are also common in women with low estrogen. The hot flashes may occur at any time of the day and can be aggravated by certain foods or emotional stress. The flashes generally last anywhere from few seconds to a few minutes. One may also feel very warm and others may develop an intense facial irritation at the same time. Hot flashes do not last very long and usually disappear after 12-18 months. However, there are women who have hot flashes for many years.
Associated with hot flashes are chills. A sensation of feeling cold and shivering is a common experience in women who have menopause. These chill episodes only last a few seconds but do keep on recurring. Often laboratory investigations are done to rule out an infectious cause.
A number of women complain of aching and stiff joints during menopause. Usually, it is the larger joints in the body that are affected. This includes the hip, back, neck, shoulder, and knees. The pain is constant and many women do require some type of pain medications
Showing posts with label hot flashes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hot flashes. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Black Cohosh 101 part 3
Can black cohosh be used to treat arthritis?
There are only anecdotal reports, which claim that black cohosh is useful in arthritis. At the moment there is no clinical evidence that black cohosh is useful for any type of arthritic disorder. There are many isolated reports which claim that black cohosh does not provide relief from arthritic pain.
Is black cohosh useful for Menopausal symptoms?
Even though black cohosh is a widely popular supplement among postmenopausal women who want treatment for their symptoms, the clinical evidence is not easy to interpret. Most women use black cohosh to treat menopausal symptoms such as migraine headaches, sleep disturbances, hot flashes, mood problems, sweats, heart palpitations, and vaginal dryness. There are some studies in humans that do suggest improvement in symptoms with black cohosh, however, not all women experience the same relief of symptoms, and the symptom relief is not sustained. Some reports indicate that black cohosh does work well for about 3-6 months. Currently, some health care providers only recommend black cohosh for short-term use. Because of the variability in quality of product, many women will have to try out a few products to determine which is the most effective. In the end, all women should understand that black cohosh only works in less than 50% of individuals.
Does black cohosh relieve menstrual migraine?
Nearly 30% of women develop menstrual migraines. Many women do report relief of headaches after ingesting back cohosh but this relief is not seen in all postmenopausal women. Further, after a few weeks or months, black cohosh fails to work. Of all the postmenopausal symptoms, menstrual migraines may be the one symptom that is amenable to treatment with black cohosh.
What is dose of black cohosh?
No one really knows what dose of black cohosh to take. Every herbal store sells a different product with different formulations and a different dose. The British herbal commission recommends a dose of 40-200 milligrams of dried rhizome daily in divided doses. However, there are women who take nearly 300-400 mg three times a day.
The liquid formula does is also variable and ranges from 0.4 to 2 milliliters of a (1:10) formula dissolved in 60% ethanol. This tincture does taste bitter and acrid. Most reports indicate that a dose of 40 mg for 12 weeks if effective
There are only anecdotal reports, which claim that black cohosh is useful in arthritis. At the moment there is no clinical evidence that black cohosh is useful for any type of arthritic disorder. There are many isolated reports which claim that black cohosh does not provide relief from arthritic pain.
Is black cohosh useful for Menopausal symptoms?
Even though black cohosh is a widely popular supplement among postmenopausal women who want treatment for their symptoms, the clinical evidence is not easy to interpret. Most women use black cohosh to treat menopausal symptoms such as migraine headaches, sleep disturbances, hot flashes, mood problems, sweats, heart palpitations, and vaginal dryness. There are some studies in humans that do suggest improvement in symptoms with black cohosh, however, not all women experience the same relief of symptoms, and the symptom relief is not sustained. Some reports indicate that black cohosh does work well for about 3-6 months. Currently, some health care providers only recommend black cohosh for short-term use. Because of the variability in quality of product, many women will have to try out a few products to determine which is the most effective. In the end, all women should understand that black cohosh only works in less than 50% of individuals.
Does black cohosh relieve menstrual migraine?
Nearly 30% of women develop menstrual migraines. Many women do report relief of headaches after ingesting back cohosh but this relief is not seen in all postmenopausal women. Further, after a few weeks or months, black cohosh fails to work. Of all the postmenopausal symptoms, menstrual migraines may be the one symptom that is amenable to treatment with black cohosh.
What is dose of black cohosh?
No one really knows what dose of black cohosh to take. Every herbal store sells a different product with different formulations and a different dose. The British herbal commission recommends a dose of 40-200 milligrams of dried rhizome daily in divided doses. However, there are women who take nearly 300-400 mg three times a day.
The liquid formula does is also variable and ranges from 0.4 to 2 milliliters of a (1:10) formula dissolved in 60% ethanol. This tincture does taste bitter and acrid. Most reports indicate that a dose of 40 mg for 12 weeks if effective
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Treatment of Menopause
It is important to remember that menopause itself is a normal part of life, not a condition or disease that requires treatment. However, treatment of some of the symptoms of menopause is possible if they become severe.
One of the most common menopausal treatments in the medical community is hormone therapy, also known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT, administered orally, consists of the female hormone estrogen, or a combination of estrogens and progesterone. This helps to maintain estrogen levels in the body and can control symptoms of menopause related to the decline of estrogen, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
While an effective treatment method, HRT has been shown to have its risks. Long-term studies of women receiving hormone therapy with both estrogen and progesterone have shown an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and breast cancer. Estrogen therapy alone has been associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer.
Similar to HRT, there are also vaginal hormonal treatments available. Sometimes combined with oral estrogen treatments, local (vaginal) treatments include vaginal estrogen creams, tablets, and the vaginal estrogen ring. These treatments carry similar risks to those of oral estrogen treatments.
Oral contraceptive pills can be used as hormone therapy to treat women in the early stages of menopause who are experiencing irregular vaginal bleeding (“spotting” or “breakthrough bleeding”) by regulating menstrual periods. It can also aid in reducing hot flashes and night sweats. It is important to remember that while the pill is a very common prescription, it may not be right for all women, and carries it’s own host of risks. Some of the more serious risks include blood clots, stroke and heart attacks, which are increased if you smoke.
One of the most common menopausal treatments in the medical community is hormone therapy, also known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT, administered orally, consists of the female hormone estrogen, or a combination of estrogens and progesterone. This helps to maintain estrogen levels in the body and can control symptoms of menopause related to the decline of estrogen, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
While an effective treatment method, HRT has been shown to have its risks. Long-term studies of women receiving hormone therapy with both estrogen and progesterone have shown an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and breast cancer. Estrogen therapy alone has been associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer.
Similar to HRT, there are also vaginal hormonal treatments available. Sometimes combined with oral estrogen treatments, local (vaginal) treatments include vaginal estrogen creams, tablets, and the vaginal estrogen ring. These treatments carry similar risks to those of oral estrogen treatments.
Oral contraceptive pills can be used as hormone therapy to treat women in the early stages of menopause who are experiencing irregular vaginal bleeding (“spotting” or “breakthrough bleeding”) by regulating menstrual periods. It can also aid in reducing hot flashes and night sweats. It is important to remember that while the pill is a very common prescription, it may not be right for all women, and carries it’s own host of risks. Some of the more serious risks include blood clots, stroke and heart attacks, which are increased if you smoke.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Symptoms of Menopause
A frequent and much-bemoaned symptom of menopause is the intense hot flashes that are not predictable or short lived. A sensation of warmth that spreads over the body, often most prominent around the face, neck and chest; these hot flashes usually last several minutes. Often times, hot flashes are accompanied by night sweats, an event of saturated sweat that occurs in the nighttime. Noticeably, the quality of sleep is usually disturbed.
Other common symptoms do become obvious as menopause progresses. When estrogen levels decline, the tissue lining the vagina begins to thin and loses elasticity. This incidence presents itself in generating symptoms like frequent vaginal itching, dryness, and irritation. The urethral lining also is similarly affected and this often leads to an increased incidence of urinary tract infections.
Menopausal women may also start to gain weight or redistribute body fat. Since the body continues to produce a small amount of testosterone which is now unopposed by the low estrogen, menopausal women may also notice hair growth in places like the upper lip, chin, chest and abdomen.
Aside from the physical changes menopause can bring emotional symptoms that are varied in nature. Some women experience memory problems, fatigue, irritability, depression, loss of energy and rapid mood swings. There is a definite link between low levels of estrogen and mood disorders.
However, it is difficult to say how much of any of these problems are caused by menopause itself and how big a part outside factors could play, such as stress, marriage, children, money, or lifestyle changes.
Even though it appears that the symptoms go on forever, the good news is that there are a number of good treatments available.
Other common symptoms do become obvious as menopause progresses. When estrogen levels decline, the tissue lining the vagina begins to thin and loses elasticity. This incidence presents itself in generating symptoms like frequent vaginal itching, dryness, and irritation. The urethral lining also is similarly affected and this often leads to an increased incidence of urinary tract infections.
Menopausal women may also start to gain weight or redistribute body fat. Since the body continues to produce a small amount of testosterone which is now unopposed by the low estrogen, menopausal women may also notice hair growth in places like the upper lip, chin, chest and abdomen.
Aside from the physical changes menopause can bring emotional symptoms that are varied in nature. Some women experience memory problems, fatigue, irritability, depression, loss of energy and rapid mood swings. There is a definite link between low levels of estrogen and mood disorders.
However, it is difficult to say how much of any of these problems are caused by menopause itself and how big a part outside factors could play, such as stress, marriage, children, money, or lifestyle changes.
Even though it appears that the symptoms go on forever, the good news is that there are a number of good treatments available.
Menopause 101
Menopause is frequently referred to as the “change of life”. It is a natural part of the aging process for all women, generally becoming obvious by irregular menstrual cycles and concluding in cessation of menstruation altogether. This conversion into a new phase of life can be perplexing for many women. What is menopause? When does menopause start? What symptoms will I experience? When will it end?
For most women, menopause starts between the ages of 45 and 55, though some women may arrive at menopause as early as age 35 or not until 55. There is no way to foretell when an individual woman will arrive at menopause, though there does seem to be a relationship between the menopausal ages of the mother and daughter.
The beginning of menopause is discernible by irregular menstrual cycle span, which can mean longer, or shorter menstrual cycles. There is also a noticeable change in the flow of periods- from lighter or heavier. Due to the natural hormone variations in a woman’s body at this time, other signs or symptoms may portray themselves in unpredictable intensities.
As menopause moves forward, a woman’s body steadily decreases production of the female sex hormone, estrogen. Estrogen is known to regulate menstruation and pregnancy, as well as help in development of female physical and sexual characteristics such as body shape, fat, breasts and hair. Estrogen also acts to strengthen bone; therefore women going through or who have gone through menopause are at increased risk for osteoporosis.
The severity of menopausal symptoms experienced fluctuate significantly from woman to woman. Some women may experience considerable menopausal symptoms, both physical and emotional, while others may experience few or none.
For most women, menopause starts between the ages of 45 and 55, though some women may arrive at menopause as early as age 35 or not until 55. There is no way to foretell when an individual woman will arrive at menopause, though there does seem to be a relationship between the menopausal ages of the mother and daughter.
The beginning of menopause is discernible by irregular menstrual cycle span, which can mean longer, or shorter menstrual cycles. There is also a noticeable change in the flow of periods- from lighter or heavier. Due to the natural hormone variations in a woman’s body at this time, other signs or symptoms may portray themselves in unpredictable intensities.
As menopause moves forward, a woman’s body steadily decreases production of the female sex hormone, estrogen. Estrogen is known to regulate menstruation and pregnancy, as well as help in development of female physical and sexual characteristics such as body shape, fat, breasts and hair. Estrogen also acts to strengthen bone; therefore women going through or who have gone through menopause are at increased risk for osteoporosis.
The severity of menopausal symptoms experienced fluctuate significantly from woman to woman. Some women may experience considerable menopausal symptoms, both physical and emotional, while others may experience few or none.
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