Published on January 11, 2024
Menopause is a common biological process that scares many women because of what it does on a physical and emotional level. The end of the menstrual cycle and therefore the reproductive period of a woman, as well as hormonal changes, cause a series of physical and psychological changes that we often do not know how to solve and how they affect daily activity and quality of life. Menopause occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, as a result of aging of the ovaries, which causes a drop in estrogen and progesterone levels, giving rise to common symptoms such as hot flashes, weight gain and abdominal fat. . , difficulty sleeping, excessive sweating, headaches, palpitations, vaginal and skin dryness or mood swings, to name a few, in addition to being at a greater risk of suffering from certain pathologies.
Osteoporosis
Generally the most common diseases seen at this time in women’s lives are mainly related to the bones, osteoporosis. After age 35, bone mass is naturally lost, making bones weaker, more brittle, and more prone to falls and therefore fractures. Vitamin D deficiency, calcium, tobacco and alcohol consumption can speed up this process. As a result of the hormonal changes that occur during menopause, women are at an increased risk of suffering from osteoporosis. As an interesting fact, 200 million people in the world live with osteoporosis and at the age of 80, 70 percent of women suffer from this disease.
Less estrogen and more problems
As estrogen production decreases during menopause, there is a risk of cardiovascular disease. Body fat is redistributed, lipid metabolism changes, bad cholesterol levels rise and coronary arteries narrow. That’s why it’s important to exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and keep your weight within normal limits, as it can reduce your risk of heart problems. Another problem that comes with the hormonal changes of menopause is urogenital. A urinary tract infection occurs when certain pathogens enter the urinary tract through the urethra and multiply in the bladder. A decrease in estrogen causes changes in the vagina, external genitalia, urethra and bladder, as well as an imbalance in vaginal flora and dryness, which facilitates the entry of bacteria into the genitourinary system.
Why do we gain weight during menopause?
After menopause, usually about two years or more, body fat doubles and muscle mass progressively decreases. Women gain between 5 and 8 percent of their weight during this period, of course. This value is highly variable, depending on the individual and their daily activity. Hormonal changes during this biological phase cause excess belly fat to accumulate, which usually causes us to gain weight. In addition, loss of muscle mass, changes in lifestyle, emotional problems that are associated with hormonal changes, make us more anxious and want to eat more, and especially not healthy food, so weight gain is inevitable, or not.
Help at this stage
To deal with all these problems that women suffer at this time of life, at Quironsalud Toledo Hospital we have started a Menopause Unit. Here a team of doctors specializing in Gynecology and Obstetrics, including Dr. Jonathan Sánchez Oliver, a gynecologist and obstetrician at this center and Quironsalud Talavera Day Hospital, evaluates to determine the type of help or therapy needed to anticipate possible problems. May cause menopause. From hormonal therapy to lifestyle changes, nutrition and exercise to better cope with this period of change for women.
Not everything is negative
There are many diseases associated with menopause at this stage of life in women, but this does not mean that it always appears in all cases, therefore, the preventive approach is necessary to take advantage of the appropriate medical care we provide. An important moment to maintain and improve the state of health and the general rhythm of life. With this space we can help clear any doubts on this topic or any other matter related to women’s health at any stage of life. At the Menopause Unit we are here to inform, advise and try to solve women’s problems and to facilitate the changes that occur during menopause.
