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Menopause

Menopausal Weight Gain

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Here is another reason to keep your weight under control.  Those extra pounds are not worth losing brain cell function! See what you think about this new study.

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Healthy women who put on weight between the premenopausal and postmenopausal years risk losing nerve cells in the brain, research suggests.

Gaining weight is a “highly modifiable” risk factor that may be targeted to prevent or slow the progression of potentially harmful age-related changes in the brain, the University of Pittsburgh-based study team suggests in the June issue of Psychosomatic Medicine. [Read more…] about Menopausal Weight Gain

New Menopause Site

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I’ve been playing around with a new website builder and put together a collection of articles by various people on menopause.

As varied as the authors are, so are the articles. Diversity can be a good thing when it comes to menopause as there is no one single best approach. We’ll try to keep it that way so there is something for most women there.

You may want to bookmark the site as I’ll be adding to it frequently as new articles become available. In addition, the site receives news and updates via various RSS feeds. This means it’s updated with news and information from a variety of sources.

I invite you to visit CelebrateMenopause. You might want to bring along a cup of tea….

Hormones – in the news again

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Another study, more confusion.

Feb. 13, 2006 – In recent years many women stopped taking hormones for menopause after a report linked them to heart disease. Now researchers have found that estrogen might not be as bad as we thought — especially for younger women.

The new findings suggest a possible estrogen benefit for women in their 50s, but experts say it’s too early to recommend hormones to help the heart.

Read more: http://www.webmd.com/content/article/118/113092.htm

My recommendation: Talk with your health care provider, weigh all the pro’s and con’s and then make a careful decision based on your individual preferences, risk and health status.

Stay healthy!

Menopause Is a Wake-Up Call

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Menopause Is a Wake Up Call
by Rebecca Hulem, RN, RNP, CMC

“Change is not made without inconvenience”
Richard Hooker

The above quote is the perfect reminder for all of us transitioning through menopause:
When it comes right down to it, the hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, fuzzy thinking, sleep disturbances and decreased libido are all just downright inconvenient!!!

After all, we are women who are very busy and responsible. We have things to do, people to take care of, and places we need to be. The inconvenience of the physical changes and emotional chaos that menopause sometimes brings, well, it’s just not on our agenda!

So what do we do? We look for ways to postpone these inconveniences as though we get to choose when and if we will allow ourselves to go through them. Our desire to postpone has been supported by the medical community with thousands of prescriptions for hormones and antidepressants. Am I suggesting that these medications are bad? Absolutely not! Every medication has the potential to make a profound and healthy change in someone’s life.

We look for ways to postpone these inconveniences as though we get to choose when and if we will allow ourselves to go through them. Our desire to postpone has been supported by the medical community with thousands of prescriptions for hormones and antidepressants. Am I suggesting that these medications are bad? Absolutely not! Every medication has the potential to make a profound and healthy change in someone’s life.

Am I suggesting that these medications are bad? Absolutely not! Every medication has the potential to make a profound and healthy change in someone’s life.

What I am suggesting (and what I get into in depth in my book, “Feeling Hot?”), is the following:

  • Every woman is a unique individual whose lifestyle, body and personal beliefs are significant factors in health care choices.
  • Menopause is a wake-up call that reminds women they have the right to take a proactive role in deciding how they live their lives, to make decisions, and embrace lifestyle choices for healthy living.
  • Women need knowledge, tools, and guidance to discover their personal truth as they embrace this exciting second half of their lives.

So wake up, educate yourself, embrace your choices and enjoy!

(c)Rebecca J. Hulem, RN, RNP, Certified Menopause Clinician, has 28 years experience in the medical community and is the author of Feelin’ Hot and contributing author to two additional books. To sign up for her free menopause newsletter or for further information, please refer to her website at TheMenopauseExpert

Menopause… what are your choices?

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I get lots of questions regarding menopause and what can be done about it. I’ve talked about it, written about it, and read about it. Confusing information is everywhere.

I firmly believe that each woman is an individual and thus her approach to menopause is going to be individual.

That said, I discovered a book and the expert who wrote the book. She explains stuff in English, gives us lots of information, and does so in a humorous manner.

See what you think of the Menopause Expert.

Barbara C. Phillips, MN, NP
OlderWiserWomen.com