MAKE THE MENOPAUSE YOUR SECOND SPRING
When dietician Paula Mee began experiencing chronic sleep deprivation, thanks to “torturous” night sweats, like many women she decided to simply tough it out, coping as best as she could.
Eventually visiting the doctor, he informed her that she had in fact gone through the menopause. Paula had a lot of questions about a topic that isn’t readily discussed and while her doctor answered some, she felt there simply wasn’t the time or resources at hand to deal with what can be an extremely turbulent time for many. This led the 52-year-old to co-author her own guidebook, “Your Middle Years”, with friend Kate O’Brien.
TALK ABOUT IT
The menopause isn’t a topic of conversation you’ll find easily, as Paula found after she had experienced the menopause herself. However, she insists that talking about it, is one of the biggest tools available to women. “Even just laughing about the torture of going through the night sweats with your girlfriend can be hugely helpful, because it is a form of torture and sharing with each other can really help,” she explains. “The more information people have the less fearful this experience is. We can shape and change our experience by dispelling myths and offering advice and help to other women.”
SUPER SOYA
Adapting your diet can also help women tackle menopausal symptoms. Paula advises women who suffer from hot flushes and night sweats to add more soya into your diet to reduce the severity of the symptoms. A tasty and quick tip is to incorporate edamame beans into our daily meals. You can buy frozen from the supermarket to add into stir-fries, stews etc, or simply add fresh into salads. Post menopause, a woman’s risk of heart disease also increases so ensuring your diet is rich in Omega 3 fats is essential. As your muscle mass decreases it is also important to include a source of protein in every meal, while also preventing osteoporosis by increasing your intake of calcium.
GET ACTIVE!
Paula stresses the importance of exercise, advising women to try and aim to do some form of activity four days out of seven, focusing on a mix of cardio and resistance as well as stretching to improve balance.
KEEP YOUR COOL!
Hot flushes are one of the most common and distressing symptoms of menopause, affecting more than two thirds of women. They can occur on their own, but are often accompanied by night sweats.
A hot flush can raise skin temperature by six degrees; lasting anything from seconds to 10 minutes, causing flushing in the face, neck and chest, and excessive sweating. These hot flushes have a severe impact on sleep, leading to increased stress and anxiety. In addition, hot flushes are often accompanied by feelings of nausea, dizziness or a general feeling of being unwell.
With a lack of information and support about the menopause readily available, many women attempt to battle this and other menopausal symptoms alone. However, there are natural remedies that can significantly alleviate the symptoms of hot flushes. One such alternative is the clinically proven Physicool, a cooling mist which offers instant long-lasting relief from hot flushes and night sweats.
Simply spritz on your face, neck and chest for an instant cooling affect. The product’s unique rapid evaporation technology works by quickly drawing heat away from the skin, reducing skin temperature and calming redness. The product has become a staple among those who try it. “It really is wonderful and so helpful,” enthused one user, Anne Heavey, who strongly urges other women battling hot flushes and night sweats to try Physicool. “The menopause is a hugely neglected area for women, in particular women who do not wish to go down the medication route of which there are many.”
In addition, the Physicool product is suitable and safe for cancer patients suffering from hot flushes as it is chemical free. It was recently introduced to users in an Arklow cancer support group who are finding it “very helpful”.
Physicool is available from Pat Coakley Medical - sales@patcoakleymedical.ie or in pharmacists nationwide through United Drug.
