Shilpa Gajarawala suffered from hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sleeping, and brain fog. However, given her history of breast cancer, these treatments Symptoms of menopause and Hormone therapy There was no such option.
“I’ve been trying to do my best for two years,” said the 58-year-old physician’s assistant from Jacksonville, Florida.
But doctors say women like Gajarawala don’t have to suffer.
Many women take it, but Hormone therapy Recently announced label changes could lead to more people taking drugs to relieve symptoms of menopause. However, some people choose not to use these drugs as they circulate throughout the body. Doctors also advise people with medical problems, such as severe liver disease, a history of heart attacks, strokes, blood clots, or a type of breast cancer that grows in response to hormones such as estrogen, to avoid them.
For such people, there is a change in lifestyle, Medications that do not contain hormones and other helpful strategies.
“The important thing here is that there is something for everyone,” says Dr. Stephanie Fabion, medical director of the Menopause Society. “There is always a solution. There are many other options.”
This article is part of AP’s Be Well coverage, which focuses on wellness, fitness, diet and mental health. Read more Hope you are well.
Lifestyle changes
Changes occur when you increase physical activity. Although exercise has not been proven to directly reduce menopausal symptoms, it can help you lose weight and reduce hot flashes and night sweats.
Doctors suggest combining aerobic exercise, such as running or walking, with strength training to slow bone density loss.
Along with exercise, doctors advise you to pay attention to what you eat.
Fabion, of the Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health, said the latest science shows that a “plant-forward diet” rich in crops and soybeans and low in oils may be particularly helpful in managing hot flashes. Experts aren’t sure why this is true, but some suggest it may be because it also helps with weight loss.
Another key, doctors say, is to avoid foods that can trigger hot flashes, such as caffeine and alcohol.
Eating well and exercising can also help with other midlife health issues, such as increased risk of heart and diabetes.
During menopause, your body’s production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone decreases significantly. Decreased estrogen levels can lead to increased blood pressure and cholesterol.
“It’s important to focus on maintaining cardiovascular health,” Fabion said, including quitting smoking, getting enough sleep and watching your stress levels.
prescription drugs
In addition to lifestyle changes, some non-hormonal prescription medications have been shown to be effective in reducing menopausal symptoms.
Antidepressants can help with hot flashes and mood problems. Recent data suggests that an overactive bladder drug called oxybutynin may reduce hot flashes while also treating frequent urination, which is common in menopause.
Doctors then pointed to a new drug on the market: Veoza (the brand name for fesolinetant). This drug acts on an area of the brain that regulates body temperature and blocks the causes of hot flashes and night sweats. Another non-hormonal drug called erinzanetant (sold as Lynkuet) was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It works similarly, except it blocks two molecules in the nervous system instead of one.
Are there any downsides to such drugs? Possible side effects.
Veozah’s label includes a federally mandated warning about the risk of rare but serious liver damage. Side effects of Lynkuet include difficulty staying awake and fatigue. Some antidepressants can cause weight gain, but typically at higher doses than those used for menopausal symptoms. Oxybutynin can also cause dry mouth and, in some people, the inability to completely empty the bladder.
“No drug is completely risk-free,” said Dr. Joan Manson of Harvard Medical School.
Other non-hormonal options
Some menopausal symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter products. Lubricants available at drug stores can help women who suffer from vaginal dryness.
Cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on changing unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors, has been shown to help women deal with hot flashes.
“That doesn’t mean you won’t get hot flashes,” Fabion says. “But it makes them less important to you and less burdensome.”
Manson said there is “moderate evidence” that clinical hypnosis may also be effective, with some studies showing a reduction in the frequency and severity of hot flashes.
“It seems like a promising option,” she said. “But further research is needed.”
Importantly, women don’t have to simply “get over” menopause, said Dr. Juliana Kling, a women’s health expert at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in Arizona. “We want women to talk about what treatments might be beneficial for them.”
Gajarawala did it. She now abstains from red wine, walks at least 10,000 steps a day, practices tai chi, and takes slow-release antidepressants to manage her symptoms.
“It was a huge improvement,” she said.
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