Are you in your 40’s – 50’s, experiencing irregular periods, hot flashes, night ​sweats, drying skin, hair loss, or mood swings? You might be experiencing menopause.

HOT FLASHES

Hot flashes are the most common symptom of menopause. You will experience sudden warmth in your face, neck, and chest, with the occasional flushing and sweating, which might lead to chills if you are not careful. You might also experience increased heart rate, and feelings of anxiousness; do not panic, however, since hot flashes usually last for 5 minutes or less.

For most women, the effects are very mild so that it does not disrupt their daily lives. However, if you feel uncomfortable, are constantly stressed, or are experiencing the effects so intensely that you cannot live normally, do contact us and let us help alleviate the problematic symptoms of your hot flashes.

Note: Avoid spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol, and smoking as these can trigger or worsen hot flashes. Stress and thick clothes/blankets can also cause hot flashes.

NIGHT SWEATS

Night sweats are basically hot flashes that occur at night. These can wake you from sleep and potentially cause long-term sleep deprivation if the patient’s body clock is unable to adjust.

IRREGULAR PERIODS

Menstruation irregularities vary among individuals. If your periods are inconsistent, it may be a sign of menopause, but don’t be surprised if they’re not. Remember, it only counts as menopause if your menstrual periods go missing for 12 consecutive months. You might just be really stressed or you might even be pregnant.

There are so many factors to consider, so we understand that it can get confusing at times. Thus, to be safe, if you skipped several months of menstrual periods. and you are unsure if you are transitioning into menopause, visit the doctor/gynecologist or consider a pregnancy test.

MOOD SWINGS

Moodiness during menopause is caused by imbalances in hormones produced by the ovaries. As your ovaries produce less of these hormones, your body and brain may experience multiple changes related to mood.

Emotional symptoms can be just as difficult to cope with compared to physical symptoms; For some women, the effects of menopause on mood are severe enough that they warrant a diagnosis of depression. Many women also experience anxiety about aging and stress about the future, which can also cause mood swings. Families who are not prepared to deal with mood swings, may not be able to deal with the situation well and cause further stress.

Tips to handle mood swings: Exercise, destress with favoured hobbies and foods, get enough sleep.

OTHER PHYSICAL CHANGES

• Weight gain
• Thinning hair and dry skin
• Loss of breast fullness
• Decrease in bone density

All of these are mostly due to age alongside menopause. You can prevent these by eating healthily, exercising, supplementing your diet, avoiding smoking and alcohol, etc.

Pro tip: Some women might not experience any of these menopausal symptoms, while others may experience at least one or all of them. The intensity of each symptom may also vary because every woman goes through menopause differently, so do not refer to other people’s experiences too much. Instead, visit us at Bao Zhong Tang, we will give advice and solutions that are specially catered to you and your personal struggles with menopause.