Quiz
Calm Hot Flashes and Other Effects of Menopause
Women in their mid
to late 40s and early 50s can find themselves on a hormonal roller
coaster as their bodies get ready for and start menopause. How
much do you know about handling the symptoms of menopause? Take
this true-false quiz to find out.
1. Hot flashes don't
usually start until a woman stops having menstrual periods.
T F
2. Vaginal itching is always
a sign of infection.
T F
3. Fatigue, irritability,
forgetfulness, mood swings, and insomnia can be symptoms of menopause.
T F
4. Menopause can cause
skin changes.
T F
Here Are the Answers:
1. False.These sudden
rushes of heat to the neck, face, or other parts of the body
are a hallmark of menopause. But hot flashes can happen for months
or even years before menstruation ends. Hot flashes usually last
only a short time--from 30 seconds to five minutes. Women can
take these measures to lessen the likelihood and severity of
hot flashes:
- Avoid spicy foods, hot beverages, caffeine, cigarette smoking, and alcohol.
- Take 400 to 800 international units of vitamin E daily, with a doctor's OK.
- Try meditation, guided imagery, and progressive muscle relaxation exercises to manage stress that can trigger hot flashes.
- Dress in layers that you can quickly take off.
- Sleep in lightweight, cotton nightclothes.
- Get regular exercise--strengthening exercises, in particular, may reduce the severity of hot flashes.
- Eat soy foods.
Doctors can prescribe hormone therapy or antidepressants to improve menopause symptoms.
2. False. As estrogen levels fall during meno-pause, vaginal tissue can become thin and dry. This can cause itching, burning, and pain. To ease dryness, use an over-the-counter lubricant or a vaginal moisturizer. Also effective are natural products, such as vitamin E, sesame oil, and olive oil. Or, ask your doctor about estrogen vaginal cream. An oatmeal bath once a day can help with itching.
3. True. Decreasing levels of the estrogen hormone can lead to an imbalance in brain chemicals, causing such symptoms. Fitness, which lowers stress and relaxes muscles, may help with the insomnia and mood swings. For better sleep, avoid any foods or drinks that seem to trigger hot flashes.
4. True. Hormonal shifts often cause skin to lose its elasticity and become dryer. Drinking four to six 8-ounce glasses of water daily, regularly using a good moisturizer, and wearing a sunscreen can help.
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