Exercise Can Be Used As An Alternative Hormone Replacement Therapy During Menopause

By Renee Altmann

Are you afraid of conventional hormone replacement treatments? When looking toward alternative hormone replacement therapy, exercise is used to strengthen the heart and bones, as well as to regulate weight while, at the same time, elevating mood and giving a sense of well-being.

Being inactive contributes to heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, and weight gain. Additionally, women who are sedentary suffer from more back pain, joint stiffness, sleep disorders, and irregular periods.

Also, these inactive women have poor circulation, weak muscles, shortness of breath, and loss of bone mass. And mood disorders are more frequent for this group.

Women who regularly walk, jog, swim, bike, dance, or perform some other aerobic activity can more easily avoid these troubles. Lack of exercise affects bone health too.

Moderate exercise preserves bone mass in the spine which reduces the risk of fractures in older women. This will eliminate the diminishing in size and strength of bones.

Studies have shown that regular exercise has an increased effect on our mental alertness by supplying the brain with an increased amount of oxygen. One such study of inactive women and women who adhered to an exercise program showed better brain functions in the group who was active.

Other than increasing oxygen supplies to the brain, exercise helps to slow down the causes of shaking and stiffness that are normally part of aging. It has been noted that exercise plays a role in the prevention of slowed reaction times.

According to professionals, blood levels are raised which heightens mood and may assist the body in responding positively to stress. Th mood-heightening effect of exercise last for several hours or longer.

These 'feel-good' factors in the brain drop off when estrogen is low during menopause. This may also play a role in the body's ability to regulate temperature.

In other words, regular exercise increases brain activity that assists in maintaining body temperature, therefore hot flashes are decreased. In one study, among women who were active, the severe night sweats and hot flashes were cut in half.

You may prefer a game such as tennis, badminton, or squash, all of which offer the added attraction of meeting and socializing with people. Likewise, joining any exercise class can provide a social aspect that may encourage you to exercise regularly as an alternative hormone replacement therapy method. - 30307

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Discover a Menopause Natural Treatment and Avoid Hormone Replacement Therapy

By Amanda Fairwood

These days many women are training themselves on the best menopause natural treatment that does not involve the synthetic hormones that are so regularly prescribed. Although hormone replacement therapy is still used widely in the U. S. to scale back the negative symptoms related to menopause, many females are becoming increasingly wary about this form of treatment that has reported adverse effects which include cancer.

The stellar news is that many of the non-pharmaceutical menopause natural remedies are efficient and safe and can be purchased discreetly from your home.

The most well liked forms of menopause natural remedies are herbal. They can be presented in aromatherapy treatments, creams, oils, gels, teas, tablets or ointments. They are effective because they mimic the body's own hormone production of estrogen and can cut back the fluctuation in hormone levels that cause menopause symptoms such as night sweats, low libido, insomnia, hot flashes, brain fogginess and mood swings to name a few. Most herbal formulas include maca root, dong quai, red clover or black cohosh.

In addition to these herbs being able to mimic female hormones such as estrogen, they also have their own unique qualities that are particularly advantageous as a menopause natural treatment. For starters, black cohosh has had wonderful results in reducing the intensity and frequency of night sweats, hot flashes and vaginal dryness.

Furthermore, it appears to work miracles with evening out the temperament and reducing mood swings. Maca root is famous for bringing back a healthy libido. Dong quai works really well together with black cohosh and fights sleeplessness too. In addition, red clover has been known to cool down night sweats and enhance the cardiovascular system. Another herb that is growing in popularity with its useful benefits as a natural menopause treatment is clary sage. It is understood to have a regulating result on hormones and is most often used in combination with geranium. Some experts claim that clary sage also helps menopausal headaches, nausea, tearfulness, moodiness, distension, indigestion and depression.

If you choose a menopause natural treatment in lieu of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) make sure that you verify the origin of the herbs. Not all brands are equal in quality, efficacy or strength. Take some time to check the origin of the herbs when possible, review the guaranties and return policies of the companies that sell them and the objective reviews of those who have taken them. - 30307

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The Link Between Menopause and Diabetes

By Kim Allarie

How, if at all, are menopause and diabetes related? During menopause, hormonal changes in the body set off a chemical chain eventually leading to fluctuations in blood sugar level. We've been mostly focused on the symptoms surrounding menopause, bur recent studies have shown that the hormonal changes happening throughout menopause increase the risks of diabetes.

There are common symptoms that women experience during both menopause and perimenopause. All women will eventually experience menopause, although the symptoms they experience will vary. Some of the symptoms of menopause are hot flashes, mood swings, sleeplessness and gaining weight. However, because menopause and diabetes might be linked, you ought to be aware of the following information.

Most women who are undergoing menopause have a tough time sleeping at night. And because we are not getting adequate sleep, it is a proven fact that our blood sugar levels rise. Weight gain that may occur throughout menopause is able to significantly affect the body's blood sugar level. Diabetes may result from that in its turn.

A study which spanned four years researched post-menopausal women to assess their blood flow and how well their arteries and vessels functioned. Twice a year, these women took blood tests and had physical examinations. None of the women in the study had diabetes when it began, but some developed it over the four years during which the study was conducted. Blood flow in the veins and arteries had shifted dramatically.

Despite the fact that outcomes have shown a probable connection between menopause and diabetes, researchers can't state with sureness that the factor that causes diabetes in menopausal women is cell dysfunction, or if it is because they already have diabetes. To restate, ladies did not suffer from diabetes at the start of the study, therefore assertions that this was the culprit in cell dysfunction is not valid. Instead, researchers are inclined to believe that dysfunction in cells lining blood vessels may lead toward diabetes.

Although research implies that a connection exists between menopause and diabetes, this is still being debated. Have your blood sugar checked twice a year to determine if you may be developing early signs of diabetes. Eat healthfully, do your exercises, and talk to a physician if you suspect you might have symptoms of diabetes. - 30307

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