Take Back Your Sleep By Cathy Lee Taylor NABBW's Expert on Menopause Menopause results into trouble sleeping for so many women. We wake up too many times in the night to go to the bathroom. Our …Take Back Your Sleep…Take Back Your Sleep By Cathy Lee Taylor NABBW's Expert on Menopause Menopause results into trouble sleeping for so many women. We wake up too many times in the night to go to the bathroom. Our restless legs wake us up. As our hormones continue to shift (typically declining) beginning with peri-menopause throughout menopause and post-menopause, we experience more hot flashes and night sweats that interrupt our nightly rest. Even small amounts of light and noise can wake us up and stimulate our nervous system making it difficult to fall back to sleep.  All of these things can leave us fe…

Urinary tract infections are one of the most common bacterial infections in women. This female tract is more susceptible to infections during menopause due to a reduction in hormonal support from the …Urinary tract infect…Urinary tract infections are one of the most common bacterial infections in women. This female tract is more susceptible to infections during menopause due to a reduction in hormonal support from the body. This system is meant to remove the body\'s fluid wastes and is more vulnerable to multiplication of bacteria which can lead to a nasty infection. Though not typically serious, they can be very painful and most often the symptoms disappear quickly after treatment with antibiotics. Most women experience this kind of infection at least once in their lifetimes, often caused by sexual intercou…

Vaginal Dryness happens to many women as they age and reach menopause. With time the mucus membranes within the walls of the vagina begin to get thinner and lose elasticity. Estrogen production in th…Vaginal Dryness happ…Vaginal Dryness happens to many women as they age and reach menopause. With time the mucus membranes within the walls of the vagina begin to get thinner and lose elasticity. Estrogen production in the ovaries is less and may cause thinning of the vaginal lining. In itself this does not normally cause any problem - unless the lining of the vagina becomes inflamed and dry in which case it becomes very painful. Vaginal dryness is medically known as \'atrophic vaginitis,\' and it sounds like a disease, though it is not. It can be overcome with simple remedies, such as, a good nutritional prog…

Hot flashes vary in intensity for different women but they remain among the most talked about symptoms of menopause, mostly because they are so uncomfortable. About 80% of the women in America experie…Hot flashes vary in …Hot flashes vary in intensity for different women but they remain among the most talked about symptoms of menopause, mostly because they are so uncomfortable. About 80% of the women in America experience flashes (hot flushes that move through the body in a wave) and night sweats (waking up with wet pjs and bed sheets) during the peri-menopause and menopause years. Some women have them for a few short years while others still experience them into their 70s. Hot flashes happen when the body produces less estrogen and progesterone for a variety of reasons caused by aging. Flashing can last fr…

So many women report that menopause comes along with gastrointestinal distress causing uncomfortable symptoms such as indigestion, flatulence and sudden bloating. Not only are these annoying and embar…So many women report…So many women report that menopause comes along with gastrointestinal distress causing uncomfortable symptoms such as indigestion, flatulence and sudden bloating. Not only are these annoying and embarrassing, they can also be quite painful. During menopause, gastrointestinal bloating is caused when air fills the abdomen, creating a full feeling. Even though your stomach remains the same size, your pants probably feel tighter and your waistline just seems to keep expanding. Excess intestinal gas is produced by bacteria in the intestines. Sugar located foods often contribute to the growth of …

Menopause brings on symptoms such as hot flashes and mood swings, and for a lot of women retaining water and the resultant bloating is of great concern because it can lead to weight gain. Unfortuna…Menopause brings on …Menopause brings on symptoms such as hot flashes and mood swings, and for a lot of women retaining water and the resultant bloating is of great concern because it can lead to weight gain. Unfortunately, HRT has been known to cause water retention in some women. The journal of British Menopause Society published this is March of 2006: Drospirenone is a new progestogen in hormone replacement therapy with anti-mineralocorticoid activity. This anti-mineralocorticoid activity counteracts water and sodium retention, helping to reduce the likelihood of fluid retention that some women experience wi…

Menopause isn\'t typically a life threatening condition - but in extreme cases, it can bring upon symptoms like rapid heart beat that feel like it is. The occasional feeling that your heart "skips a b…Menopause isn\'t typ…Menopause isn\'t typically a life threatening condition - but in extreme cases, it can bring upon symptoms like rapid heart beat that feel like it is. The occasional feeling that your heart "skips a beat" does not necessarily indicate a serious medical problem. For those with menopause, rapid heart beat should be monitored by your doctor to check for a mitral valve prolapse which is a mild deformity of a heart valve. Palpitation is when the heart races repeatedly without any sign of stopping. It\'s not only extremely uncomfortable, it\'s downright frightening. Premature contractions cause t…

During the mid-life phenomenon known as menopause, changes in headache type, duration and intensity are more common. Throbbing, explosive headaches can pain the sides of your head, and your energy bec…During the mid-life …During the mid-life phenomenon known as menopause, changes in headache type, duration and intensity are more common. Throbbing, explosive headaches can pain the sides of your head, and your energy become totally depleted. The slightest opening of an eye can cause a ripple of pain to burst on one side of your fragile head, leaving you in physical ruin. Menopause is known to heighten such uncomfortable, sometimes unbearable symptoms. Menopause and headache changes, specifically, migraine headaches cause a repetitive stronger-than-normal headache that resides on one side of your head. During m…

Aromatherapy dates back to the Egyptians and has been used for centuries to treat a variety of bodily conditions. Losing hair causes both women and men anxiety and has generated a multi-million dollar…Aromatherapy dates b…Aromatherapy dates back to the Egyptians and has been used for centuries to treat a variety of bodily conditions. Losing hair causes both women and men anxiety and has generated a multi-million dollar industry. But studies show that inexpensive, home-grown remedies might just be the best answer. Aromatherapy consists of concentrated flower extracts, leaves and roots from different plants that aid regeneration. This kind of hair loss is referred to in medical terms as Alopecia Areata. It\'s a patchy kind of baldness thought to be related to an autoimmune disorder. Scottish dermatologists, in…

For menopause sufferers, fatigue it is all too common. Some women report lying on the couch with their eyes closed unable to move for long periods of time. Or they experience mental fatigue that provi…For menopause suffer…For menopause sufferers, fatigue it is all too common. Some women report lying on the couch with their eyes closed unable to move for long periods of time. Or they experience mental fatigue that provides for feelings of indifference and an overall slumber from day to dusk that makes them unable to perform activities with maximum effort. Fatigue comes in many forms: loss of energy after working out, motion sickness fatigue as a result of senses mixing signals in the brain causing your ears and eyes to overwork, and more. Some women suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome and others are diagnose…

Menopause is sometimes responsible for bouts of dry skin, particularly around the mouth, nose areas, as well as internally within the eyes. This dryness can be caused by the hormonal imbalances. Durin…Menopause is sometim…Menopause is sometimes responsible for bouts of dry skin, particularly around the mouth, nose areas, as well as internally within the eyes. This dryness can be caused by the hormonal imbalances. During menopause, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels decline and different types of "dryness" can occur. For example, testosterone maintains the lacrimal gland which produces tears in the eyes and keeps them lubricated. Keep in mind, not only is testosterone responsible for producing tears but it is responsible for nourishing it with lubrication to aid in sight. When testosterone product…

Menopause is sometimes responsible for bouts of dry skin, particularly around the mouth, nose areas, as well as internally within the eyes. This dryness can be caused by the hormonal imbalances. Durin…Menopause is sometim…Menopause is sometimes responsible for bouts of dry skin, particularly around the mouth, nose areas, as well as internally within the eyes. This dryness can be caused by the hormonal imbalances. During menopause, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels decline and different types of "dryness" can occur. For example, testosterone maintains the lacrimal gland which produces tears in the eyes and keeps them lubricated. Keep in mind, not only is testosterone responsible for producing tears but it is responsible for nourishing it with lubrication to aid in sight. When testosterone product…

Do women going through menopause experience depression differently? "I never know if depression is what I\'m really experiencing, or if it\'s something else and how long will it last” Sara told me.…Do women going throu…Do women going through menopause experience depression differently? "I never know if depression is what I\'m really experiencing, or if it\'s something else and how long will it last” Sara told me. \'Menopause made that process even more confusing at times." When I heard these words from a friend of mine, I realized that unless someone ‘diagnoses\' you as depressed, how do you really know that is what you are experiencing? Most of us have been or seen someone depressed in our lives, so we are at risk for labeling ourselves something that might not even be true, or worse yet, become a li…

The mid-life phenomenon known as menopause and the stresses of anxiety go hand in hand. Panic attacks, rushes of energy, burning in the chest, unusual vibrations throughout the body, and warm sensatio…The mid-life phenome…The mid-life phenomenon known as menopause and the stresses of anxiety go hand in hand. Panic attacks, rushes of energy, burning in the chest, unusual vibrations throughout the body, and warm sensations are some of the physical effects you may feel under this condition. When menopause hits, there is a greater chance women will go through anxiety and depression. Christian Northrop talks about this phenomenon in her book, Wisdom of Menopause, where if a woman has repressed something in her life, she won\'t be able to get past menopause employing the same tactics. For example, unexpressed anger …

During Peri-menopause, in the transitional period before menopause, women experience a number of emotional problems and mood swings, including anger, in addition to physical changes. According to expe…During Peri-menopaus…During Peri-menopause, in the transitional period before menopause, women experience a number of emotional problems and mood swings, including anger, in addition to physical changes. According to experts, peri-menopause does not cause anger and other mood swings, but fluctuations in hormone production during peri-menopause trigger anger, depression and other mood swings that are already pre-existing. Many women, at a slightest provocation, would have waves of intense emotions, such as anger go through them. Many would be intolerant of behaviors that transgressed their own limits, and limits…

Menopause is yet another chance for us to see life as a blessing. Not many women say it\'s easy. What makes this mid-life transition less stressful is really how we think and feel about ourselves. …Menopause is yet ano…Menopause is yet another chance for us to see life as a blessing. Not many women say it\'s easy. What makes this mid-life transition less stressful is really how we think and feel about ourselves. It is an undeniable chance to see how much inner work we have really done so far. Most women report that it can be a deal-breaker phase of life. In other words, women going through menopause often get the feeling ‘its now of never\'. But whether you have been diligent about healing, moving on, staying open, remaining positive, or just barely keeping your head above water, for many women menop…

Aromatherapy is typically associated with complementary and alternative medicine. It uses essential oils and other scented compounds from plants for the purpose of affecting a person\'s mood or health…Aromatherapy is typi…Aromatherapy is typically associated with complementary and alternative medicine. It uses essential oils and other scented compounds from plants for the purpose of affecting a person\'s mood or health. Aromatherapy can be used to heal symptoms of physical, psychological and emotional discomfort when women move into the perimenopause and menopause years. This phase of life can represent more than half of their adult life if she lives to be 80 years old. So, we need all the menopause relief we can get! Menopause is typically defined as the time when a woman\'s menstrual cycle stops for at…

You wake up feeling joyful but at some point the events of your day interfere with that blissful stream. You may find yourself feeling stranded. Where did my joy go? And more important, how do I get …You wake up feeling …You wake up feeling joyful but at some point the events of your day interfere with that blissful stream. You may find yourself feeling stranded. Where did my joy go? And more important, how do I get it back? Joy is a natural state of being. If you let yourself express the true feeling that you can find in your heart at any given moment, it is a peaceful state of bliss. It can get blocked, however, by how we are responding to the events in our day. What can you do to quickly bring yourself back into alignment when you find yourself at odds and missing your ecstatic state? Here are 1…