Menopause is one of the biggest physical changes that a woman will go through in her life. It’s a shift in everything you’ve gotten used to about your body over the last few decades, and it’s going to be a big adjustment to deal with! However, with menopause, you get to have the benefits of foresight. You know this change is coming, and that gives you the opportunity to work on preparing yourself so that it’s easier to deal with.
Preparing yourself ahead of time for menopause can have a good deal of positive impact on both your mental and physical health during the process. Here are some of the ways that you can do this!
Educate Yourself
When it comes to menopause and your hormonal health, knowledge is power, and learning what to expect ahead of time can make the process much easier to deal with. Most people know about how menopause deals with the stopping of your period and symptoms like hot flashes, but other signs, symptoms, and side effects are less-well discussed, like weight gain, vaginal dryness, hair loss, or urinary problems. Being aware of the possibilities of these symptoms can help you to be less scared and concerned if and when they show up, and you can prepare coping strategies to deal with them ahead of time.
Set Up Healthy Habits
Because menopause heavily affects your hormones and your hormones affect nearly everything in your body, heading into menopause can mean serious physical changes are at hand, not all of them good. Struggling with your weight, dealing with low bone density, and living in fear of cardiovascular problems are all things that can happen as you age and your period stops, but a healthy lifestyle that includes lots of nourishing foods and exercise and limits things like drinking and smoking can help to counteract these symptoms.
It’s never too early to start taking good care of your body, but it’s also never too late. Even if you feel like you have a while before menopause is upon you, or you feel like you missed the boat to prepare, try to work in some healthy habits anyway. They’ll pay dividends when you’re on the other side of this process!
Find a Doctor You Trust
Dealing with the symptoms of menopause is not something that you have to do without help. On top of having a good support system of friends and family around you, it’s important to have a strong and trusting relationship with a doctor that you can turn to for help when you need it.
If you don’t feel comfortable and confident with your doctor, that might be a sign that it’s time to look for a new one. When you find a doctor you like, discuss your concerns with them! Bring up symptoms you’re particularly worried about experiencing when menopause arrives and ask advice for coping. Your doctor may be able to help you alleviate unpleasant symptoms.
Develop Stress Coping Skills
Chronic stress is never good for your health, but particularly during and after menopause, it can be especially detrimental, with effects on your blood pressure and your heart health. While reducing the sources of stress in your life can be beneficial, sometimes your stressors are unavoidable. Building coping skills to help you deal with this stress can make a big difference in your health during menopause.
Consider HRT
Sometimes it’s possible to deal with the symptoms of menopause on your own, but if you’re finding yourself struggling, hormone replacement therapy might be helpful, relieving bothersome symptoms and helping you to feel comfortable and in control again. If you’re interested in learning more about hormone replacement therapy, make sure to contact us at Renewed Vitality.
