Red Hot Mamas In Charge of Change.
By: Red Hot Mamas
Published: May 26, 2010
Roswell, GA (October 18, 2006) – Today is World Menopause Day, and the Red Hot Mamas joins the International Menopause Society to issue a challenge to women world-wide:
Have one of the most important discussions of your life!
“World Menopause Day acknowledges the millions of women who enter this vital stage of life every day, yet still aren’t aware of the wonderful opportunities this offers for enhancing health and quality of life”, said Karen Giblin, founder and president of Red Hot Mamas.
“When women reach this time, they still have one-third of their lives remaining and should look forward to many more healthy years. But, first, women need to know their personal health risks, and women need to discuss their options such as good nutrition, exercise, hormone therapy and alternative therapy.”
The World Menopause Day challenge calls on every woman age 45 and older to talk to her doctor about her individual health history, her risks for diseases, the benefits and risks of hormone therapy, and steps she can take now to take charge of her health.
What happens at menopause?
During this period of life, women’s ovaries reduce production of ovarian hormones, and this may be may be associated with symptoms such as hot flushes, vaginal dryness, and sleeplessness. Hormone loss over the long term may also be associated with osteoporosis, continued hot flushes and vaginal discomfort. Consider the following information:
- Hot flushes, sometimes accompanied by sweating and flushing, are the body’s response to declining estrogen levels. During a hot flush, which typically lasts from 30 seconds to 5 minutes, the heart beats faster and the skin temperature rises.
- Painful sex due to dryness or shrinkage of the vaginal tissues may be caused by the fall of estrogen levels.
- One-half of all women over 50 will at some time have a fracture caused by osteoporosis.
- Recent Women’s Health Initiative studies concluded that there was a suggestion of lower coronary heart disease risk with estrogen therapy among women 50–59 years of age and that estrogen-only therapy did not increase breast cancer incidence in postmenopausal women.
- Hormone therapy is approved for the relief of moderate to severe menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, night sweats and vaginal dryness, and the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. It is recommended that hormone therapy be taken at the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration consistent with treatment goals and risks for the individual woman.
“Menopause can be a confusing time and the options may seem complicated”, added Karen Giblin, “But every woman needs to decide what’s right for her. It will make all the difference.”
