Changes In Hormornes - A Silent Threat

But other illnesses pose a silent threat to women, especially those of menopause age. From the time a woman begins menstruation up until she reaches menopause, she is protected by the sex hormone oestrogen, which helps reduce cholesterol in the blood. By raising good cholesterol (HDL), the risk of cardiovascular diseases and stroke for a woman is lessened, more so than for a man, but at menopause, that protection fades and the risks are the same for both sexes. 

Furthermore, women are at a higher risk of getting osteoporosis than men, as they now lack oestrogen, which helps in maintaining the balance of calcium in the bone mass. This loss of oestrogen is responsible for the thinning of the bone in women every year.

Heart disease too is a problem for post-menopausal women. Despite suffering symptoms and warnings for several months, women are often unaware that they are suffering from ischemic heart disease, where blood supply to the heart muscle is reduced. Common symptoms include fatigue and tiredness, sleep disturbance or insomnia, difficulty in breathing, pain in the neck and shoulder, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Fifty per cent of those who suffer from heart disease do not have chest pain during a heart attack while those who do complain of chest pain constitute no more than 30 per cent of those who suffer a heart attack.

Statistics indicate that stroke is the third leading cause of death among American women and this is caused by the reduction of oestrogen, which affects the LDL cholesterol. An important warning sign is numbness or weakness on one side of the body, including the face, arm, or leg, for about 30 minutes (and then the body returns to normal). Other symptoms include confusion, slurred speech and sudden difficulty in speaking, problems with vision, unsteadiness, severe headache and loss of balance or coordination. 

Osteoporosis is a leading problem among women who have reached menopause, affecting their quality of life. Every year, many women suffer pain, trauma and disability as a result of hip fracture, broken arms and legs, caused by the thinning of bones due to the reduction of oestrogen hormone. About 50 per cent of women suffer from osteoporosis. 

Prevention is always better than cure and looking after yourself is very important. This includes exercising, eating nutritious food that is appropriate for your age, and going for an annual check-up so that you can identify the diseases before they attack you.

To prevent heart and stroke and stroke: quit smoking , control your diet, stop eating sweets and starch (if diabetic), reduce or stop eating fatty meat (if you have high cholesterol), reduce salt intake (if you have high blood pressure), increase intake of vegetables and fish. Take up exercise such as aerobics, brisk walking, running, swimming and biking. Consult your doctor if you suffer from fatigue, dizziness, unexplained swelling in the legs and feet, dark green discoloration in the hands, toes and lips; tiredness while exercising or palpitation, slurred speech, blurred vision, weakness and numbness, confusion, loss of balance and coordination, drooping face.

To help prevent osteoporosis, quit smoking; drink skimmed milk, eat sesame seeds, green leaf vegetables, various beans and nuts, starch, seafood and small fish. Take up walking, walking in the water, weightlifting, tai chi or biking . 

Osteoporosis does not show any symptoms if the bones are not fractured. Go for a bone density test every two years after the age of 65.

 

For more information, contact the Women’s Health Centre at Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital or call (02 (0) 711 8181.