So, you’ve made it through menopause – now what? While many of the symptoms that came along with menopause will go away, because of some of the changes that happened during menopause, you still need to be on your A-game to remain healthy.
Here are some of the common things to watch out for:
Vaginal Bleeding
As your estrogen levels drop during menopause, the vaginal lining becomes very thin and, as a result, may be easily irritated, resulting in bleeding. Polyps (usually non-cancerous growths) can also occur. Bleeding after menopause is not normal, so if you experience this, be sure to see your doctor right away to get checked out to ensure it’s nothing serious.
Risk of Osteoporosis
After menopause, a woman’s bone breakdown overtakes bone buildup, resulting in a loss of bone mass. Overtime, this can develop into osteoporosis. Prevention is key here – be sure to exercise on a regular basis (weight bearing exercises done regularly are great at making bones stronger). Eat high calcium foods, such as low-fat milk and dairy products, canned fish, dark leafy greens, and calcium fortified foods. Vitamin D is also essential, as it helps the body better absorb the calcium you’ll be taking in. You can get Vitamin D naturally by exposing your skin to sun for about 20 minutes daily, but you may also get it from foods like eggs, fatty fish, cereal and milk. If you feel you are at a risk for not getting the calcium or vitamin D you need, talk to your doctor about taking supplements.
Risk of Heart Disease
While menopause doesn’t cause heart disease, women are at an increased risk for heart disease after menopause has occurred. Some believe that lack of estrogen may again be to blame, but other changes are in effect too – increased blood pressure, increased LDL cholesterol (this is the “bad” one) and higher levels of fat in the blood can also increase after menopause. Diet and exercise are as important as ever (to keep your heart healthy and prevent other conditions). Just 30 minutes of physical activity – walking, dancing, and swimming are all great options – 5 days per week can give you a good aerobic workout. And be sure to eat a healthy diet while avoiding too much red meat, or high sugar foods and drinks.
Vaginal Dryness
Because of low estrogen levels, you may still experience some vaginal dryness. Over the counter vaginal lubricants and moisturizers can help ease these symptoms, but if that doesn’t work, talk with your doctor about using some type of estrogen treatment – there are many available, and in different forms (tablets, rings, creams).
Life after menopause can be a wonderful time provided you take the time for self care and work to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
