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How to Teach Yourself to Relieve Stress Naturally

Is stress controlling your life? If so, you’re not alone. A Gallup Poll conducted in December of 2017 found that as many as 44% of people today reported feeling stress often during their daily lives.  Stress may be the result of your facing too many demands every day or a need to shoulder a humongous workload. A worry about making ends meet or how to take care of your family causes lots of people stress. Stress may be making you feel as if you are constantly being attacked. However, you can relieve stress to prevent it from controlling your life.

Stress in your life is all too often perceived by you to be a threat. The problem of that is the perception of being threatened causes your hypothalamus to set off an alarm system within your body. This alarm system may stimulate your adrenal glands to set off a surge of cortisol and adrenaline hormones. Greater amounts of adrenaline may elevate your blood pressure and increase your heart rate. Both of these can be a health threat for you. The cortisol increase may set off an alarm system that could communicate with your brain’s region that controls mood and fear. Feeling fearful can also be a threat to your health. All of these factors add up to stress being detrimental to your well-being.

For that reason, you simply must decrease the effects of your stress. In just 15 minutes, any of the following practical ways to relieve stress will help you to avoid these threats to your health.

Ways to Relieve Stress

relationship quote

1. Meditation

Meditation is one of the best ways to relieve stress. You can control your stress by practicing meditation just 10 minutes a day. By increasing your capacity for relaxation with meditation, you can not only improve your cardiovascular health, but you can also decrease any anxiety you may be feeling.

When your body is faced with a sudden threat or stress, it responds with an adrenaline rush known as a “fight or flight” response. Up goes your blood pressure and pulse rate. In addition, you breathe faster and an increased amount of blood flows to your muscles.

Meditation instills a deep relaxation state in your body and reverses your body’s reaction to the “fight or flight” response. It slows your breathing, lowers your pulse rate and blood pressure and your metabolism is decreased. This state of relaxation will relieve your stress.

How to Meditate with the Relaxation Response Technique

• Find a pleasant and quiet place to meditate. Repeat a sitlent word or phrase to yourself. The word or phrase should have meaning to you. Sit quietly with your eyes closed and good posture for about 10 to 20 minutes. Breathe in a natural and free way.
• You should focus on the word or phrase. Any worries that burst into your mind should be either dismissed or ignored.
• Before finishing, open your eyes and allow your thoughts to return to everyday reality.

2. Massage Therapy

People have used massage to feel better for thousands of years. Any relaxation technique that has been around for so long must be one of the best ways to relieve stress. In 2007, the American Massage Therapy Association reported the results of a survey they conducted indicated that almost one quarter of American adults had at least one massage in 2006.

With a large variety of as many as 80 therapy styles, you can certainly find the best style to suit your needs. In order for your therapist to know the massage style you will need, you should decide your reason for wanting a massage. If you want a massage to control your stress and provide relaxation, you should tell your therapist. The style can then be determined to decide on the best movements, pressures and techniques for the therapist to use. In addition, an overall feeling of wellness can be gotten from massages.

According to Cathy Benninger, an assistant professor at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, another option for a massage could be your giving yourself one using a tennis ball. She suggests you should, “Place the ball between your back and the wall. Lean into the ball, and hold gently pressure for up to 15 seconds. Then move the ball to another spot, and apply pressure”.

3. Yoga

Yoga may be one of the fun ways to relieve stress you could enjoy. All yoga styles have only one common goal — to join your mind and body.

One way yoga may get you to relax is by its increasing your breath and body awareness. Yoga has also been found to be effective on a person’s mental health. It has been found to be a mood enhancer and an antidepressant as well. Being an antidepressant, it has been used to treat both anxiety and depression.

At this time, we don’t know how yoga is able to reduce stress and anxiety. However, it does appear that yoga has an effect on the stress response and the nervous system. Many studies have shown that yoga lowers your heart rate, blood pressure and stress hormones including cortisol, the primary stress hormone.

One study followed 24 women who saw themselves as being emotionally distressed. The women participated in a three month yoga program. At the end of the three months, their cortisol levels were significantly lower. Their levels of anxiety, stress, depression and fatigue were also lower. Besides learning yoga, they did learn that they can relieve stress while having fun.

4. Exercise

Exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress. It may put physical stress on your body, but it does relieve mental stress. It has been found that regular exercise makes it less likely for a person to feel anxious than a person who doesn’t exercise.

Regular exercise can:
• Lower your body’s stress hormones including cortisol.
• Improve your sleep.
• Make you feel more confident and give you a feeling of well-being.

5. Listen to Music

Listening to music is one of the most enjoyable ways to reduce your stress. You can relax by listening to soothing music as it lowers your anxiety, blood pressure and heart rate. Listening to sounds of nature such as a bubbling brook, the ocean or birds may be even more soothing. A great way to blow off steam is to listen to upbeat tunes and rock with them. You can also sing along with them loudly. Isn’t music a great way to relieve stress?

Relieve stress

6. Laugh

Another great way to relieve stress is to simply laugh. Besides relieving your stress, laughing is good for your health. When you’re laughing, you can’t feel anxious. Lighten your load with a good belly laugh.

Laughing:
• Produces oxygen to your organs and body.
• Relaxes your muscles as it relieves your stress.
• Improves your mood and immune system.
• Lowers your cortisol, the body’s stress hormone.

Since laughing can be the answer to how to relieve stress, discover ways to make yourself laugh. Watch a funny sitcom, read funny comics, read a book of jokes or just talk with a person who keeps you smiling. All of these things can relieve stress.

Perhaps you would enjoy one of the above ways to reduce your stress. Meditation, massage, listening to music, exercise, and laughing can help you to “fight the flight” of stress.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlUfp0uZXvA

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REFERENCES:
HTTPS://WWW.WEBMD.COM/BALANCE/GUIDE/BLISSING-OUT-10-RELAXATION-TECHNIQUES-REDUCE-STRESS-SPOT#2 
HTTPS://WWW.HEALTHLINE.COM/HEALTH/10-WAYS-TO-RELIEVE-STRESS#5 
HTTPS://WWW.MAYOCLINIC.ORG/HEALTHY-LIFESTYLE/STRESS-MANAGEMENT/IN-DEPTH/STRESS/ART-20046037 
HTTPS://WWW.FORBES.COM/SITES/FORBESCOACHESCOUNCIL/2018/01/29/10-PRACTICAL-WAYS-TO-REDUCE-STRESS-IN-YOUR-LIFE-AND-AT-THE-OFFICE/#41F510E06F88 
HTTPS://WWW.WEBMD.COM/BALANCE/GUIDE/MASSAGE-THERAPY-STYLES-AND-HEALTH-BENEFITS#1 
HTTPS://WWW.HEALTHLINE.COM/NUTRITION/16-WAYS-RELIEVE-STRESS-ANXIETY#SECTION16

5 Reasons To Stay Single Until You Find Someone Worth Your Time

If you take nothing else away from this article, let it be this: The emotional pendulum of a strained relationship is probably more difficult to endure than being single.

Some of you are undoubtedly shaking your heads in disagreement. There are also plenty of people nodding their heads in the opposite direction. Both groups have a good reason for how they think and feel.

Sharing your life with someone else is a human desire– when absent, it can create anxiety, isolation, and sadness. Similar to those who have been in trying relationships, these people also feel doubt, hopelessness, futility, and self-pity.

Please bear in mind that the purpose of this article isn’t to persuade you to feel one way or another! No doubt there are difficulties associated with any relationship decision.

The Goldilocks Marriage Theory

One researcher described marriage data as The Goldilocks Theory of Marriage.

This term refers to the children’s fable Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

But in this context, it points to finding a partner or a relationship that is “just right” for an individual, much like the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. In the story, Goldilocks finds three bowls of porridge, three chairs, and three beds, each belonging to a different bear. She chooses the one that is not too hot, cold, big, or small but just right.

As you read on, remember that the Goldilocks theory of marriage is an informal concept and not a scientific or research-backed theory. Ultimately, a successful marriage is unique to each couple and depends on their needs, preferences, and circumstances.deserve

 

What could a “Goldilocks” marriage look like?

Here are some factors that many people desire in a spouse or partner:

  1. Communication: Open and honest communication is key to understanding each other’s needs and addressing issues.
  2. Emotional support: Providing emotional support to one another and being there for each other during both good times and bad.
  3. Shared values and goals: A strong partnership is built on shared values and goals, which help to guide decision-making and provide a sense of unity.
  4. Flexibility and adaptability: Life is full of changes and challenges, and adapting and growing together as a couple is essential for maintaining a strong relationship.
  5. Trust: Trust is the foundation of any successful relationship. Both partners should feel secure in their commitment to one another.
  6. Balance: Striking a balance between togetherness and individuality while respecting each other’s personal space and growth needs.

Here are five good reasons to stay single until you find someone worth your time:

“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” –Joseph Campbell

1. They’ll Accept Your Weaknesses and Strengths

Relationships often end because one person cannot accept the other’s shortcomings. While the other person’s positive attributes were enough to spark attraction; they weren’t enough to override their weaknesses in the long run.

Every one of us has our flaws. Part of a good relationship is having someone who accepts that weakness is part of the human condition. Someone who sees your shortcomings and loves you regardless is worth waiting for.

2. The Relationship is More Likely to Last

This one is kind of a no-brainer: mutual chemistry correlates with relationship longevity. When you have the strength of spirit to wait it out for someone with whom you have good chemistry, the odds that the relationship will last are excellent.

Contrast this stance with someone desperate enough to try and force compatibility. First, forcing chemistry is impossible – whether it is there or not. Second, it’s an exhausting, fruitless, and joyless endeavor. Finally, the relationship is bound to end in heartbreak. Don’t put yourself through misery.

3. The “Cons” of Being in a Relationship Instead of Staying Single

While one may have fanciful dreams about finding his or her soulmate, what’s less appealing is acknowledging some uncomfortable truths. First, when their dream becomes a reality, the amount of freedom they once enjoyed takes a nosedive. Second, fantasy is often much more satisfying than reality.

Do the “pros” outweigh the “cons”? Well, it depends on what kind of person you are.

If you are highly individualistic, the chances are good that the sacrifices required in a relationship will be a challenging lifestyle change. As with anyone, individualists get lonely too – and this is understandable. A fair warning is for everyone, however: those days of spending money as you like, living as you want, and enjoying unbridled freedom are reigned in once in a committed relationship.

4. The Stigma of Singlehood is Ending

We are arguably experiencing the most progressive period in human history. Gay marriage is legal; a woman nearly became president; yes, the perceptions surrounding us are evolving.

Data from Pew Research found that the median age for men and women to marry is at an all-time high, with men getting married around 29 and women at 27. The likelihood of getting hitched before 30 is also at its lowest point in history.

Finally, consider this: According to an 8-year meta-study by sociologists at the University of Utah, people who marry between the ages of 28 and 32 are far less likely to get divorced than those who marry earlier.

single

5. It’s Worth the Wait to Stay Single Until You Meet the Right One

Consider the example of a trusting young couple who marries because both partners want marriage so badly. They made the egregious mistake of marrying without complete compatibility. The devastation of divorce, preceded by nearly three years of continual misery before calling it quits, was enough to send them reeling big time.

Long story short: each partner thought they would never find someone else – the thought hadn’t even crossed either of their minds And they were entirely at peace with it.

Then, that special someone appeared. There is entirely no rhyme or reason – it just happened. Unlike his first love,  the new partner showed love without condition and accepts their human faults. Lesson learned: it is worth the wait.

How to Follow a Gluten Free Diet Plan for Weight Loss

That word is everywhere, on food labels, on the news, and all over our social media feeds. It seems like everyone is starting a gluten free diet plan for weight loss, for health reasons or just to say they did.

A gluten free diet seems like the newest fad diet craze, with shelves now filled with bread and sweets labeled gluten free and it seems like even water now comes with the warning. What is this gluten and why can’t we eat it?

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a combination of two proteins found in wheat, barley, rye and other grains. This protein is what gives bread its chewy texture and helps food keep its shape. It can be used in sauces to add thickness and volume.

What’s Wrong With It?

There’s nothing wrong with bread. In fact, most people have no trouble with bread or other gluten products at all. However, there is a growing number of people who have a grocery list of health issues which all can be connected to one culprit: gluten.

Gluten has only been in the human diet for tens of thousands of years, ever since we stopped hunting and gathering for the life of farmers. That may seem like a long time, but as for our bodies being able to handle these new proteins…not so long after all.

Why Gluten Free?

There are actually a few diagnosed conditions which stem from the consumption of gluten. One is non-celiac gluten sensitivity, another is a wheat allergy, and lastly celiac disease. All three have similar symptoms of varying degrees and intensity. Celiac disease can be life-threatening if left undiagnosed and treated and requires a person to follow a gluten free diet, but likely affects about 1% of the American population.

People suffering from these conditions may have fatigue, constipation, skin eruptions, joint pain caused by inflammation. Most intestinal issues are caused by the incomplete digestion of wheat particles which remain in the body and ferment. It also causes reactions in the soft tissues such as joints. An inability to lose weight may lead to chronic diseases and further medical treatment.

Is Gluten Free Diet Plan Good For You?

A gluten free diet plan will help eliminate a lot of problems, some you may not even be aware of. Even if you don’t have a sensitivity, allergy, or disease, you can still help your body by going gluten free. Most gluten products also contain a lot of refined carbohydrates and sugar which can lead to obesity. Obesity is linked to a number of chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.

Adopting a gluten free diet for weight loss is certainly possible. Removing gluten products from your diet will also remove a lot of unnecessary carbs and force you to add a lot more good carbs like fruits and veggies. You’ll be cutting out most sweets too, so there goes a lot of empty calories that usually just end up somewhere on your midsection.

I’m Not Seeing A Downside Here

On a gluten free diet plan you’ll find your choices are seriously limited since gluten is in a lot your foods, hidden under different names. And wheat-free is not the same as gluten free, since gluten is part of different kinds of grains. Following a gluten free diet plan is almost impossible if you ever want to eat anything that comes pre-packaged again. Now, if you like to cook and aren’t afraid of fruits, vegetables, and a variety of meats, a gluten free diet is completely possible.

gluten

 

There are a whole lot of companies jumping on this new gluten free diet plan train. There is gluten free bread, donuts, sauces, and even sweets. However, the process required to remove gluten to the point where it is considered truly gluten free also removes a lot of the flavor and texture. Pre-packaged gluten free foods have a lot of other sugars and empty carbohydrates added to make them more palatable.

Also, most of our highly processed foods are now fortified with essential vitamins and minerals. Removing these from your diet makes you vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies. Several supplements may be necessary to meet these needs.

You don’t have to have a serious sensitivity or disease to choose a gluten free diet plan to try and better your health. You may even see some improvements you didn’t even know were related to gluten, such as clearer skin and renewed energy. If you keep to fresh, unprocessed foods, gluten free can certainly improve your well-being all around.

weight loss

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REFERENCES:
HTTPS://ONLINELIBRARY.WILEY.COM/DOI/FULL/10.1111/JGH.13703
HTTPS://WWW.NEJM.ORG/DOI/FULL/10.1056/NEJMRA071600
HTTP://WWW.MDPI.COM/2072-6643/5/10/3839/HTM
HTTPS://CELIAC.ORG/LIVE-GLUTEN-FREE/GLUTENFREEDIET/FOOD-OPTIONS/

7 Signs Someone Is Trying to Hide Their Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are way more common than most people seem to think. Just in the United States, over 40 million adults suffer from generalized anxiety disorder. With the stigma of discussing mental health in public spaces, it’s no wonder many choose to hide their condition from friends and coworkers.

But why do people hide their anxiety? There are many reasons. The most common one is that anxiety is like an enemy that tries to convince you it doesn’t exist. Many people with generalized anxiety disorder feel like they’re just too sensitive or overreacting to everything – because that’s what they’ve been told all their life. They also don’t want to be looked down upon by their friends and superiors, so they try to cope with their anxiety the best they can. Usually, this means they cope on their own.

It can be a very lonely experience – that’s why the rest of us should try our best to recognize the tell-tale symptoms of hidden anxiety in our friends, so we can offer them the help and support they need. Take a look at some things to watch out for that might indicate your friend is suffering from anxiety.

Here Are 7 Signs Someone Is Trying to Hide Their Anxiety

1. Brain fog

Most commonly recognized as a difficulty focusing on different tasks. People with anxiety are often too distracted by the unpleasant thoughts fluttering through their head to be able to focus on anything else. They can easily zone out in the middle of a conversation or stop mid-way through doing household chores. This mental fog makes everything difficult and it only adds stress to their life because it means they’ll start underperforming at work or in their education.

2. A need for validation

Anxiety is like a sneaky voice in your head, telling you that everyone secretly hates you. No matter how hard you try to think positively, you always hear that voice. You constantly need reassurance that whatever the voice is whispering, is not reality. Anxious people will often ask questions like, “Do you hate me now?” or, “Am I being annoying?” to try and disprove those thoughts. Furthermore, anxious people also have trouble making important decisions and try to offload them to someone else.

“It is very hard to explain to people who have never known serious depression or anxiety the sheer continuous intensity of it. There is no off switch.” – Matt Haig

3. Eating their feelings

Binging on food is an underrated sign of depression and anxiety. The instinct to eat as much comfort food as possible – which often means unhealthy, greasy food – is triggered by the part of their brain that asks for extra fat to calm down anxious emotions. Often, this symptom can have serious results such as extreme weight gain and health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, related to weight gain and obesity.

emotional eating

4. Getting sick often

One of the physical effects of anxiety is that it significantly weakens a person’s immune system. Therefore, an anxious person can get sick very easily, especially during the prime time for illness – at the beginning of winter or spring. The effort they go through to hide their stressed emotions from everyone will lead to more stress and an even more strained immune system.

5. Fidgeting

Body language can speak volumes for someone who suffers from anxiety. A nervous tick or any type of fidgeting – like fiddly fingers or a bouncy leg – can betray the anxious thoughts in someone’s mind. That happens because they make every effort to stay calm and composed but the stress levels are so great that they need an outlet, which they find in the fidgeting limb. Additionally, anxious people will often sit and stand in a way that indicates they’re closed off to other people, out of a need to protect themselves.

6. Headaches and migraines

Many people might think that anxiety is a mental illness and doesn’t exhibit any physical symptoms. That’s not true. Scientists are positive about the fact that being constantly anxious adversely affects all parts of the body. Tension headaches and migraines are the most common symptom of anxiety, and they’re caused by the tension of muscles around the area of the head. An anxious person will often want to sleep the headaches away or try to get through them with painkillers – which can lead to dangerous dependencies.

7. Always being late

Once or twice isn’t a big deal, but if someone is consistently late to work or to meetings with their friends, that can be a symptom of depression or anxiety. Anxious people can panic just at the thought of leaving the comfort of their bed and facing the hallway. Much less the great outdoors. For them, their house or room is a safe haven; everything outside of it seems threatening and hostile. That’s why they’ll put it off as much as they can until they no longer can – but they’ll still be late and that will make them even more anxious. It’s a vicious, unforgiving cycle.

Final thoughts

“Just try some yoga, or some positive thinking!” is most people’s advice. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Anxiety changes the chemicals in your brain and it makes you believe things that aren’t true. It’s a debilitating condition to live with. If you think someone you know might be suffering from this, reach out to them. Maybe they need a friendly face when they go to their doctor to tell them what they’re feeling. Don’t ignore generalized anxiety disorder, as some cases can digress rapidly and unexpectedly into severe depression or other physical and mental conditions.

References:
https://adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics

5 Supplements That Can Help Prevent a Brain Stroke

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of long-term disability. Strokecenter.org estimates that each year, 795,000 people suffer a stroke in the United States. Over 140,000 die and tens of thousands are permanently disabled.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, obesity, and smoking lead as risk factors for stroke. Unfortunately, the CDC estimates that one in three U.S. adults has at least one of these conditions.

Because what we put into our bodies plays a critical role, we are going to discuss foods that can improve your chances. Whether you get these ingredients through whole foods (the best source) or through supplements, you can be confident they’re all “heart healthy.”

Let’s do this!

Here are 5 supplements that can prevent a stroke:

1. DPA fatty acid

DPA is a polyunsaturated fatty acid found in fish. You can also get this through fish oil supplements. Studies demonstrate that DPA improves fat metabolism, promotes cell growth, and reduces inflammation.

Long-chain fatty acids, such as omega-3s, improve not only our heart health but also our brain function. As one of the most well-researched supplements in existence, omega-3s play an irreplaceable role in preventing stroke.

Other food sources of DPA include grass-fed beef and seafood. Alcohol consumption is a known barrier to omega-3 absorption; as such, cutting back or abstaining from alcohol should be considered.

omega 3

2. Cacao

Do you occasionally enjoy a chunk or three of dark chocolate? Well, “hear ye, hear ye,” this article is for you. According to a 21,000-person, 11-year study, researchers in England discovered that Brits who ate as much as 3.5 ounces of dark chocolate a day had fewer strokes than those who abstained.

Not all chocolate is created equal, however. When it comes to heart health, choose high-quality dark chocolate that contains at least 70 percent cacao.

3. Fiber

Okay, so … Americans rarely eat enough fiber. The Institute of Medicine prescribes 38 grams of daily fiber for men, and 25 grams of fiber for women. How much fiber do we eat, on average? 16 grams.

Fiber is one of the best ingredients for a healthy heart. Research shows that fiber lowers both blood pressure and cholesterol – two of the main risk factors for stroke we discussed earlier. Additionally, fiber increases satiety or feelings of fullness. As a result, we are less likely to indulge our sugar cravings.

Excellent sources of fiber include apples, barley, beans, berries, carrots, celery, citrus fruits, nuts, oatmeal, and whole grains.

4. Potassium

Potassium is critical to heart health. In fact, without potassium, our heart wouldn’t be able to beat since the nutrient is required for nerve communication. (The heart relies on a vibrant network of nerve cells to communicate with the brain and other parts of the body.)

As many as a hundred thousand times a day, potassium helps the heart effectively distribute blood throughout our body. Potassium also helps our muscles effectively move and promotes kidney function.

You can find potassium in a dietary supplement or from natural food sources. The best foods include avocados, bananas, fat-free yogurt, squash, sweet potatoes, and pure orange juice.

5. Folic acid

Folic acid is an essential B vitamin that assists with breaking down the amino acid homocysteine. If the body contains too much of this, it can trigger a stroke.

A recent study shows that women who take at least 1,000 micrograms (µg) daily have a 46 percent lower risk of developing high blood pressure. Given the amount of folic acid required to achieve these benefits, you should combine supplements with dietary sources.

Good food sources of folic acid include avocados, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. Dried beans, nuts, okra, peas, spinach, and turnip greens also make the list.

Final Thoughts: Let’s Get Heart Healthy!

We need to consciously do what’s best for our heart, day in and day out. We’d be wise to pay close attention. After all, our “ticker” is (literally) our lifeline. Every cell in our body depends on a healthy and functioning heart to distribute oxygen and nutrients. Every organ requires a constant influx of oxygen-rich blood to work, and this includes our precious and delicate brain.

In conclusion, proactively caring for our heart is an important part of living a healthy and vigorous life. Make every effort to maintain a healthy weight, get regular exercise, and cut back on or eliminate your vices.

Sources:
http://www.strokecenter.org/patients/about-stroke/stroke-statistics/
https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/sweet-dreams-eating-chocolate-prevents-heart-disease-201506168087
https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/eat-more-fiber-rich-foods-to-foster-heart-health
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4467567/
https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/…/folic-acid-may-fight-high-blood-pressure

6 Early Menopause Symptoms A Woman Should Never Ignore

Do you or someone you know suffer from early menopause symptoms? By the time menopause hits women in their 50’s, they have already raised their families and are looking forward to putting menstrual cycles and child birthing behind them.

Unfortunately, some women experience signs of menopause long before they should. Women as early as 40 years of age can go into menopause leaving them with hot flashes and an ongoing problem with mood swings. Early menopause symptoms can often be mistaken for a medical condition or a mental health issue. Thankfully, there is testing that can be done to verify your concerns and get you the help you need.

The Early Menopause Symptoms

As a woman ages, the ovaries produce less estrogen than before. The lack of this vital hormone can cause you to feel moody and grouchy, and you can even have hot flashes that can mimic panic attacks. You may experience a loss of periods too. A woman can continue to have cycles during the pre-menopause days, but they will often be heavy or light. In fact, some women choose to have ablation to stop their cycles when they are having excessive clotting and heavy bleeding.

Other problems during this time are even more troublesome. Vaginal dryness can make sexual activities complicated. Experts are not sure why women lose their sex drive, but a loss of libido can be caused from the dryness or the shift in hormones. Bladder control issues become commonplace too. Leaking urine when laughing, coughing, or sneezing is often a new problem that has devastating consequences. Because of all the changes in the body, depression and anxiety are not unusual. If you are experiencing all these different problems, then you may feel that they are falling apart and not as valuable as they once were.

Why Some Women Go into Menopause Early?

Everyone’s system is unique. While one woman may start through the change at 52, a woman who has compromised health may begin at 41 years of age. For instance, a woman that has been through chemotherapy will find their body has been compromised. Early menopause symptoms can start at any age, especially if there is an auto-immune condition underlying. Those with lupus, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, and rheumatoid arthritis may experience menopause years before healthy individuals in their age bracket.

Diagnosing Premature Menopause

Most women visit the doctor when they experience early menopause symptoms, but many feel that they have an underlying health issue and are not going through “the change.” A doctor will evaluate your symptoms and run some tests. One of the most important tests to run is one that checks your estradiol levels. When the ovaries begin to fail, these levels will drop below 30.

The FSH level is another important indicator of whether a person is in menopause. The follicle stimulating hormone is what causes the ovaries to produce estrogen. If the level of FSH is above 40, then a person is in menopause. As the ovaries begin to shut down production, the FHS levels increase.

Early Menopause Symptoms

The lack of estrogen in the body can cause all sorts of problems. First, a woman may experience osteoporosis. The lack of this vital hormone also increases the chances of developing uterine or colon cancer. It can even affect things like the gums and teeth too. Menopause starts later in life for a reason. A woman who begins this journey, way too young, has a longer and harder time trying to make up for the loss of the vital hormones.

Treating Early Menopause

If you are experiencing early menopause symptoms, then it is important to be checked out by a doctor. There are many physical and emotional aspects that can be treated to prevent complications. Pre-mature menopause causes infertility to some women still within the child bearing years, but that does not mean that there are not other options.

Though early menopause is not reversible, there are therapeutic treatments that can help ease the lack of estrogen. Do your research and understand your options. Adding estrogen into the body has been linked with breast cancer and other problems. However, your doctor can show you things to do and offer medications that can help you feel whole again. Most importantly, know that you are not alone in this journey. Many women experience menopause long before they should.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBPkcLRCC8g

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HTTPS://WWW.MEDICINENET.COM/PREMATURE_MENOPAUSE_MEDICAL_PROCEDURAL_CAUSES/ARTICLE.HTM 
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