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Most women on the confident side of 40 are familiar with what menopause symptoms to look out for. They’re the ones we hear about the most. Aside from the irregular periods, there’s hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, weight gain and general lethargy. However there are many less common and less well known symptoms of menopause that may answer a few questions for you.
These symptoms include the following:
- Irregular heart beat – An irregular heart beat can take the form of a pounding heart, a racing heart beat or a fluttering feeling in the chest. The rate at which our coronary arteries dilate and contract is in part regulated by oestrogen. When our oestrogen levels decrease, it’s not always at a steady rate; sometimes levels can fluctuate quite rapidly and this can lead to an irregular heart beat.
- High blood pressure – Oestrogen prevents narrowing of the arteries and the build up of plaque in the arterial walls, so when your oestrogen levels drop during menopause, your arteries come under increased pressure. This increased pressure may then lead to heart problems down the road.
- Itchy skin – Oestrogen is crucial to the production of collagen and regulating our skin’s moisture levels. When our oestrogen levels drop, so too does the level of collagen in the epidermis, leading to dry flaky, itchy skin.
- Panic Attacks and other Mental Health Issues – Our mood is regulated by the hormones oestrogen and progesterone. When levels of the hormones change or drop it can affect our ability to correctly process and cope with stress.
- Dry Mouth and Dry Eyes – Moisture in our mucous membranes is regulated by oestrogen – so when oestrogen is in short supply, the parts of us that need it to stay moist, like eyes and mouth, start to feel dry.
- Nausea and bloating – In the same way that changes in hormone levels cause nausea for pregnant women, the changes in hormones levels for menopausal women can also lead to nausea and bloating
- Dizziness – the jury is still out on this one, however it’s believed the fluctuating levels of oestrogen and progesterone have an effect on our circulatory system leading to erratic fluctuations of blood pressure that cause a feeling of faintness or dizziness.
It’s important to remember that, while the symptoms listed above may be caused by menopause, they may also be the sign of other, more serious medical conditions. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms above, it’s important to first see your doctor to rule out other causes.
Note from National Custom Compounding: We specialise in hormone replacement therapies that have been developed specifically for the unique hormonal requirements of the individual. We work closely with integrative doctors to develop long term treatment plans designed to improve a woman’s comfort and quality of life. For more information on how to manage your menopausal symptoms, contact National Custom Compounding on 1300 731 755 or [email protected]