Health Tips & Info For Women : What is Menopause?

Menopause is something that happens to all women as they get older. Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her period stops. It is a normal change in a woman's body. Natural menopause occurs when the monthly cycle of ovulation comes to an end. This is because the ovarian supply of follicles and eggs declines sharply as a woman approaches menopause. It occurs between the age of 45 and 55. 

Menopause is when a woman has not had a menstrual period for a full year. It marks both the end of menstruation and the end of a woman's ability to naturally conceive a child. Menopause is a natural occurance and not the one that occurs due to medical intervention. Menopause that occurs due to medical intervention like removal of ovaries etc, its termed as induced menopause. 

As you near menopause, you may have symptoms from the changes your body is making. Many women wonder if these changes are normal, and many are confused about how to treat their symptoms. The symptoms are differnt for every women, the only common symptom is stopping of periods. Some of the symptoms are :

• Vaginal dryness
• Sleeplessness
• Change in menstural cycle
• Hair loss
• Mood Swings

Women who had mood swings (PMS) before their periods or post-partum depression after giving birth may have more mood swings around menopause. This symptom fades away with time.

One can over come the symptoms of menopause by eating a healthy diet and exercising at menopause and beyond . Most women do not need any special treatment for menopause. Only some serious symptoms need to be treated. Hormone therapy is one way to deal with the most difficult symptoms of menopause. There are many kinds of Hormone therapies to treat the various symptoms like Reducing hot flashes, Treating vaginal dryness , Slowing bone loss , Improving Sleep. Your doctor could advice you on the best treatment.

Menopause is called "premature" if it happens at or before the age of 40--whether it is natural or brought on by medical means (induced). Some women have premature menopause because of Genes, Treatments for cancer.

Follwing healthy food habits and regular exercise routine would help to overcome menopause symptoms easily.

Health Tips & Info For Women : Meditate To Ease Labour Pains.

First time mom's would be anxious about there birth of the new-born.  Each woman experiences labor differently. Some women are more sensitive to pain than others and medical factors such as the size and the position of the baby affect the amount of pain and duration labour. One cannot predict how the labour and delivery will go.  But planning ahead can definitely help ease labour pains.

Yogic breathing energises the mother and the child and helps control stressful situations.  Expectant mother feels relaxed enabling her to have a positive approach to labour.  It increases the stamina and vitality promoting an easy delivery with minimum distress and fatigue during labour.  Physical and respiratory exercises should be done alternatively in order to avoid tiredness,  Complete yogic breathing regimen includes abdominal, upper chest and clavicular breathing.

While expelling the child, it is essential for the woman not to lese her breath control.  For this, Lamaze breathing techniques are taught to help the woman to learn to control her respiration as well as her muscles during bearing down period.  Then she will have no difficulty in following the instructions of her doctor during child birth.

Meditation helps the expectant mother remain in a tranquil state and makes her bonding with the baby easier.  The chanting of holy mantras helps in the development of the brain in a positive way.  Meditative postures include cross legged posture etc.  Here the body resembles like triangle symbolising harmony and balance.  Yoganidra is a systematic method of ensuring complete physical, mental and emotional relaxation.  The state of our mind and that of our dodies are united.

When our muscles are relaxed our mind relaxes too.  To relax is to rejuvanate.  This relaxation technique requires a few minutes and is very effective in day to day lives.

Courtesy : Women's life Indian Express, October 17 2006