Hormones are the body’s powerful chemical messengers. They work by controlling and regulating the processes that keep the body functioning. You have probably heard of some of these hormones, such as insulin (which controls blood sugar), oxytocin (which regulates emotions and plays a role in breastfeeding), melatonin (which regulates sleep), renin (which helps to control […]
For most women, the lead up to menopause (that single day when you’ve not had your period for a year) is more like a marathon than a sprint. Perimenopause is a process. It begins with the slow decline of estrogen eight to 10 years before your last period. This happens in the 40s, but some
A butterfly-shaped gland positioned around the larynx (aka the voice box), the thyroid gets a lot of attention in midlife. (Feel tired? Maybe it’s your thyroid? Gained weight? Maybe it’s your thyroid. Freezing cold? Probably your thyroid. Sound familiar?) It’s little wonder, though, that we blame it for many of our woes. As part of
Though many people use the word menopause to mean the years of a woman’s life after her periods stop, menopause is actually a single day. It’s the one-year anniversary of a woman’s last period. Every day after that is postmenopause — and for up to eight years before that can be a time known as perimenopause.
If you know what it’s like to wake up in a puddle of sweat, you know a night sweat. And you’re not alone: Up to 80 percent of women will experience night sweats or hot flashes at some point in their lives.
Throughout your 40s and 50s, food can be instrumental in alleviating the symptoms of shifting hormones. Optimal nutrition helps reduce mood swings, depression, anxiety, and irritability while boosting energy. Want to harness the power of food to relieve hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, acne, hair loss, and vaginal dryness — and help balance your
“I joke that I went into the hospital age 47 and woke up 60, but it’s also kind of not funny.” That’s an actual text message from one friend to another, sent just days after the friend who sent the message underwent an emergency hysterectomy that removed cervix, uterus, and both ovaries and fallopian tubes
A sudden wash of heat. A flushed face and neck. Red blotches on your chest, back, and arms. Sweat trickling down your torso. It’s a hot flash. Maybe you’ve heard of it? But maybe the facts below are not things you already know about the most common symptom of approaching menopause.
If you believe everything popular culture taught you about perimenopause and menopause, you probably assume it involves hot flashes — and not much else. (Cue the desert scene in Sex and the City 2 when Samantha exclaims, “They’re starting!”)
Hot flashes can sneak up on you out of nowhere, making otherwise normal situations incredibly uncomfortable. Whether it’s in the office, in the gym, or on a date (yikes), one thing’s for sure: There is never a good time to have one. If you’re struggling with hot flashes, you are far from alone. In fact,
Hormones have always been good at messing with us. They get a bad rap, but we need hormones to regulate all of our bodily functions, from hunger to emotions. During puberty, they transform many of us into moody, confused teenagers with a penchant for slamming doors and sulking. As we get older, our hormones can
Menopause can feel like an emotional roller coaster for many women. (We’re talking about the rickety, wooden roller coasters that seem to exist only to induce nausea. Does anyone actually enjoy those?)