From hot flashes and night sweats to sleep disturbances and weight gain, most women are aware of at least a few of the physical changes caused by menopause. But did you know there are over 30 symptoms recognized as part of the menopause transition? Because 90 percent of women experience a range of menopausal changes—physical, mental, and emotional—it’s not only important to understand what the possible symptoms are but also what impact they may have on quality of life. While some changes can have a resounding presence, others can sneak up quietly. In this blog, we’ll sound off on the silent side effects of menopause with the help of our board-certified physician and women’s health specialist in San Diego, Dr. Valerie Gafori, OB/GYN.
Dr. Gafori joined our PRFCT family on a mission to change the conversation and approach to women’s health, including perimenopause, which begins at an average age of 47, and menopause —that begins at an average age of 51. During this time, women can have symptoms associated with fluctuations in their hormone levels without even knowing it, such as:
· New onset anxiety and/or depression
· Brain fog
· Unexplained weight gain
· Heart palpitations
· Poor concentration
· Fatigue
· Headaches or migraines
These “silent side effects” can actually be linked to red flags in our physical health—especially our cardiovascular health and our mental health. All too often, women feel they have to suffer through these symptoms in silence because they can’t quite explain what is causing them to feel so unbalanced. Not only can this affect their personal life but their professional life as well. As many as 8 out of 10 women are still working when they enter the menopause transition and 1 in 10 of these women leave their jobs because of associated health struggles.1
The lack of sleep, headaches, lethargy, inability to focus, and pain or discomfort can be the force that drives women out of the workforce prematurely. This results in a lack of confidence and purpose and can greatly burden them financially. Fortunately, momentum is building for raising awareness and breaking the silence on the often hushed consequences of menopausal changes to a woman’s personal and professional life with movements across the globe asking companies for more support for women’s health.
Remember the cardiovascular health side effects mentioned above? And if not, that’s okay—brain fog is possible at all ages! During menopause, women experience a reduced production of estrogen, which leads to vascular dysfunction and an increase in inflammation that can further the buildup of cholesterol in blood vessels and lead to a greater risk of heart disease or stroke. Additionally, increased belly fat, visceral fat, hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disturbances may all be linked to a higher risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. So, why is this important? Because many of us are unaware that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S.² Understanding and managing the body’s changes and symptoms of menopause can not only improve quality of life but can truly impact your life!
Dr. Gafori stresses that long-term complications of inadequate menopausal care in this transition can include higher rates of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, metabolic disease, muscle loss, and dementia. While living a healthy and active lifestyle with adequate sleep, good nutrition, exercise, and lowering of stress levels is always beneficial, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), also referred to as menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), can be a safe and effective option to consider for the right patients. There are many hormone therapies that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the symptoms of menopause by delivering estrogen and progesterone through skin patches, creams, or pills. Dr. Gafori advises that if you are having symptoms, starting MHT early, particularly in the first ten years of the menopause transition, will actually have a more profound impact on your health and longevity.
Our goal at PRFCT is to help all of our patients live out loud and feel 100 percent themselves into their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond. The welcomed addition of Dr. Gafori and the HER Wellness clinic at PRFCT is designed to support women with physical health, quality of life, mental health, and more with evidence-based treatments to alleviate symptoms and ensure you are thriving. Join us in empowering ourselves to experience total health for HER at any age!
Ready to restore your health and vitality? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Gafori at the HER Wellness clinic at PRFCT today!
1 BBC
² AHA
