What medical conditions rise for women at menopause?
As hormones change for women in their 40’s and 50’s so does the risk of certain medical conditions and challenges including these 4 common ones:
Cardiovascular disease & diabetes
As your estrogen levels decline, the risk of cardiovascular disease rises. Given heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, nutrition plays a critical role in helping both prevent and manage heart disease, stroke, blood cholesterol levels and your blood pressure. Researchers are looking into the protective effects of estrogen against developing diabetes and there is evidence suggesting decreased estrogen levels during menopause canincrease the risk of developing diabetes.
Lowered bone density
Falling hormone levels also leads to bone density loss. The risk of osteoporosis and fractures of the spine, hips and wrists become a much more significant issue at menopause. Keeping active with weight bearing activity and choosing foods good for your bones is critical before, during and after menopause.
Weight gain
As you age your muscle mass naturally declines, which lowers your metabolism and makes it often more challenging to maintain your weight. Hormone changes during menopause also increase the rate at which you store visceral fat surrounding the vital organs deep within the abdomen area. Changing hormones at menopause can also lead to sleep disturbances and mood changes which can also indirectly influence eating and exercise habits in a negative way.
Digestion changes
Fluctuating hormones at menopause may contribute to gas, bloating and sluggish intestines which can lead to more difficulty with regular bowel routines and constipation. It is very important to eat regular meals, consume adequate fluids and eat enough fibre to help support good digestive health to help manage these symptoms. Read more about menopause and digestive health here: Does Menopause Affect Digestion? 4 Ways to Manage Discomfort
Read more about the changes that occur in your health in our previous blog article here: Managing Menopause: Estrogen & Your Health
