Menopause health guidance content

There is no one-size-fits-all standard answer to menopausal health management. The core principle is "no forcing, no blind supplementation, and individualized adjustments." There is no need to regard this stage as a scourge, nor can we ignore symptoms such as hot flashes, insomnia, and emotional loss. By adjusting daily habits and medical intervention based on their own conditions, most people can get through it smoothly.

I just received a 49-year-old aunt in the outpatient clinic last week. She has been suffering from insomnia for two years. She can sleep no more than two hours a day. She struggled until she couldn't control herself and wanted to jump off the building. Then her family brought her in. I asked her why she didn't come earlier. She said that she always felt that "it's menopause. It's just a matter of patience. Going to see her is too fussy." Of course, there are also those who go to the other extreme. Last month, a patient watched a short video and heard that estrogen supplementation can maintain youth forever. He secretly bought three imported ovarian maintenance supplements that are said to be "purely natural". After taking it for three months, he did not get his period. The examination found that the endometrium had thickened to 14mm. If it were two months later, there might be problems.

In fact, when it comes to menopausal intervention, different medical systems do have different ideas. There is no absolute right or wrong, and the one that suits you is the best. Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), which is currently recommended by Western medicine, has reached a clear consensus in the industry: as long as it is within the "window period" of 10 years after menopause, under the age of 60, and without contraindications such as breast cancer, unexplained vaginal bleeding, and severe liver and kidney dysfunction, the benefits of standardized hormone supplementation far outweigh the risks. It can not only quickly relieve obvious symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness, but also prevent long-term osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. I have a gynecology colleague who went through menopause at the age of 50 and took MHT for 5 years according to the standard. He is 57 years old this year and has higher bone density than many 40-year-old office workers. He has always been in particularly good condition.

Of course, if you have contraindications to the use of hormones, or you are resistant to hormones from the bottom of your heart, there is no need to force it. There was a patient who had grade 3 breast nodules. There was a history of breast cancer in the family and he was afraid to take hormones. So he went to a regular public Chinese medicine hospital for syndrome differentiation and conditioning, and received acupuncture twice a week to soothe the liver and relieve depression. He usually made some roses and albizia flowers at home for tea, and danced square dances with sisters in the community for three months. The previous problem of waking up three or four times a night and sweating all the time was almost cured. There are now many studies confirming that botanicals such as black cohosh extract are effective in relieving mild to moderate menopausal symptoms. However, be careful not to buy any health products. Many products that claim to be "100% natural" secretly add excessive estrogen, which makes them more risky.

You really don’t have to be too tight with your daily adjustments. It doesn’t mean that you have to completely change your appearance and become a health guru as soon as you reach menopause. For example, in terms of diet, you don’t have to force yourself to eat boiled vegetables every day. If you usually like to eat sweet and sour pork ribs or spicy hot pot, it’s totally fine to eat it once in a while. It will make you feel better than any supplements. The only thing you need to do is take calcium supplements seriously and drink 30 grams a day. 0ml pure milk, go out and bask in the sun for 10 minutes, it will be absorbed much better than the calcium tablets you buy from internet celebrities that cost hundreds of yuan - bone loss is really fast after menopause. I have seen too many aunts break their hips after falling down, so I really need to be careful about this.

Don’t be compulsive about exercise. You don’t need to listen to others who say running is good, just keep running. If your knees are bad, just walk for half an hour every day, do Tai Chi, and if you like to be lively, go square dancing, or even do 20 minutes of Baduanjin at home following the video. The key is to stick to it three or four times a week. Don't mention it. There was a patient who climbed Xiangshan Mountain twice a week with his wife for half a year. His hot flashes, which were more than a dozen times a day, were significantly relieved by taking medicine.

There are also emotional issues that are most easily ignored by everyone. Don’t always listen to people saying “You have to control your emotions.” Estrogen fluctuates greatly at this stage. It’s normal to get angry. Don’t hold it in, and don’t think that “it’s embarrassing to mention menopause.” Say hello to your family in advance, “I’ve been having sex lately.” "Maybe I have a bad temper, please bear with me if I don't speak well." If you are really bored, go shopping or sing with your old sisters. If you can't get motivated for half a month and feel that life is boring, there is no shame in talking to a psychiatrist. You really can't deal with anxiety and depression.

Having worked as a gynecological clinic for more than ten years, the most common thing I tell patients is that menopause is not a disease, but a stage that everyone will go through. It is no different from having your period in adolescence or being in confinement after giving birth. There is no need to insist on being an "emotionally stable middle-aged person", and there is no need to worry about whether you are going to "get old". Do the little things that you should pay attention to. If you feel uncomfortable, go to a regular doctor and do whatever makes you feel better. This is more effective than any standardized health guidance.