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The Facts Surrounding Menopause And Why Menopause Is Worse For Some Women

We all know what menopause is and how it affects many women, but it seems to be worse for some women than others. There are many reasons why this could be and understanding those reasons and what types of things may be going on can really help us to combat menopausal symptoms.

The affect and symptoms of menopause may be worse for some women than others.  African American women may be particularly prone to experiencing worse menopausal symptoms than Caucasian women. 

Lack of sleep is one of the biggest reported problems in women going through menopause.  Menopause doesn’t necessarily begin in the ovaries.  New studies suggest that menopause actually may begin (if only in part) in the brain. 

A study about menopause was conducted by the National Institutes of Health.  The study is referred to as Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN).  More than 3,000 women participated in the study between the ages of 42 and 52. 

Through the course of the study, researchers found that the women in this study fell into three distinct groups. 

Group one had increases in their estrogen levels followed by a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH).  This process should have caused ovulation, but it did not in these women. 

Estrogen levels peaked in the second group with no correlating surge in LH, triggered by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland responding to the higher estrogen levels.

Finally, the third group has similar estrogen levels early on in their cycles.  This group did not have an increase in estrogen levels later on like the first and second group and LH levels didn’t surge.  The LH levels, however, were higher for most of the cycle in this group than they were in the first two groups.  All evidence suggested that the brain was not responding to the hormones.
 
Caffeine is also known to make the symptoms of menopause worse.  Drinking coffee hinders absorption of minerals.  Drinking caffeine can also reduce the re-absorption of magnesium and calcium.  In addition, coffee may hinder the absorption of iron. 

Caffeine consumption has also been linked to an increased level of hot flashes in many menopausal women.  Coffee can also disrupt sleep, which can contribute to hot flashes and night sweats. 

Because consuming coffee can reduce the re-absorption of calcium, women who are heavy coffee drinkers may have an increased rate of bone loss.  Caffeine also elevates levels of stress hormones such as adrenaline, cortisol, and norepinephrine.  This can cause an increased heart rate and high blood pressure, resulting in a panic attack or panic response.
 
Last, women who are using HRT to combat menopausal symptoms and are drinking caffeine may have an increased risk of getting Parkinson’s Disease. 

Tags: caffeine, lack of sleep, Menopause, study

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