Bouncing Back from Back Surgery

If you're like most women who are approaching menopause, you probably already know that menopause is generally signified by hot flashes and an end to having periods. However, there are other issues at play that many women don't know about. For instance, your levels of estrogen will begin to fluctuate before or during the onset of menopause, and by the time the process is over, estrogen levels will be very low. Low estrogen levels can cause a variety of issues — following are just six conditions that a women's health specialist may be able to help you with.

Insomnia 

Many women who have never had trouble sleeping in their lives report having difficulty sleeping after going through menopause. Hot flashes and night sweats certainly play a part in this, but low levels of estrogen can also interfere with the circadian rhythms that determine our sleep cycles. 

Heart Palpitations

Heart palpitations often begin during or right before menopause and keep occurring afterward as a direct result of lowered estrogen levels. Post-menopausal women are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular issues, so make sure you speak with your doctor if you're having palpitations or other signs of heart trouble. Fortunately, heart palpitations are often completely harmless, but they should nonetheless be checked out. 

Cognitive Issues

Another condition associated with low levels of estrogen is something commonly known as "brain fog." As its name implies, this condition is characterized by a lack of ability to focus for very long. Some people also experience memory loss. 

Bone Loss

Estrogen depletion results in bone loss as well as causes existing bone matter to become weak and brittle. Calcium therapy often helps with this situation, so be sure to ask your women's health specialist if calcium supplements are right for you.

Dry Skin

Lack of estrogen results in the decreased ability of the skin to hold moisture, which results in dry skin and reduced  elasticity. Skin generally begins to noticeably sag during this time and may be more likely to bruise. Low levels of estrogen may also result in surface wounds healing more slowly. 

Mood Swings You may be aware that common cultural lore associates women who are in the process of going through menopause with mood swings and other irrational behavior, but this sometimes extends past menopause due to low levels of estrogen. Your health care professional will be able to recommend a course of treatment designed to alleviate this problem. 

Contact a service, like HealthWellnessMD, to learn more.