If you are a woman over 40, you may have a lot of questions about menopause. When does menopause start? How long will I experience symptoms? Can symptoms be treated? Can I still get pregnant when going through menopause? Will menopause affect my physical appearance? Your doctor will be able to answer these questions and help you best manage menopause symptoms to ensure your health both today and as you experience this natural stage of life. 

All women will experience menopause. However, each person may have different symptoms. The average age for this “change of life” is 51, but it usually occurs any time between the age of 40 and 55. Common symptoms may include changes in periods (such as being heavier or lighter, and shorter or longer in duration or time in between cycles), hot flashes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping, and moodiness. Each woman’s menopause experience will be unique. Menopause itself does not require treatment, but if you find some symptoms to be bothersome, you should talk with your doctor about how to relieve your discomfort.

You may notice several changes in your body as you go through menopause, such as weight gain around your waist, increase in fatty tissue, loss of muscle mass, reduced breast size, and thinning and loss of elasticity in the skin. Fortunately, you can take steps to feel better about yourself and stay healthy after menopause. Don’t smoke, eat a healthy diet that includes enough calcium and vitamin D, maintain a healthy weight, and exercise regularly.

Women today will live more than one-third of their lives after menopause. That’s why it’s important to make lifestyle changes that will allow you to get the most out of life. Test your knowledge of menopause by taking a quick, online menopause quiz on our website at DoctorsHospitalDallas.com/MenopauseQuiz.

Photo credit: iStock/Thinkstock

Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake

9400 Poppy Drive
Dallas, TX 75218

214-324-6100
www.doctorshospitaldallas.com

It’s easier to get where you want to go when you have directions. Staying on the right track for good health includes eating right, exercising and not smoking. But you might unknowingly be going in the wrong direction if you have pre-diabetes. That’s because symptoms of this condition may develop so gradually, if at all, that most people are not aware they have it.

It’s important to know if you have pre-diabetes because it is often the precursor to type 2 diabetes. Fortunately, pre-diabetes can be diagnosed using either the fasting plasma glucose test or oral glucose tolerance test, and the progression to diabetes can be delayed or reversed through weight loss, exercise and medication. The American Diabetes Association recommends testing for people who are over the age of 45 or overweight, have high blood pressure or a first-degree relative with diabetes, had gestational diabetes or delivered a baby weighing more than nine pounds, or are African American, Latino, Asian, Native American or Pacific Islander. If diagnosed with pre-diabetes, you should be checked for type 2 diabetes every one to two years. 

Studies have shown that a modest weight loss of seven percent of total body weight coupled with 30-minute daily moderate exercise five days a week can delay or prevent the onset of diabetes. Blood glucose levels could even return to normal in some cases. A medication called metformin (Glucophage) also may be effective in delaying the onset of diabetes, but not to the extent of diet and exercise. 

Pre-diabetes is a serious medical condition that requires treatment because studies have shown it may cause some long-term damage to the heart and circulatory system. To learn more about pre-diabetes, take the free, online pre-diabetes risk assessment available on the Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake website at DoctorsHospitalDallas.com/PrediabetesQuiz. 

Photo courtesy: iStock/Thinkstock

Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake

9400 Poppy Drive
Dallas, TX 75218

214-324-6100
www.doctorshospitaldallas.com