Many women fear that time in their lives when they stop ovulating and starting going through the menopause. The reduction of oestrogen in their systems can lead to some health concerns and some unpleasant symptoms, such as mood swings, hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, depression, irritability and vaginal dryness. Medical help is available in the form of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) but many women are reluctant to put artificial hormones into their bodies. New research has indicated a possible way to combat the symptoms of menopause and improve your wellbeing without having to resort to HRT.
The new study, published in the Menopause journal has shown that taking part in aerobic exercise may also help to beat the uncomfortable symptoms associated with the menopause and improve your wellness. Participants in the study were aged between 45 and 63 years and were all experiencing symptoms of the menopause following cessation of ovulation between three and 36 months prior to the start of the trial. One group of women engaged in aerobic exercise four times per week for a period of 24 weeks. This could include walking, running, swimming, aerobics, cycling and other activities, and had to log their symptoms twice a day using a mobile phone, scoring their symptoms on a scale from one (low) to five (high).
Following the study, the researchers looked at the data and concluded that all of the symptoms (apart from vaginal dryness) had decreased in the group that took part in the exercise on a regular basis. This indicates that for women who are experiencing the distressing symptoms associated with the menopause, the key may lie in taking more exercise. Increasing activity levels may help to decrease some of the symptoms, but will also certainly improve physical health, which can have numerous benefits. Exercise also releases endorphins which are the ‘happy hormones’ designed to combat stress and pain and make you feel happier.
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