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Shilpa Gajrawala struggled with hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems and brain fog. But given her breast cancer history, treating these menopause symptoms with hormone therapy was not an option.
“For two years, I tried to get some kind of strength,” said the 58-year-old physician assistant. jacksonville, Florida,
But doctors say that women like Gajrawala do not need to suffer.
Although many women take hormone therapy medications to ease menopause symptoms, recently announced label changes may encourage even more to start. But others choose not to use these drugs which spread throughout the body. And doctors advise some people to avoid them because they have medical problems such as severe liver disease or heart attack, stroke, blood clots or a type of breast cancer that grows in response to hormones like estrogen.
For those people, there are lifestyle changes, medications without hormones, and other strategies that can help.
“The important thing here is that there’s something for everyone,” said Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director of the Menopause Society. “There is always a solution. We have many other options available.”
lifestyle changes
Promoting physical activity can make a difference. Although exercise may not directly reduce menopause symptoms, it may help with weight loss, which is associated with a reduction in hot flashes and night sweats.
Doctors recommend a mix of aerobic exercise, such as running or walking, and strength training, which slows the loss of bone density.
Along with exercise, doctors also recommend paying attention to what you eat.
Emerging science suggests that a “plant-forward diet,” rich in produce and soy and low in oil, may be particularly helpful in managing hot flashes, said Faubion of the Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health. experts Not sure why this is true, but some suggest it may be because it also helps with weight loss.
Another key, doctors said, is to avoid things in the diet that can trigger hot flashes, such as caffeine or alcohol.
Eating well and exercising also helps prevent other health problems in midlife, such as increased heart and diabetes risks.
During menopause, the production of estrogen and progesterone hormones in the body is greatly reduced. Declining estrogen levels can lead to high blood pressure and cholesterol.
“It’s important that we focus on maintaining heart health” such as stopping smoking, getting enough sleep and keeping an eye on stress levels, Faubion said.
prescription drugs
In addition to lifestyle changes, some non-hormonal prescription medications have proven helpful in reducing menopause symptoms.
Antidepressants can help with hot flashes and mood problems. Recent data suggests that a drug for overactive bladder called oxybutynin may reduce hot flashes, as well as treat the frequent urination that is common during menopause.
And doctors pointed to a new drug on the market — Vioza, a brand name of phaseolint — that works in the area of the brain that regulates body temperature and blocks the source of hot flashes and night sweats. Another non-hormonal drug called aligestant – marketed as Linquat – was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. It works similarly, except it blocks two molecules in the nervous system instead of one.
One downside of such medications? possible side effects.
Veoza’s label includes a federally required warning about the risk of rare but serious liver injury. Possible side effects of Linquet include difficulty staying awake, fatigue, and others. Some antidepressants can cause weight gain, although generally at higher doses than those used for menopausal symptoms. And oxybutynin can cause dry mouth and, in some people, a condition in which they cannot completely empty the bladder.
“There is no drug that is completely free of risk,” said Dr. Joanne Manson Harvard Medical School,
Other non-hormonal options
Over-the-counter products can also treat some symptoms of menopause. Lubricants available at drugstores can help women suffering from vaginal dryness.
Cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on changing unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors, helps women deal with hot flashes.
“It’s not like it won’t warm you up,” Faubien said. “But it makes them less important and less burdensome to you.”
Manson said there is “moderate evidence” that clinical hypnosis can also help, with some studies showing a reduction in the frequency and severity of hot flashes.
“This seems to be a promising option,” she said. “But more research is needed.”
The bottom line is that women don’t have to just “go through” menopause, said Dr. Juliana Kling, a women’s health expert at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine. Arizona“I would urge women to have this conversation ,,, about what treatment might be beneficial for them,”
Gajrawala did this. She now gives up red wine, walks at least 10,000 steps a day, practices tai chi and takes an extended-release antidepressant to relieve her symptoms.
“It’s a significant improvement,” she said.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. AP is solely responsible for all content.