Beauty and health of women after 40

"After 40 life just begins", but what is really behind this saying? A woman's body undergoes numerous changes associated with age. These changes can affect many aspects of life, from physical and emotional health to the menstrual cycle and sex life. During this period, women's hormonal background changes, ovarian activity changes, and problems with the cardiovascular system may also appear. But you should not panic in advance because you can prepare for these transformations, and some might even be avoided.

The most important change that occurs in women after the age of 40 is hormonal ones. The moment of the end of the reproductive age and the onset of the climax is the period in which a woman spends a third of her life. In a video on our channel MEDplus Ukraine, gynecologist Olga Ryzhenko told how to prepare for this period and how to alleviate the symptoms of menopause — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNe…

Olga Ryzhenko

gynecologist

Climax is a set of symptoms that signal the end of reproductive function. During this period, the supply of egg cells in the ovaries decreases, and the production of the hormone estrogen also decreases. However, that’s not the only hormone that is in the ovaries, there is also progesterone. And it is the combination of these hormones that is responsible for a woman’s well-being and reconstructions in her menstrual cycle.

The main symptoms of menopause:

• anxiety, irritability;
• mood swings;
• depressive thoughts;
• vaginal dryness;
• hot flushes;
• sweating;
• rapid heartbeat;
• pain during intercourse.

To relieve these symptoms, you should:

• reduce the level of stress;
• balance nutrition — there should be a sufficient amount of protein (2 g/kg), complex carbohydrates and vegetable fats;
• have 8 hours of full sleep;
• engage in physical activity — alternate strength training with stretching or Pilates.

During menopause, a woman’s risk of developing certain diseases increases, among the most common are:

1. Diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
   Declining estrogen levels after menopause increases the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease, which is one of the leading causes of death among women and men. It is recommended to exercise regularly, follow a balanced diet and maintain a normal weight, as well as consult a cardiologist, control cholesterol and blood pressure.
2. Osteoporosis.
   This condition leads to the destruction of bones and increases the risk of fractures. After menopause, there can be a rapid loss of bone density, which increases the risk of developing osteoporosis.
3. Problems with urinary incontinence.
   The vagina and ureters lose their elasticity, which may lead to sudden urges to urinate and develop into urinary incontinence. Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles with Kegel exercises and topical vaginal estrogen can relieve these symptoms. Hormone therapy might also help in this case.
4. Concerns with sexual function.
   Vaginal dryness and loss of elasticity can cause discomfort and bleeding during intercourse, as well as decreased sexual activity. Water-based vaginal lubricants can relieve these symptoms.
5. Weight gain.
   Many women notice weight gain after menopause due to a slowdown in metabolism. In such cases, dietary changes and more exercise may help to maintain an optimal weight.

A balanced diet can solve the problem of weight gain. You should add the following products to your daily intake:

• vegetable oils — olive, avocado;
• white meat — chicken, rabbit, turkey;
• white fish — mackerel, herring, sea bass;
• seafood;
• vegetables;
• dairy products.

We also collected advice from doctors in other fields and share them with you.

Advice from a family doctor:

After the age of 40, a woman must be examined by a mammologist and have a mammogram. Mammography — screening for breast cancer. In addition, it is needed to have an annual examination by a gynecologist.

It is also needed to pay attention to such an examination as densitometry. It is a screening for osteoporosis, which is necessary during menopause. Thanks to it, it is possible to examine the density of bone tissue and, as a result, find out whether a woman is prone to the development of osteoporosis. This is important because the disease is dangerous due to a high tendency to fractures, which may take a very long time to heal and even lead to death in the first year.

Advice from a mammologist:

Women over the age of 40 should undergo a mammary gland examination for the presence of tumors. After all, the disease occupies a leading position among oncological diseases of this age category.

Advice from a urologist:

Control the level of vitamin D because it plays an important role in the body, especially for a woman during menopause:

• helps form and maintain bone strength;
• improves calcium absorption;
• regulates the normal level of calcium and phosphorus in the blood;
• helps maintain a healthy immune system and control cell growth.

Advice from a gynecologist:

If you notice symptoms of the development of menopause, you should contact a gynecologist so that a specialist will choose menopausal hormone therapy.

Advice from a neurologist:

Headaches, depression, anxiety disorders, which often occur at the age of 50+, are mostly associated with a drop in the hormone estrogen level. Therefore, in order for a neurologist to help cope with the problem, it is necessary to work together with the gynecologist.

Get more useful information on our channel MEDplus Ukraine – https://www.youtube.com/@MEDplusUKR