Myths of Menopause

Paula — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 05:56:18 +0000

Myths surround menopause on pretty much every level. From what age it begins, to what a horrible life event it is, there are no shortage of myths surrounding the physical, emotional, hormonal, and mental changes women go through in our middle years as menopause starts to happen. [tweetthis]Menopause myths abound. Here’s the truth about menopause. Part 2 of series. [/tweetthis] The Myths and the Facts of Menopause It seems that every woman you talk to has a story about what to expect when menopause hits. You’ll feel horrible. You won’t feel bad at all. It starts in your 50s. It starts sooner. You’ll gain a lot of weight, or you won’t. I remember my own mother going through menopause and I also recall the myths even back then. I especially recall the ones about hot flashes. The scuttlebutt even then was that everyone knew someone whose hot flashes were so extreme that they remembered the day she couldn’t handle them anymore and she ran outside with summer clothing on when it was snowing, essentially hurling herself into a snowbank just to cool off. I’ve had some hot flashes and I have never done that. For those of you who recall and who have been here for a while reading this blog, you know that I had a hysterectomy in my 30s because of cysts and Crohn’s and scar tissue. Anyways, the myths abound. Let’s cut through some of the baloney and get to the truth. [tweetthis]Pretty much every woman you talk to has a story about menopause. Here’s some factual info for you instead. [/tweetthis] Here’s some menopausal truth for all of us. Menopause Begins in Your 50’s While the average woman rolls into menopause at around 52, women can being the transition to menopause as early as their 30’s to as late as their 60’s. I say transition because technically, menopause is simply a 12 month period with no menstrual cycle. Women can feel symptoms while still having periods. In fact, the period known as perimenopause can last from a few months to upwards of 13 years before true menopause occurs. MYTH: Your Weight Will Balloon During Menopause One of the biggest menopause myths isn’t a myth per se, but it doesn’t have to be your reality. Women do become more prone to weight gain during perimenopause and menopause due to hormonal imbalances as our bodies move out of their childbearing years. It’s actually the body’s way of helping regulate hormones. Fat helps to produce more estrogen, which helps a woman’s body level out its hormones. However, estrogen also helps to store fat. It’s a vicious cycle, but with a minor reduction in calories and increase in physical activity, it can be controlled. During menopause and after retirement my Mom developed a regular fitness routine heading to the gym three times a week. Her routine was much better than it ever was during her 30s or 40s when she worked and single parented two children. I know she was physically her healthiest after menopause. She put me to shame and she stayed fit and active. She never gained weight only muscle. I hope to follow that pattern and am trying hard to do this as well. Myth: Menopause is Menopause One of the myths I’ve heard off and on over the years is that menopause due to total or partial hysterectomies is just like regular menopause only faster. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The difference between natural menopause and surgically induced menopause is like the difference between walking down a flight of stairs and jumping down the stair well. There is no adjustment period for the body. It’s literally an overnight jump directly into menopause with any of the bodies months or years of natural preparation. I had surgically induced menopause in my 30s. I controlled some symptoms with hormones, exercise etc. If you want to learn more about controlling symptoms of menopause you can read this article about menopause. Hot Flashes Are the First Sign of Menopause Not true. By the time you’re having hot flashes, you’re more than likely well into perimenopause. The actual first signs of menopause are fatigue, irregular periods, irritability, mood swings, depression, weight gain, hair loss, forgetfulness, fuzzy thinking, and low libido. [tweetthis]The actual first signs of menopause are fatigue, irregular periods, irritability, mood swings, depression, weight gain, hair loss, forgetfulness, fuzzy thinking, and low libido.[/tweetthis] Myths of Menopause Exposed I know it sounds a little like a tabloid title, but that’s basically what this article was all about. There is no end to the amount of misinformation and myths surrounding menopause, and this article only covers some of those that I have heard over the years. Perimenopause and menopause are major changes in our lives, but they don’t have to be scary. In fact, when you get beyond the myths, menopause isn’t so scary. It’s a naturally occurring phenomenon that should be dealt with and acknowledged in the same manner we handle getting our periods. Your body changes. Women are strong and we can handle the changes that are happening with awareness and education. Menopause can be just another phase in your life. See Part 1 of the series here: Perimenopause. Stay tuned for Part 3. The final part of this series. Related articles across the web Inexpensive Foods That Promote Sleep More Than Youd Think Science Shows You Become Fitter When You Sleep Going For An Assortment Of Soy Products For Menopause Relief Naturally And Safely 16 Signs of Excess Estrogen (and How To Protect Yourself) Tracking Your Menstrual Cycle Helps Your Reproductive Health

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5 Common Cold Myths and Misconceptions

Paula — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 16:29:51 +0000

The common cold is the scourge of people everywhere. It’s hard to keep away from it, because there are so many strains in so many places. It’s also difficult to prevent and alleviate the common cold, as I know all too well this week after having spent a week working from bed. UGH! Cold and flu season are dreadful and I find as a person with Crohn’s Disease I really have to take extra precautions to not get sick. There are so many myths surrounding colds. Will you get a cold if you don’t wear a hat? What if you catch a chill? Here are just a few of the cold myths and misconceptions and why they do or don’t hold water. 5 Common Misconceptions About Colds The common cold is one of those things that people will try to prevent and cure by any means necessary. When you feel so poorly that you are confined to bed, it can seem like everyone has an idea on how to get rid of the common cold. In fact when you feel crappy enough, if someone told you to cover yourself in pine needles and honey and do a rain dance to get rid of the symptoms well you might be tempted to follow through. Alright maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but there are several cold myths and misconceptions I wouldn’t be surprised to find that one floating around somewhere. So What’s True and What’s Not? No Coat or Hat = Getting Sick This is 100% untrue. While this is one we’ve all heard throughout our lives, it just isn’t so. The common cold is caused by various viruses, not by temperature. Although they do circulate during cold weather, a coat and hat are not a barrier against the common cold. However, if you stress your immune system too much by wearing wet footwear and generally not taking care of yourself then yes that can lead to illness. Don’t stress your immune system. Vicks VapoRub in Your Socks While many stand by putting VapoRub on the feet to help ease the common cold, there is no proof that this actually works. This is a myth which began around 2007 due to a widely circulated email claiming that VapoRub on the feet was a miracle cure recognized by the “Canada Research Council”. The real National Research Council of Canada issued a statement to the contrary. Wet Hair Makes You Sick Again, the common cold is cause by viruses. The dampness of your hair has nothing to do with it, unless you somehow become hypothermic. Hypothermia can make you susceptible to infections, but that’s just about the only way wet hair could make you sick. However, it is common sense to not go out in the cold with soaking wet hair. In Canada cold hair outdoors in winter freezes and that’s pretty icky. Wear Garlic to Prevent Colds The chances of wearing garlic preventing the common cold are just about as good as preventing a vampire attack. While garlic is rich in antioxidants, you have to eat it to get those benefits. Wearing it will only make you a stinky pariah. I always boost my garlic in recipes during cold and flu season instead. As a nutritional force it can’t be disregarded. But wearing garlic has no impact on a cold. Echinacea and Zinc Prevent the Common Cold Both zinc and echinacea are touted as being common cold busters, but research has shown no conclusive evidence to support this. This is an example of good marketing. However vitamin C, zinc and echinacea can lessen severity or length of illness so it is worth keeping some on hand. No Magic Bullet for the Common Cold Although it would be SO nice, there is no magic bullet for the common cold. You can fight it, but not by wearing garlic or knit headgear. The best way to fight the common cold is by washing hands frequently, staying hydrated, and getting adequate physical activity. So skip the garlic and the gooey feet, they won’t help you fight the common cold. Here’s a cute video about colds. This post contains affiliate links as a service to readers.

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Myths of Menopause

5 Common Cold Myths and Misconceptions