Effects of Menopause on Older Women's Health

The Effects of Menopause on Older Women's Health and Well Being

Menopause is a time where the levels of a woman's estrogen and progesterone hormone decline making her unable to conceive children, and causes her menstrual cycle to end. According to the North American Menopause Society there are approximately 45 million women going thru the menopausal transition in the United States at any one time (The North American Menopause Society, 2007). Although this is a normal, natural part of the aging process many women will argue that it is anything but normal. On average, menopause occurs between the ages of 45 -55 with the typical onset occurring around age 51. The transition through this process and reaching it brings about different experiences for women. For some they are able to navigate thru this period with little to no difficulty, while others seem to go thru a series of physical and emotional changes. How women adapt to these changes is dependent upon factors such as diet, exercise, genetics, lifestyle, and their perception on how it will affect their life. Although this is a normal part of life and the aging process there are risk factors associated with it that can impact the overall health and well-being of older women.

Ethnicity and Health Risks Associated with Menopause

Menopause affects every woman differently. Some women have no symptoms, but others have changes in several areas of their lives. Commons symptoms /feelings associated with menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, mood swings, and depression. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the latest U.S. Census data reveals that more than 37 million are currently experiencing it. Of this number, it is estimated that over 70 percent of women will experience some of the symptoms associated with the transition (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). Likewise, studies have also been conducted that link a women’s ethnicity to some conditions...