Exploring Symptoms of Menopause

The symptoms of menopause may be problematic for many women, but for others they will simply pass without making much of a fuss. There are a number of symptoms that women go through and many women experience different symptoms from the norm because of the body's changes in chemistry. The symptoms will vary from person to person depending on a variety of health issues.

Hot Flashes

Hot flashes are probably the most commonly reported symptom of menopause. Most women going through this phase of life experience hot flashes at least once. A hot flash occurs because of the decrease in ovarian estrogen, leading to some internal confusion about the overall temperature of the body. Blood vessels expand and contract and the body heats up and cools down unpredictably, resulting in hot flashes combined with chills.

Irregular Heartbeat

Some women experience increasing or decreasing of the heart rate at seemingly random intervals. This symptom is closely related to the expanding and contracting of the blood vessels due to the decrease of estrogen production and can be one of the most worrisome of the symptoms of menopause. Heart palpitations and an irregular heartbeat are somewhat normal in terms of menopause, but speaking to a physician can provide some further insight into the issue.

Mood Swings

Another one of the menopause symptoms is irritability or mood swings. Many women experience sudden fluctuations of mood as a result of the changing chemistry within their bodies. This results in sudden swings of the mood and women can often become very depressed almost instantly. The physiological results of this do not require treatment unless the mood swings persist beyond menopause symptoms.

Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is an embarrassing but common symptom of menopause. This involves a lack of urinary control that usually comes about as a result of sudden movements, such as a sneeze or a laughing fit. Many women elect to wear some sort of protective undergarment during this time.

Weight Gain

Weight gain is rather common among those suffering through menopause symptoms, as the body chemistry changes and weight is often gained around the waist and thighs. This can be a result of many combining factors and is not necessarily one of the symptoms of menopause, but weight gain is generally associated with this phase of a woman's life.

Aching Joints, Bones or Muscles

This symptom is often reported for those suffering from menopause. This occurs because of the body's changing internal chemicals and a lack of progesterone and estrogen. As the blood content adapts to the lack of estrogen, many of the body's joints and tendons become weaker. Women tend to experience more back pain during menopause, too, especially if they have dealt with back pain previously.

Other Symptoms

There are many other symptoms of menopause that women go through. It is difficult to come up with a comprehensive list that explains each symptom of menopause, as each woman goes through the process somewhat differently as a result of the hormonal changes from woman to woman. Always talk to a doctor and seek any information about any symptoms of menopause that may seem problematic or harmful to overall health.