Exercise Can Make Menopause Less Uncomfortable

Menopause is one of the most uncomfortable things a woman has to go through, but a new study found that exercising regularly can make it better.

This is excellent news for all women since menopause is an unavoidable part of life. Menopause is the period in a woman’s life, usually between the ages of 45 and 55, when menstruation ends, and hormonal changes start taking place.

This period is very uncomfortable and disconcerting, as it can cause everything from sleeping disorders and mood swings to hot flashes and night sweats. There is no cure for menopause since it’s a natural part of life, but there are some things women can do to make it more bearable.

Some women undergo hormone therapy to lessen the symptoms. This allows women to receive extra estrogen and progesterone, making up for what their body is losing, and in turn, helping to avoid severe hot flashes and other menopause-related issues.

Read: Natural Alternatives to Hormone Therapy for Menopause

But since it goes against the natural progression of things, some women turn to alternative methods to quell their symptoms, such as antidepressants, blood pressure medicine, and anti-seizure drugs.

The final method of dealing with menopause is a significant change in diet and exercise, which is where the study comes into play. By eating healthier and exercising more, menopausal women usually feel better and experience fewer symptoms.

A recent study from researchers at Penn State found that menopausal women who exercise experience fewer hot flashes and hot flash-related symptoms in the day or so after their workout.

The results of the study are based on data from 92 menopausal women between 40 and 59-years old who had an average of two children and were not undergoing hormone therapy. The women were then divided into groups based on weight and fitness levels and were asked to track their physical activity and frequency of hot flashes.

Some key findings of the study include:

• Women who exercise experience fewer hot flashes in the 24 hours after their workout.
• Women who are inactive or obese have more perceived hot flashes, which may or may not always be real hot flashes.
• Women who are already overweight, unfit, or had more hot flashes didn’t see a noticeable reduction in hot flashes after exercising.

Although the study didn’t prove it, the results suggest that a woman who is overweight or unfit and has unfortunate instances of hot flashes could potentially calm her symptoms by getting on a regular exercise plan and getting in better shape.

There are many ways that a menopausal woman could get in better shape – whether that’s by joining the neighborhood gym, finding the best elliptical for home use, or signing up for a group exercise class.

Whatever it takes, find an exercise plan that works for you, and you should see your menopausal symptoms start to get better. Although the symptoms won’t go away entirely until menopause is over, you can at least get some relief during this rough period.

Exercise can make menopause less uncomfortable for many women, so it’s worth a try!