Menopause and the importance of exercise

Posted by admin on April 11th, 2007 at 10:15am

We all know that exercise is a vital part of staying healthy. What you may not know is that the older you get, the more important it is for you to work out regularly. As your body ages, you not only may experience hot flashes and mood swings associated with menopause, you’re also at a higher risk for dangerous diseases. Many menopause symptoms can be helped or even stopped through regular physical activity.

One of the biggest concerns for women approaching menopause is the loss of bone mass. This can lead to osteoporosis and other serious consequences. Many doctors suggest getting plenty of calcium to help prevent bone deterioration. Getting regular, weight-bearing exercise is also essential for maintaining good bone health. If you’re not in very good shape, walking and other light exercise can be enough to get you started. You should eventually work yourself up to resistance training. You should also consider adding flexibility training; being limber will keep you from getting injured sometime down the road.

Along with osteoporosis, women who have reached menopause are also at an increased risk of developing heart disease. Many women assume that only men are at risk, but heart disease is a top killer of women as well as men. Plus, women are less likely to know they’re having a heart attack, so they don’t get treatment as quickly. Regular aerobic exercise can do wonders for keeping your heart in good shape. Even if you aren’t going through menopause yet, getting regular exercise is a great way to keep your heart healthy for a long time.

Another common symptom of menopause is mood swings. As estrogen levels fluctuate, so do your emotions. And unlike mood changes due to your menstrual cycle, menopausal mood fluctuations are much less predictable. Exercise can work to ease symptoms of depression, decrease mood fluctuations, and decrease irritability.
With the onset of menopause, many women gain weight. While it’s usually not a substantial amount, it can increase the risk of certain weight related diseases. Regular exercise can help you keep your weight in check, reducing the risk of serious health problems in the future.

If your biggest concern about menopause is the immediate physical symptoms, many women notice a decrease in hot flashes and other physical menopause symptoms when they go on a regular exercise program.

Sure, exercise takes some planning and work, but the are worth the effort.

Under Female Menopause