Staying healthy after menopause

Taruna has always lead an active life. She does not want menopause to slow her down. She knows that she has to make sure that she maintains a healthy lifestyle to ensure good health for years to come. What should Taruna do to stay healthy after menopause?

Regular check-ups after menopause

• It is important to see your gynaecologist at least once a year to make sure that you are staying healthy. A thorough physical examination, including a pelvic examination and a breast examination, will help detect problems before they can become serious.

• A Pap smear is a simple test from the cervix (the mouth of the uterus) to look for changes leading to cancer.

• A mammogram annually after the age of 50 will help in early detection of breast cancer. You should also continue monthly self-breast examinations.

• A 2-hour glucose tolerance test (GTT) will pick up diabetes.

• A test for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) will diagnose abnormal thyroid function.

• Since hypertension is common in Indians, blood pressure should be monitored every 6 months.

• A lipid profile annually will help pick up high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, which can lead to heart disease.

Exercising to maintain a healthy weight

After menopause, it seems that you have to work harder to maintain a healthy weight. It is probably the lack of estrogen that encourages the deposition of fat, particularly over the abdominal wall.

Exercise becomes particularly important as a woman ages. Regular exercise has multiple benefits: it protects the heart, postpones osteoporosis (thinning of bones) and helps regulate weight. The hidden advantage of exercise is that, by releasing mood-elevating endorphins, it acts as a mood enhancer. Women who exercise regularly will confirm that they have a better sense of well-being.

Women who are physically inactive are more likely to suffer from coronary heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Sedentary women may also suffer from chronic back pain, insomnia, poor circulation, weak muscles, loss of bone mass, and depression. The many miseries blamed on menopause are, in fact, a direct result of lack of exercise!