Fatigue can be a complication of many diseases and conditions; however, it also seems to be the most frequent symptom of menopause. It is estimated that a whopping 80% of menopausal women suffer from fatigue, whether it be caused simply by the symptom itself, or as an effect from other menopausal symptoms such as insomnia. Fatigue caused by menopause is most often caused from the hormonal imbalance going on within the body. Fatigue is different from drowsiness as it does not induce the desire to sleep…it simply decreases energy level. However, there are indeed treatment options available to help with this already frustrating time period, thank heavens!

Defining Fatigue
The definition of fatigue is simply an ongoing feeling of low energy, weakness and that of feeling tired. However, keep in mind that today we are discussing fatigue with relation to menopause. There are many other conditions that also cause fatigue such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which is a much more serious and complicated condition and requires a better understanding than that of menopausal fatigue and may require different potential treatment options. So again, keep in mind that today we are examining possible treatment options for the common symptom as it relates to menopause.
Interestingly, fatigue can manifest itself in many different characteristics both mentally and physically. They can come and go or last all day long. The mental characteristics include decreased periods of wakefulness, apathy, irritability, lapse in memory, and decreased attention span. The physical aspects may include drowsiness, muscle weakness and increased drowsiness after eating.

Menopausal Fatigue Awareness
As stated above, this symptom can be distinguished by a variety of characteristics, both mental and physical. Oftentimes these symptoms can be experienced in tandem with each other. A woman undergoing menopause might feel a lag in energy levels that lasts all day, or experience shorter bursts of fatigue intermittently. These characteristics make the menopausal woman’s day extremely difficult and can actually decrease job performance and other critical daily tasks. That’s why it’s so important to discuss menopausal fatigue and hopefully educate women going through this difficult time of life and offer up some easy and valid treatment options.

What’s going on in My Body?
Besides the fact that hormonal imbalance promotes fatigue it also interrupts the critical sleep-wake cycle, which only exacerbates the fatigue. If you’re noticing an increase in insomnia during menopause it may be wise to get medical advice and treatment in order to get a good night’s sleep. This will at least help with one aspect of decreasing the frustrating symptoms of fatigue. Along with estrogen and progesterone levels decreasing, other hormones such as the thyroid and adrenal glands can be involved and can lead to the feeling of persistent fatigue. But again, keep in mind that those decreases may be due to other conditions in addition to menopause and may require additional care and treatment. In other words, it’s easy for us to blame everything on menopause instead of listening to our bodies which may be telling us that something else is wrong and requires medical attention. In fact, equally frustrating and conversely if you will, is how oftentimes the medical field jumps to a simple diagnosis of menopause as the cause of certain common symptoms when in fact, there may be something else more serious going on. So if your body is telling you something different than perhaps what you feel your doctor may be incorrectly assuming…then I think it quite prudent to get a second opinion.

Treatment Options
Start with options which are the least invasive and may help with a quick and safe remedy. Lifestyle changes can offer up some good relief simply by insuring a good night’s sleep, eating a better diet and by adding exercise to your day. These three easy steps will not only help with fatigue but will increase your quality of life on so many levels.

You may also want to explore a very effective approach when treating menopausal fatigue which is to treat the problem at its source. There are multitudes of natural and alternative treatment supplements available to support and address hormonal imbalance. Look into the possibility of correcting hormonal imbalance with natural dietary supplements…and if that doesn’t alleviate the symptom(s) you can always seek the advice of a medical doctor who may offer surgical or pharmaceutical options.

Stay tuned for more Beauty Research blog articles about menopause and peri-menopause which will hopefully offer you even more helpful ways to address the frustrating symptoms of menopause.