Part of a Healthy Menopause Plan
Hormone therapy offers a number of benefits for women in perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. But lifestyle and behavioral changes are an important part of a complete plan for a healthy life — before, during, and after the onset of menopause. No pill, patch, or cream will keep you healthy if you live an unhealthy lifestyle. As you grow older, your health maintenance becomes more critical — and more demanding.
Essential
Remember to follow your MHT program exactly as prescribed. Many people forget their schedule and miss doses. Use whatever reminder mechanism works for you — a weekly pill container, a marked calendar, notes on your mirror, or other device. If you can't find a reminder that works, ask your health care professional for advice. But don't miss doses!
No Replacement for a Healthy Lifestyle
Even if you adopt a full program of MHT — or use any MHT alternative — you need to follow the guidelines listed below to maintain your good health:
Eat a healthy diet that's high in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, and low in saturated fat and red meat. Maintaining strong muscles, healthy bones, and good heart health requires a good diet.
Get plenty of exercise. Weight-bearing exercise, such as walking or weightlifting, improves the health of your heart, develops muscle mass, reduces body fat, and builds strong bones. The best MHT program in the world won't protect your health if you turn into a couch potato.
Get plenty of sleep. Sleep deprivation contributes to anxiety, depression, and fatigue — the most troublesome symptoms of hormone depletion.
Stop smoking. Smoking not only harms your health but also increases your risk for certain types of cancers that are more common in menopause. Smoking and estrogen are a bad combination; do yourself and everyone who loves you a favor, and kick the habit.
Get regular medical checkups. Your doctor will recommend annual examinations to monitor the progress of your MHT program. During the exam, your health care provider will check your breasts for lumps; do a pelvic exam to determine the health of your uterus, cervix, vagina, and ovaries; and check your blood pressure. Preventive care is an important part of your MHT program. Ask about screening for colon cancer as well.
You Are One of a Kind
As with all elements of menopause, the decision about MHT is unique to you and your personal goals and risk factors. It does carry risks, as outlined earlier. But it is also very effective for treating some of the debilitating symptoms of hormone loss. A cautious approach of using the lowest doses for only the time necessary to treat your symptoms seems to be the best approach. Research continues, so stay tuned!
