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April 27, 2006
Understanding menopause
Recently, experts and physicians from both sides of the border came together to discuss menopausal problems and measures to deal with them By Faiza Ilyas
Though a natural phenomenon, menopause can cause problems and turn a woman’s life into a nightmare. But, if handled properly, it can also mark the beginning of a new life free of many physical and emotional pressures. All this depends on the level of understanding a woman has about this condition.
Positive lifestyle changes, preferably before the onset of the condition, can make the aging process comfortable, independent and enjoyable. Exercise and a balanced diet is the key to the problem. Hormone therapy should be used as a short-term therapy for the control of menopause symptoms.
This is what some doctors suggested at a meeting of the Pakistan and Indian Menopause Societies, held in collaboration with Ziauddin Medical University and Hospitals recently. The seminar, ‘Taking the Crisis out from Midlife’ was addressed by nine prominent doctors from India including Dr Behram Anklesaria (President Indian Menopause Society), Dr Meeta Singh (secretary) and Dr Geeta Pandya.
Underscoring the need for exercise, Professor M.A. Qureshi of the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), said that the health and well-being of a person is constantly challenged by the pressures of life and it is important to relax and be able to cope with them. Being fit and doing exercise as an everyday routine can give us unlimited energy and that can help solve all the emotional and psychological problems associated with menopause.
Sharing the results of a comparative research on menopause carried out at two Indian hospitals and the other at John Studd, as a representative of the West, President IMS, Dr Anklesaria said the culture, traditions and environmental conditions play a major role in determining menopause symptoms. For instance, the study showed that psychological symptoms, insomnia and joint muscle pain were much higher in the case of the West as compared to India.
Women spend one third to one half of their lives after menopause, which is defined as the permanent cessation of menstruation resulting form the loss of ovarian follicular activity. Natural menopause is recognised to have occurred after 12 consecutive months of amenorrhea, for which there is no other obvious pathological or physiological cause.
“The study proves that exercise increases osteoplastic activity, improves bone re-modelling and neuro-muscular coordination, prevents falls, keeps weight under control and strengthens heart and lungs. Hormone replacement treatment is only a small part of Multiple Menopause Management Modalities (MMMMs). These management modalities should be different for each patient and even different for the same patient at different stages of her life,” he observed.
Dr Bipasa Sen from Kolkata presented the results of another comparative study initiated to learn about the most common symptoms 40-plus women experience in different sections of society. She observed that the diversity of symptoms in women of the same age group who lived in different environments indicated their relationship to separate lifestyles, personal hygiene, nutrition and physical habits. The study results, she said, would help in arranging better future public awareness programmes.
About the Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), Dr Maninder Ahuja said that a reasonably balanced approach to regular exercise can generate similar benefits as HRT and usually without unnecessary risks. “There must be recognition in the society that physical activity is a vital component of a healthy lifestyle and essential for disease prevention. Exercise increases bone mineral, decreases weight, blood pressure and anxiety, brings favourable alterations in blood lipid profile, enhances muscle strength, and last but not the least, improves personal image.”
Dr Shan Elahi of Mayo Hospital pointed out the increased levels of thyroid stimulating hormone in post menopausal women and said that thyroxine replacement therapy is the solution to this problem. He also emphasised the need for routine check-ups for thyroid function.
Highlighting the role of phyto-estrogen, Professor Batool Mazhar said that the long-term use of phyto-estrogen in menopausal symptoms could improve the cognitive behaviour and bone mineral density, while soy consumption could decrease the risk of breast cancer.
In the last session, Professor Rubina Hussain, President Menopause Society (Pakistan), Dr Geeta Pandya, Dr Ali Mohammad Ansari and physician Dr Irfan Ahmed Khan answered queries regarding menopause.
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