If you’re coming up on your 50th birthday and have started to feel fatigued, there’s a chance that you might be experiencing an early effect of menopause. According to women’s care expert and self-help author Marla Ahlgrimm, menopause can bring on a persistent feeling of exhaustion. Fortunately, she says it’s manageable.
Q: Why does menopause trigger fatigue?
Marla Ahlgrimm: There are many different reasons that women experiencing menopause may feel more tired than usual. The first is a change of hormones. Progesterone, estrogen, adrenal hormones, and thyroid hormones all change during menopause. Further, sleep disruptions, which might be caused by night sweats and hot flashes, make it harder for a woman to sleep through the night.
Q: How does exercise offset fatigue?
Marla Ahlgrimm: Physical activity gives your body a boost of energy. Even if you are extremely fatigued, an hours’ worth of mild to moderate exercise will inject hormones into your brain, which can make you feel more energetic and revitalized. Perhaps more importantly, regular exercise can combat the mood swings associated with menopause and might offset weight gain triggered by an increased appetite.
Q: Can hormone replacement therapy help?
Marla Ahlgrimm: It can, yes. When combined with behavioral and lifestyle changes, HRT can help you manage exhaustion and other symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause.
Q: Can I stop menopause from happening?
Marla Ahlgrimm: No. Menopause is a natural occurrence in every woman’s life. It is when our bodies decide naturally that they are no longer capable of healthy reproduction. You can’t stop the process, but you can limit the impact of its symptoms while you’re going through it.
Marla Ahlgrimm has co-authored two ground-breaking books,