Menopause Treatment

Question: What are the treatments available for menopause?

No one every said menopause was easy, but help is on the way. Changing hormones can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms. Your G.P. or pharmacist can prescribe medications that address the physical effects of these hormone changes as well as the physiological effects. 

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Most women have heard of HRT, but not everyone fully understands it.  There is not a silver bullet for menopause symptoms, but HRT may be the closest that chemists have come. The name “hormone replacement therapy,” is a good indication of what the drug does: it replaces the hormone estrogen, which is the female hormone that decreases during the course of menopause. The reduction of estrogen is a normal part of aging, but normal does not always mean pleasant. 

Because HRT treats the source of the symptoms – the hormone change - rather than responding to one symptom at a time, it can be quite effective in reducing the overall troubles of menopause. HRT can relieve hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal symptoms and urinary tract infections. The pharmacist may give you a cream or gel, tablet, or skin patch. HRT is also available as an implant. 

Talk to your pharmacist to understand the possible side effects. These include weight gain, tender breasts, nausea, headaches, and mood changes. If you are experiencing these side effects, your G.P. and pharmacist may help you reduce your dose or suggest that you change the kind of HRT you are taking. Or, depending on the severity of your symptoms and risk factors, perhaps the best answer for you is to avoid HRT altogether. 

HRT medicines can increase a woman’s risk of health problems such as breast cancer, heart disease and stroke. But then again, some women - those with early onset menopause and those who have had their ovaries removed - may be prone to other health problems, if they do not take HRT. These conditions include osteoporosis, coronary heart disease, and dementia. 

As you can see, the logic puzzle of whether or not to take HRT can become complex rather quickly. This is why it is best to consult your G.P. who can take all these factors into account given your personal health history and lifestyle. If you still have periods, your G.P. may suggest a combined HRT that includes both estrogen and progesterone. If you are past menopause, your G.P. might prescribe continued HRT.

Alternatives to HRT

Women under the age of 60 might be interested in Tibolone, a hormone that is similar to HRT. It still has some risks, but generally the risks less than the risks associated with HRT. In addition to addressing hot flashes and night sweats, Tibolone may improve sex drive and can also help to prevent spinal fractures. 

Another medication that is now commonly prescribed for menopause is Clondine. This medication was originally created for hypertension (high blood pressure), but has been found to reduce hot flashes and night sweats. For women who have trouble regulating their temperature, this can feel like a lifesaver. If you start taking this medication, plan to check in with your pharmacist at two weeks and four weeks to report back as to whether your symptoms are improving. 

Other alternatives to HRT include antidepressants, lubricants, and the usual: healthy eating and regular exercise. Some women have also found it helpful to carry a small fan in their purse for when the hot flashes arise. If anyone asks, don’t be ashamed, just tell the person you’re having a “power surge” and continue whatever you were talking about before the hot flash came on.  

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John Keane is a full time pharmacist and owner of Keanes Pharmacy. Why not discuss this topic confidentially with John anytime in person at Keanes Pharmacy, Austin Friars or 0449342884 ©Keanes Pharmacy

Menopause – Symptoms and Onset

Question: What are the common symptoms of the onset of menopause?

The Perimenopausal Stage

Changes to the monthly cycle are usually the first indication that menopause has begun. The start of menopause is called the perimenopausal stage; this is usually marked by lighter or heavier periods, and changes to the frequency of time between periods. There may be more than three weeks between periods or even months. The perimenopausal stage is considered complete when a woman has gone twelve months without a period. 

Menopause Symptoms

Women experience different sets of symptoms and these symptoms can change during menopause. Menopause usually lasts about four years, but can last anywhere from two to ten years. Menopause can cause hot flashes and headaches. During menopause, it is not uncommon to experience vaginal dryness, pain or itching, bladder irritability, or urinary tract infections (UTIs). Women in menopause may have decreased sex drives, or might experience itching or discomfort during sex. Mood changes, such as irritability, depression or anxiety are also common. Women might also find that their sleep is disturbed by insomnia or night sweats. Women who experience menopause suddenly may find that their symptoms are worse than women who have a more gradual onset. 

Onset and Early Onset

Most women experience menopause from their mid-forties to mid-fifties. The average age is somewhere around 51, but statistics vary. Some women may not experience menopause until they are in their sixties. Other women may suffer from early onset, also called perimenopause, before their fortieth birthdays. 

Early onset menopause happens naturally, but can also be attributed to certain conditions, illnesses and medical procedures. In rare cases, some infections, such as tuberculosis, malaria, mumps, chicken pox and shingles might cause early onset. Conditions such as Down’s Syndrome, Turner Syndrome, Addison’s Disease and hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland) may also be related to early onset. Possible causes from medical procedures include hysterectomy (removal of the ovaries or womb), and cancer treatment such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. 

During menopause, at any stage, the ovaries slow and eventually stop their production of estrogen. Estrogen can help protect women from conditions such as osteoporosis and ovarian cancer. This means that women with early onset menopause will spend more years without this protective factor, thus increasing their overall risk. 

Taking Care of Yourself

In mild cases, women will be able to cope with and sooth symptoms without seeing their G.P. One of the best things a woman can do during menopause is to maintain a proper diet and exercise regimen. During and after menopause women should prioritize fiber-rich fruits and vegetables and small amount of calcium-rich dairy products. Women should avoid saturated fats, fatty meats, fatty dairy (chose 1% or skim), and too much salt. Women should engage in at least 30 minutes of exercise a day; more is better. Your pharmacist can help you create a plan for your diet and exercise. If itching and dryness gives you an excuse not to exercise, you might also ask your pharmacist to provide a cream to help clear that up. Hopefully you’ll be in your running shoes in no time! 

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John Keane is a full time pharmacist and owner of Keanes Pharmacy. Why not discuss this topic confidentially with John anytime in person at Keanes Pharmacy, Austin Friars or 0449342884 ©Keanes Pharmacy

Question: How can you treat the top five embarrassing ailments? Part 2/2

Answer: Last week we took a look at some of the causes of everyday embarrassing conditions like bad breath and excessive sweating.  In many of the cases, the problem is something that is quite simple and easily avoided. This week then we’re going to see what kind of treatments are available to treat them if the problem is particularly bad or ongoing. 

Please note though that if initial over the counter treatments do not work, or if the problem is particularly acute, then it is always best to seek a consultation with a medical professional.

Bad Breath

As we saw, bad breath is usually caused by the breakdown of leftover food particles in the mouth by bacteria, which then releases gas. The most straightforward cure for bad breath is to overhaul your tooth brushing regimen. Remember to brush at least twice a day, particularly after meals. The key here, however, is not exactly the amount of times you brush, but rather how you do it. 

For starters, the teeth and mouth need to be brushed for two minutes at a time, minimum. Studies by various dental federations in the United States have found that well over half of all people questioned brush for less than half that time. Along with brushing the teeth, make sure to run the brush over your gums and the tongue. The tongue is one of the largest areas in the mouth for bacteria to collect, but most people forget to brush it properly. Remember to only brush with moderate force, as brushing too hard can result in receding gums, which is irreparable. Along with the brush, flossing and mouthwash will finish off any remaining bacteria and go a long way to making sure that your breath is fresh all day.

Excessive Sweating

The amount that we sweat has a lot to do with our genetics and family history, but there are some things we can do to lessen the problem. Taking up some kind of aerobic activity, whether it be walking, jogging, cycling (spinning), dance, or anything similar will go a long way to getting the heart rate up, improving your overall fitness, and so reducing your preponderance to sweat in everyday situations. 

Sweating can also be a sign of a potential or underlying condition like heart problems, so moderate exercise will have a double fold effect here in helping the sufferer perhaps more than they know.

Wind

In a lot of cases, flatulence is caused by swallowing air while we’re eating and so the simple solution here is to eat slightly slower and chew our food properly before we take it into the stomach. More chewing will also help with digesting the food once it’s in the stomach, thereby reducing the production of sulphur, which is the main component in the smell that comes with wind. 

Some foods, like garlic and onions, will increase the likelihood of both bad breath and wind, and so it is to be advised that they are avoided as much as possible if either or both of these conditions are becoming a problem.

Scabies 

Scabies can be contracted quite easily if you work in a job which necessitates close contact with others, and schoolchildren are particularly susceptible given the close nature of classrooms and games at break time. If they are contracted, it’s best to consult with your pharmacist for the best treatment. Most likely these will be either a cream containing permethrin or a lotion containing malathion. In some cases, an oral medication might be recommended. Those suffering from scabies should wash their hands often, both to prevent spreading the disease to different areas or even on to others.

Dandruff

Unlike scabies, dandruff cannot be contracted from other people, but it is still an embarrassing and distracting condition to have. It can be prevented to some measure by shampooing the hair regularly, as well as keeping your zinc and Vitamin B levels topped up, either with over the counter supplements if necessary, or with a rounded diet. Dandruff can also result from changing your regular hair treatments, so it might be well to bear that in mind. Ultimately, however, the best treatment by far is washing the hair and scalp thoroughly with a dedicated dandruff shampoo as directed. 

Previous week: What are the top five embarrassing everyday bodily problems?

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John Keane is a full time pharmacist and owner of Keanes Pharmacy. Why not discuss this topic confidentially with John anytime in person at Keanes Pharmacy, Austin Friars or 0449342884 ©Keanes Pharmacy

Question: What are the top five embarrassing everyday bodily problems? Part 1/2

It’s ironic that a lot of the most common everyday problems we encounter are also some of the most embarrassing. It can be difficult to work up the courage to seek assistance when some of these conditions develop, but it’s even worse to allow them to continue and perhaps even get worse. Confidence in ourselves is one of the most important qualities when it comes to happiness and success, and so this week we’re going to take a look at just what five of the most common embarrassing bodily problems are, and what perhaps may be causing them. 

Next week then, we’ll be going through some dedicated treatments and cures that are easily purchased at your local pharmacy, which are virtually guaranteed to clear up the problem, whatever it is. Remember, all staff are trained to help with almost any problem you can think of, so never be shy about enquiring about what you can do to try and improve things.

Bad Breath

Surveys regularly list bad breath, or halitosis, as one of the main fears that people have when it comes to interacting with others. If you’re aware that you might have a problem here, it can seriously undermine how you deal with everyone from work colleagues to family members. 

Bad breath generally has one overarching cause. When we eat, food particles, usually so tiny as to be virtually unnoticeable, remain in the mouth. Being warm and wet, the mouth is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which are more than happy to live off the feast that we are providing them with every meal. Once they have finished eating the leftover food in and around the teeth and gums, not to mention the tongue, the bacteria then release gases. In the vast majority of cases this is what is causing the bad breath. Brushing after eating, around the whole mouth and not just on the teeth will often reduce the problem significantly.

In a lesser number of cases, bad breath is caused by the food we have eaten, particularly onions and garlic, both of which can affect our breath for days afterward. 

Excessive Sweating

Sweating, though it’s not usually mentioned in polite company, is absolutely vital to our health. Not only does it keep the body cool in hot weather or during exercise, but it is also one of the primary ways that our body gets rid of toxins and waste. 

Excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, however, can be very embarrassing, particularly when we develop things like sweaty palms before a handshake or damp patches under our arms during the summer. 

Genetics play a large part in how much we sweat, and there is little we can do about that, but there are a number of things that do trigger sweating regardless of our family history. Anxiety is one, and this is why sweaty palms are a common problem before we meet new people. Our level of physical fitness is another. If we’re overweight or even out of training when it comes to aerobic exercise, sweating can be triggered simply by brisk walking. Finally, sweating during and immediately after a fever is normal, as this is the body’s way of protecting itself from the rise of temperature that comes with the illness. 

Outside of these situations, anxiety, (unexpected) exertion, and fever, excessive sweating could be a sign of a more serious underlying problem. These can include diabetes or heart problems, so it’s best to get checked if it is an ongoing problem. 

Wind

Breaking wind uncontrollably is certainly one of the most embarrassing things that can be happen to anyone, and like the other problems on this list, it has a surprisingly simple cause. As we eat, we take in air at the same time that we swallow food, which then settles in the stomach. The harmless air is then expelled either through the mouth (burping or belching), or through the backside. When the air comes from the back, it can also contain sulphur, which is a product of undigested food in the stomach. 

In extreme cases, conditions like irritable bowel syndrome can cause excess wind, and if this is the case then an appointment with your G.P. is called for.   

Scabies

Skin conditions can cause us to be very self-conscious no matter where they strike, and scabies is among the most common. Though it usually doesn’t strike in the most visible areas of the neck or head, scabies is embarrassing as it’s known to be caused by an infestation of parasites. These mites are called Sarcoptes, which work their way under the skin and cause unsightly and itchy blotches on the affected area. These are usually on the feet or arms, as well as the groin area. 

Scabies are contracted by physical contact with another person, and as such are hard to prevent if you’re occupied in an area that necessitates working closely with others. Scabies can also spread quickly through children due the long hours spent together in classrooms and break time. 

Dandruff

Dandruff can make wearing dark clothes a bit of a nightmare, and the itching that comes with the condition makes matters even more uncomfortable. Fighting the urge to scratch your head and dust off your shoulders is also a continual battle if you work somewhere where people can see you constantly. 

Dandruff can be caused by a large number of practices and physical characteristics. Infrequent shampooing of the hair is one, while a lack of zinc and Vitamin B in the daily diet is another. On the other hand, the scalp can also react to some otherwise harmless hair care products and produce dandruff in response. More serious problems like psoriasis and eczema can also expand into a dandruff problem also. 

The good news with dandruff is that it’s usually easily treated with a dedicated anti-dandruff shampoo available at your local pharmacy. 

Next week: What are the best treatments for all of the embarrassing ailments listed above?

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John Keane is a full time pharmacist and owner of Keanes Pharmacy. Why not discuss this topic confidentially with John anytime in person at Keanes Pharmacy, Austin Friars or 0449342884 ©Keanes Pharmacy