"Are You Aware of These 6 Early Signs of Menopause? Women Should Take Note!"
Six Precursors of Female Menopause
1. Emotional Changes. It is commonly known that women during menopause experience emotional fluctuations, manifested as anxiety, impatience, irritability, and other symptoms.
2. Back Pain. Due to bone loss, women in menopause often suffer from back pain.
3. Dryness Symptoms. Women's skin becomes dry, sensitive, with increased wrinkles, while hair becomes dry, gray, and the mouth feels dry.
4. Irregular Menstruation. Women in menopause may experience irregular menstruation, with extended intervals or unexplained menstrual disruptions. Some women may suddenly notice decreased, increased, or color changes in menstrual flow, which may be related to menopause.
5. Night Sweats, Palpitations, and Insomnia. Women going through menopause may experience insomnia, night sweats, poor sleep quality, and easy waking. They may also suddenly feel their heart racing, palpitations, and shortness of breath without apparent reasons.
6. Hot Flashes. In the afternoon, women may feel a red, hot sensation on their face, neck, and chest, often accompanied by irritability and sweating.
Traditional Chinese Medicine's Approach to Alleviate Menopause Discomfort
1. Incorporate Vegetables and Fruits. Menopausal women should consume more cabbage, celery, dates, hawthorns, and other foods rich in carotenoids, inorganic salts, and fiber. These can enhance vascular resilience, promote the excretion of blood cholesterol, and prevent atherosclerosis.
2. Adequate Protein Intake. After menopause, the gonads and other organs gradually degenerate. To delay this process, consume more protein-rich foods like milk, eggs, lean meat, fish, poultry, and soy products, which provide both animal and plant proteins to help navigate menopause smoothly.
3. Reduce Fat Consumption. Limit the intake of fatty foods such as lard, cream, butter, egg yolks, brains, and animal innards, as they are high in fat and can significantly increase blood cholesterol levels, leading to atherosclerosis. Instead, opt for healthier cooking oils like corn oil, soybean oil, peanut oil, and olive oil.
4. Light and Low-Salt Diet. Limit daily salt intake to less than 6 grams to prevent hypertension and atherosclerosis. Excessive sodium intake can also increase heart burden, potentially leading to heart disease.