‘s Health
As women age, they experience an inevitable decline in their own hormone levels which greatly affects their overall health and well-being. Estrogen, one of the female hormones, decreases significantly with age, resulting in a wide range of changes to a woman’s body and health. Here, we take a look at how hormonal imbalances due to age-related estrogen decline affect women and the various ways to manage it.
Physical Effects
Declining estrogen levels can bring about a range of physical changes in women, including:
- Hot Flashes: Hot flashes are a sudden sensation of warmth followed by redness in the face, neck, ears, and upper abdomen. They usually last for several seconds but can become problematic in their frequency and intensity.
- Vaginal Dryness: Vaginal dryness is caused by decreasing levels of estrogen, which causes thinning and drying of the vaginal walls. This can lead to pain and discomfort during intercourse.
- Skin Aging: A decreased production of collagen due to lower estrogen levels accelerates aging of the skin, resulting in wrinkles, age spots, and sagging.
How to Manage Symptoms
- Hormone Replacement Therapy: Estrogen replacement therapy is a method of treating the symptoms of hormonal imbalance. It can be used to alleviate menopause symptoms as well as reducing the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease.
- Healthy Diet: Eating a balanced diet high in fruits and vegetables, unsaturated fats, and low in processed foods can help reduce the effects of hormonal imbalances.
- Regular Exercise: Regular physical activity can improve overall health, reduce stress, and help prevent age-related diseases.
- Reduce Alcohol Intake: Alcohol consumption can have an adverse effect on estrogen levels, so it is important to keep alcohol intake to a minimum.
Conclusion
A decline in estrogen levels with age can significantly affect a woman’s health and well-being. It is important for women to be aware of the physical and psychological changes that can be caused by these hormone fluctuations, as well as the various ways of managing them. By making a few lifestyle changes and utilizing hormone replacement therapy, women can effectively stay healthy as they age.
