Other possible stresses come from outside This new phase of your life can be as busy the home. If you work, you may be taking a and fulfilling as you would like to make it.
different look at your career, starting to think Stay active—not only physically, but also about retirement, or feeling challenged by mentally. If you don’t work outside of the younger coworkers. Or, your parents may be home, you might consider getting a part-having health problems that now need your time job or volunteering with a nonprofit attention. Maybe a combination of such
organization. You might find a hobby or
challenges is causing you stress.
learn to play a musical instrument. Maybe How do you know you are feeling
you would enjoy taking a class at a local stressed? Perhaps you feel overwhelmed by community college or even working toward
32
S T A Y I N G H E A L T H Y
life, depressed, or anxious. Do your shoulder Talk to friends or family members who
muscles feel tight? Do you sometimes realize might be going through similar life changes.
your hands are clenched? Do you wake up
Sharing ideas about how to handle common
with a sore jaw because you are grinding
new responsibilities like taking care of aging your teeth or tightening your jaw as you
parents might be helpful to everyone.
sleep? Do you have headaches, stomach
problems, fatigue, trouble sleeping, or high Would you like to help with
blood pressure? These can be signs of stress.
medical research?
Avoid stress as much as possible. That
Research is ongoing in many places.
might be very hard to do if you are a care-One way people can help with medical
giver—whether of a child or an adult. Try research is to take part in a clinical
to identify the times when you feel over-
study or trial. A clinical study or trial is whelmed so you can try to keep those
specially designed, health-related
situations to a minimum. Take time to relax, research involving humans. Scientists
eat well, exercise regularly to release tension often seek participants for their research and feel better overall, and keep in touch studies. Some are people with the illness with family and friends. Try to find activities being studied, called “patient volunteers.”
that may help get your mind off things that Sometimes participants are “normal or
stress you. Maybe even try relaxation breath-healthy volunteers” who are not sick.
ing (see box on page 12) or meditation. Get Scientists learn a lot by comparing and
enough sleep. Don’t be reluctant to ask for contrasting the two groups, especially if help when you need it—from family or
both have received the same treatment.
friends or even from a professional counselor.
Are you interested in taking part in a
clinical study—either because of a
Keep in mind the possibility of saying no health problem you have or so you can
when asked to do something that you think contribute to medical research? Consider
will add to your stress, and try not to feel volunteering for a clinical trial. Learn
guilty afterward. Some women find accept-
more at www.clinicaltrials.gov where ing the fact that there are some things in life you will see a listing of current clinical that they can’t change is helpful. Set realistic studies and trials.
goals for what you want to get done.
33
Remember...
The menopausal transition is a natural stage for every woman who is in her forties or fifties. If you have no symptoms or if you aren’t bothered by the symptoms you have, there is nothing you need do.
But, if hot flashes, night sweats, or vaginal dryness are making you uncomfortable, talk to your doctor about ways you can get relief.
Mid-life can be an exciting period in your life. It is a time of change—
physical changes, of course, but possibly emotional and social adjustments, too. It might also be a time of acceptance—of these changes and of your evolving roles in life. This is also a time of opportunity and promise—a chance to make healthy changes in your lifestyle that will allow you to get the most out of the rest of your life.
So, don’t look back. This is the time to explore your world, expand your horizons, and learn more about yourself.
It’s time to enjoy yourself, friends
and family, and your life!
Information
F O R M O R E
To learn more about health and aging and
Other sources of useful information for
to order Hormones and Menopause, a tip menopausal and postmenopausal women:
sheet on menopausal hormone therapy,
contact:
Federal Government Resources
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Centers for Disease Control