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High blood pressure is often called the silent killer because it rarely has any symptoms yet causes two-thirds of strokes and nearly half of heart attacks. Getting a blood pressure check is a quick and easy way to know your blood pressure numbers, and it could save your life.
This article was included in issue 91 (winter 2021-22) of The Menopause Exchange newsletter. It contains interesting information on blood pressure and menopause and HRT and high blood pressure.
Many workplaces and employers are interested in the impact of the perimenopause and menopause at work. Women usually experience the menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, with 51 being the average age in Western Europe. With around 75% of women experiencing menopausal symptoms, and 25% of these women having moderate to severe symptoms, it’s not surprising that the menopause can have a significant effect on women’s working lives. Read the rest of this entry »
The following ‘Ask the Experts’ questions were sent in to The Menopause Exchange by our members, the answers were provided by our ‘Ask the Experts’ panel and included in issues 90 (autumn 2021) & 91 (winter 2021/2022) of The Menopause Exchange newsletter. If you would like to read the questions and answers in the latest issue of The Menopause Exchange newsletter sign up for FREE emailed newsletters https://menopause-exchange.co.uk/join_us
Oestradiol is your body’s key form of oestrogen. At the menopause, your oestradiol levels drop dramatically, driving menopause symptoms such as hot flushes, insomnia and brain fog. HRT eases these symptoms by balancing your missing hormones.
Menopause myths are rife. And as the UK finally wakes up to the reality of the perimenopause for women, there are many sources of information. It’s important to check these are reliable. The myths can come from family, friends, printed and social media and, more concerningly, other healthcare professionals. It’s important to question the logic of many of the statements around the menopause and HRT, and if they don’t make sense, check them out.
Inflammation occurs when your body tries to protect itself from infection by foreign organisms, including bacteria and viruses. It involves several processes, including action by your white blood cells. The whole process is called an immune response. A short sharp immune reaction, such as a bee sting, is called an acute inflammatory response. Other immune responses can go on for some time and are called chronic inflammation.
Norma Goldman BPharm. MRPharmS. MSc.
Founder & Director of The Menopause Exchange.
Going through the menopause certainly hasn’t stopped me enjoying life. And I hope my story will inspire and encourage women to ‘have a go’ and take opportunities as they arise.
I have a degree in pharmacy. I obtained a Master’s degree in health promotion and I am a qualified health promotion specialist. In 1999, I founded The Menopause Exchange, which is an independent organisation for anyone with an interest in menopausal issues.
I present talks and workshops on all aspects of the menopause to both women and healthcare professionals. I am highly attuned to the concerns of women facing the menopause and I enjoy meeting them at the talks that I present, interacting with them and hearing about their menopausal experiences. I am often interviewed by journalists for newspapers, journals and magazines.
Since I founded The Menopause Exchange, my life has become more hectic than ever. I am married with two daughters and three grandchildren, so I also enjoy spending time with my family.
Most women with menopausal symptoms are seen and successfully treated by their GP or practice nurse. However, sometimes they may need to go to a menopause clinic for special advice. This may be because they have had breast cancer, have medical conditions that make treatment difficult or have experienced a premature menopause. Sometimes a menopause clinic can offer treatments not available to GPs.
If you currently attend, or have attended, a menopause clinic (NHS/private), or you work at a menopause clinic, please email norma@menopause-exchange.co.uk with the clinic’s name and address details.
Amenorrhoea: the absence or stopping of menstrual periods
Bilateral oophorectomy: operation to remove both ovaries
Body mass index (BMI): the weight of a person (in kilograms) divided by the square of the height of that person (in metres): used to indicate whether or not a person is over or underweight
Bone density: measurement of the bone’s mass in relation to its volume
Cervix: neck of the uterus (womb)
Climacteric: marks the transition from reproductive to non-reproductive state
Conjugated equine oestrogen: an oestrogen used in HRT which is obtained from mares’ urine
Corticosteroids: hormones produced naturally by the adrenal glands
Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA): method of measuring bone density
Endometriosis: a condition in which fragments of the lining of the uterus grow outside the uterus
Endometrium: uterus lining
Endometrial hyperplasia: a thickening of the lining of the uterus, caused by overgrowth of the cells that line the uterus
Fallopian tubes: tubes which lead from the ovaries into the uterus
Fibroid: benign tumour of fibrous tissue and muscular tissue, one or more of which may develop within or attached to the outside of the uterus
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH): one of the female hormones produced by the pituitary gland
HDL: High-density lipoproteins
Hormone assay: a test or trial to determine the strength of hormones
HRT: hormone replacement therapy
Hyperthyroidism: an overactive thyroid gland
Hypothyroidism: subnormal activity of the thyroid gland
Hyperparathyroidism: an overactive parathyroid gland
Hysterectomy: operation to remove the uterus
Implants: small pellets inserted under the skin
Laparoscopic hysterectomy: an operation to remove the uterus through four small cuts on the abdomen below the navel
LDL: Low-density lipoproteins
Libido: sexual drive
Mammogram: a breast X-ray
Menopause: the occurrence of the last natural menstrual period
Oestrogen: a female sex hormone produced by the ovaries
Osteopenia: a degree of bone loss less severe than osteoporosis
Osteoporosis: loss of bone tissue, resulting in bones that are brittle and liable to fracture
Ovaries: a pair of female sex glands which produce sex hormones and release eggs
Ovulation: The process by which an ovum (egg cell) is released from the ovary
Pelvic floor: spans the area under the pelvis
Perimenopause: the time from the beginning of irregular periods until 12 months after your last period
Pessary: a device which fits into the vagina
Phytoestrogens: natural plant oestrogens
Post-menopause: the stage when menstruation has not occurred for a least 12 months
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS): a group of symptoms experienced in varying degrees by women of reproductive age in the week before menstruation
Progesterone: a female sex hormone produced by the ovaries during the second half of the menstrual cycle
Progestogen: the synthetic form of progesterone
Prolapse: downward displacement of an organ or tissue from its normal position
Systemic: relating to or affecting the body as a whole
Testosterone: a steroid hormone formed by the ovary and adrenal glands
Unilateral oophorectomy: operation to remove one ovary
Urethra: the opening of the bladder
Uterus: a female organ which holds the developing unborn child. Also called the womb
Vagina: the lower part of the female reproductive tract
Vaginal atrophy: inflammation of the vagina and the outer urinary tract
Vaginitis: vaginal inflammation
Vasomotor symptoms: symptoms caused by the irregular function of the part of the brain that controls body heat (such as hot flushes and night sweats)
Vulva: the lips outside of the vagina
Withdrawal bleed: the breaking down of the lining of the uterus and shedding after stopping a course of progestogen
Womb: also called the uterus