Menopause affects nearly every single woman differently.
However, that doesn’t mean there are not things we can do in the workplace to provide help, support, and guidance for everyone to ensure a safe positive workplace for all.
What is menopause?
Menopause is a natural part of life. For some, this process can begin due to surgery or treatment for others as part of the ageing process.
A common definition is the ‘stopping of the menstruation cycle’ and in medical terms is agreed when menstruation has not occurred for 12 consecutive months. This part of the hormonal pathway for many women can often be a difficult time with support and help needed but often overlooked.
This typically occurs between ages 45-55 and lasts 1-8 years. However, beginning much younger than this is not unknown, and often won’t start until the late 50s or even into the 60s. There is no one size fits all as each person is different.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Common symptoms include hot flushes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping, memory loss, mental health conditions including depression and mood swings, fatigue, aches pains and joint stiffness to name a few. Even one of these can have a severe impact on our daily lives, however, it can be common for women to suffer from multiple signs daily. This is where management awareness and understanding are key.
Be prepared to learn about menopause.
Everyone should have some level of knowledge regarding menopause. Support systems can often be friends and colleagues, loved ones at home, as well as management and corporate support. At Corporate Personal Wellbeing we offer services which can further improve your knowledge and understanding. This will help with managing expectations for both work and personal life for all parties, as well as remove some stigmas and barriers faced by women requiring the support required.
Physical health tips
A massive hormonal change will have a drastic impact on your body. One lasting for many years will have ever-changing effects and we need to do what we can to help our bodies adjust. Sleep is majorly important and ensuring around eight hours a night is key. Tips can include managing bedroom temperature and reducing noise and blue light before bed can help to get in the hours needed in a comfortable environment.
Within diet, reducing carbs and increasing protein intake has been proven to help regulate insulin levels concerning oestrogen. Reducing refined foods and opting for natural alternatives with a high vitamin and mineral content is key to helping keep a hormonal and nutritional balance.
Movement is key. Keeping joints, bones, and muscles active will help reduce inflammation and lower overall pain throughout the body. We would recommend a low to moderate activity level with an emphasis on movement and mobility. Studies show attacking exercise from a ‘weight loss’ perspective during and immediately after menopause can increase symptoms including fatigue and physical pain. Essentially, we want to keep moving and active.