Postmenopausal Health Problems you should Know About

Women need to take conscious steps to protect their bodies when they are postmenopausal and this includes regular check ups at the family clinic. This preventive care can help you lead a healthy, active life well into your golden years.

After menopause, you become vulnerable to a number of illnesses that you were once protected against while you were menstruating. Here are some of the bigger ones you must be aware of.

Get checked for Osteoporosis, plus Vitamin D and Calcium levels

One of the most common complaints and potentially debilitating conditions that develops in many postmenopausal women, is Osteoporosis. Estrogen that helped keep your bones strong earlier, sees its levels drop off after menopause. Left unchecked, the weakened bones can be prone to more frequent fractures. The hip, wrists and spine are especially vulnerable.

If you take some precautions like doing weight bearing exercises, getting in enough calcium and vitamin D as well as sunshine, you should be fine. Either way, make appointments for preventive care with your neighborhood walk in clinic. That way doctors can monitor your bone strength and vitamin D levels to ensure you are in good bone health.

Do a diabetes screening

After menopause you are at greater risk of developing diabetes. Weight gain and a poor diet can make things worse. Keep the fats and sugar in your diet to a minimum and get in plenty of fiber. But above all else, don’t forget to make an appointment to be screened for diabetes at your family doctor’s clinic.

Heart health checks

Postmenopausal women are as much at risk of developing cardiovascular problems as men. Estrogen level drops after menopause, and the hormone which is thought to keep women’s hearts protected is no longer available as an additional line of defense for your heart. Should you develop a sudden possibly cardiac symptom like breathlessness or pain in the chest, head to an urgent care clinic right away. It could be the precursor to a bigger problem like the onset of a heart attack. On an ongoing basis be sure to schedule in preventive care by getting regular tests done to check for heart health.

Cancer related checks

It is also important to keep up your routine of pap smears and mammograms even after menopause. Be sure to get checked for specific kinds of cancer based on your own family history and your medical history. Being overweight or being a smoker may put you at greater risk, so this preventive health checkup is vital. Screening can help improve chances of fighting the illness through early detection when it strikes. Once you are over 65, you can stop screening for cervical cancer provided you have had a clean chit on all previous pap smears. Colorectal cancer screening is highly recommended for those over 50.

Urinary problems

Some women suffer from urinary infections and urinary incontinence. Your family doctor or the doctor at the family clinic can help you with alternatives to treat the problem so you don’t have to suffer in silence.

Remember, whatever your issue as a postmenopausal woman, there is probably some way your doctor can help make life a little better for you so you are free to enjoy your life to the fullest.

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