Thought It Was Just the Heat, But Is It Menopausal Symptoms?

Daedong Hospital Director Kim Yunmi: "Natural Physical Changes and Symptoms, Treatment If Needed"

A 52-year-old woman, Ms. A, has recently been experiencing excessive sweating and facial flushing that does not subside easily, causing her significant stress.

Heat. [Image source=Clipart Korea]

At night, she feels hotter than her family members, making it difficult to fall asleep or causing her to wake up frequently. As a result, she experiences daytime fatigue that interferes with her daily life. Believing she was suffering from heat exhaustion, she visited the family medicine department, only to receive an unexpected diagnosis of menopause.

Menopause refers to the period when aging leads to decreased ovarian function and reduced female hormones, resulting in various physical and psychological changes. It commonly occurs in women in their late 40s to early 50s, including the period before and after menopause. Men can also experience menopausal symptoms when testosterone levels decrease due to aging.

When estrogen, a female hormone that affects various organs such as the uterus, breasts, heart, brain, blood vessels, and joints, decreases, physical symptoms such as facial flushing, sleep disturbances, sweating, dizziness, headaches, palpitations, and joint pain, as well as psychological symptoms such as depression and irritability, may appear. These are referred to as menopausal symptoms.

During the hot and humid summer, the body's ability to regulate temperature declines, which can worsen symptoms like sweating and facial flushing. In particular, night sweats are common during menopause, and when combined with summer weather, can lead to sleep disturbances like those experienced by Ms. A, disrupting daily life.

Kim Yunmi, Director of the Comprehensive Health Checkup Center at Daedong Hospital (specialist in family medicine), advised, "Menopause is a natural physical change, but if symptoms make daily life difficult, it is best to visit the family medicine department for a comprehensive diagnosis and, if necessary, treatment after checking your overall health status."

If you experience menopausal symptoms, it is helpful to keep a detailed record of the symptoms you have experienced. Record the date you noticed the symptoms, how you felt physically, and which symptoms were uncomfortable. Also, provide your healthcare provider with information on your eating habits, activity levels, stress index, underlying conditions, and any medications you are taking.

Depending on the diagnosis, you may find comprehensive management and appropriate treatment methods such as lifestyle modifications, regular checkups, medication, or hormone replacement therapy.

To overcome menopausal symptoms during the hot and humid summer, maintain a cool environment using fans or air conditioners, and wear breathable clothing to help regulate your body temperature.

Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, and manage your physical health and stress through a balanced diet, light exercise, meditation, or deep breathing.

Although menopausal symptoms may worsen due to the summer environment, if your physical or psychological symptoms do not improve despite your efforts, seek help from a medical institution.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.