All You Got To Know About Menopause.

Hope everyone had a Happy Sunday! 


Back with some health tips again! 

Recently, I have been doing many researches on menopause because my mum and dad happened to fall into the category of going through menopause. Mum's condition is more extreme than dad's and my dad currently don't show any obvious symptoms of menopause yet. 


To be honest, it's not easy to handle them because my stress level is at its highest too especially when I have to juggle with work stress, study stress and back home to settle things for mum like household chores, take good care of her etc.

Weekends for now will not be weekends to rest, sleep or play and I will not even have time to meet up my friends for gathering. This is how bad situation is because you will get worried somehow and you never wanna leave the two alone by themselves since their emotions are forever unstable.

Well, if your mums or dads are behaving in a manner very unusual from what they are, they might be suffering from the effects of menopause.

Signs of Menopause - Women

For a better understanding of the changes that occur with menopause, you must first understand the female sex hormones and their role in the body.

The female reproductive period begins with the menarche (first menstruation), at this stage, the ovaries begin to produce estrogen and progesterone are female sex hormones. The role of progesterone is basically the final preparation of the uterus for pregnancy and breast for breastfeeding.

From forty to forty five years of age, there is a decrease in the rate of ovulation and consequently, a decrease of sex hormones, this stage is known as climacteric or premenopausal period. Between 45 and 50 years of age, the menstrual cycle is interrupted, which is defined as menopause.

The decrease in the amount of estrogen the body produces alterations that result in physical and mental disorders which can include symptoms of the following:

ü  hot flashes

ü  headaches or migraines

ü  mood changes (irritability, depression)

ü  decreased memory

ü  insomnia

ü  circulatory problems and bone (eg osteoporosis due to decreased osteoblast activity and decreased deposition calcium and phosphate in the bone)

ü  urinary problems (such as: difficulty urinating, urinary incontinence and increased susceptibility to infections)

ü  mucosal fragility and progressive atrophy of the genitals

Importantly, the intensity with which these conditions will occur, is determined not only by hormonal decline, but also by poor nutrition, lack of exercise, toxic habits (snuff, alcohol) and the image that women have of itself.

Hot flushes are the reaction of decreasing level of female hormone estrogen, which is a common issue associated with menopause. Therefore the problem of hot flush is a common menopausal sign, where the lady suffers from sudden bout of hot flow across the whole body, which is irritating and often create an unusual redness of face. Similarly, hot flushes at nighttime initiate profuse sweating, which is called night sweats.

Due to sudden fall of estrogen level, menstrual cycle gets irregular. A menopausal woman nay face problem of lapse of scheduled periods or may suffer from frequent bout of menstrual bleeding.

My Mum is having heavy bleeding for several weeks already and may opt to go for a day operation to scrap cells for experiment to see the cause of it. This is a common symptom of menopause but then again, it is good to do a checkup with your gynae if problem is persisting for a tad too long.

Vaginal dryness is also a passive impact of decreased level of estrogen. The problem may lead to itchy vagina, vulnerable to vaginal infection, painful intercourse, etc, which may seem quite frustrating.

Source: http://www.signs-of-menopause.com/

A moment they can be talking to you with fun and laughter, and in another split second, their mood can change 360 degrees. 

I'm kinda fearful that mum will have anemia after having lost so much blood through heavy bleeding. So I too researched on food that she should take that are rich in Iron. 

For your reference, here is a list of foods that are rich in iron:

Foods	Serving	Weight (g)	Iron Content (mg)
Rice and alternatives Rice, brown Pasta, wholemeal Bread, wholemeal Wheatgerm Wheatbran Branflakes Cornflakes	1 bowl 1 portion 1 slice 1 teaspoon 1 tablespoon 3/4 cup 1 cup	200 100 30 15 15 30 30	1.0 1.8 1.0 1.1 1.8 5.0 3.6
Fruits Apricot, semi-dried Dates, black, dried Dates, red, dried Raisins Longan, dried Fig, dried Prunes, semi-dried Peach, fresh	10 halves 10 10 1 packet 1/2 cup 10 10 One	35 90 90 42 65 85 85 155	1.2 3.3 3.0 1.5 3.5 3.6 2.2 1.6
Vegetables Kale, Chinese (kai lan) Spinach (bayam pasir) Kang kong Chinese cabbage (bok choy) Mustard leaves, chye sim Seaweed, dried (hai tai) Sea moss (fa chai)	1 cup 1 cup 1 cup 1/2 cup 1 cup 1 sheet 1 pinch	65 30 30 85 55 15 10	1.3 1.5 1.6 0.8 0.7 3.3 9.9
Meat and alternatives Beef, lean Pork, lean Mutton, lean Chicken, skinless Fish Pork liver Chicken liver Pig kidney Egg yolk, hard-boiled Egg, whole, hard-boiled Ikan bilis Prawns, dried Oyster, fresh Sardine, canned in tomato Soya bean curd, tau hoo Cashew nut Pistachio Walnut Lotus seed Almond Sunflower seed Watermelon seed Soya bean, white lentil Gram, green Gram, red	1 palm-sized piece 1 palm-sized piece 1 palm-sized piece 1 palm-sized piece 1 fillet 2 slices One One One One 2 tablespoons 1 teaspoon 12 1 fish 1 small square 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 2 tablespoons 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 1 cup 1 cup 1 cup	90 90 90 90 90 30 50 230 17 50 15 5 60 40 85 65 65 50 15 30 70 50 50 180 250 250	2.8 1.2 2.1 0.8 1.2 3.1 5.1 13.8 0.8 0.9 0.6 0.7 3.7 1.8 1.9 5.0 2.5 1.5 0.6 1.2 3.2 3.1 3.0 14.4 13.8 10.5

Source : HSA Website 

And if you think that only women are going through menopause, you are absolutely wrong because men too, have menopause. 

 Signs of Menopause - Males

Infact, they have given the menopause-like symptoms the name of androgen (testosterone) decline in the aging male. This is because unlike female menopause, the one in males represents a very slow decline in the levels of testosterone. At the same time, in case of female menopause, hormone production stops completely. However, in males, the testes do not run out of the substance needed to produce testosterone.

It is just that with progressing age, a male undergoes the process of reduction in the production of the male hormone. More often than not, such reduction is accompanied with some diseases like diabetes. Such a condition is usually seen in males between the ages of 40 and 55. Thus, we can say that male menopause basically comprises of the hormonal, physiological and chemical changes that occur in all men, with time, leading to a reduced sex drive.

The following signs and symptoms are associated with the onset of menopause in a male. 

• Decline in sports ability
• Fall in work performance
• Feeling sleepy immediately after dinner
• Irritability and short temper
• Lack of interest in life
• Lessening of strength and/or endurance.
• Lethargy and low levels of energy
• Loss in height
• Reduced sex drive
• Weak erection

Causes of Male Menopause

Though male menopause is mainly associated with progressing age, a number of other factors have been found to accelerate the process. These are: 

• Hypertension
• Hypothalamic slowness
• Lack of exercise
• Obesity
• Poor blood circulation
• Poor diet
• Prescription and non-prescription medications
• Psychological problems, mainly mid-life depression/crisis
• Smoking
• Too much alcohol consumption

Source: http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/what-is-male-menopause-416.html

With your parents going through menopause, you as a child of theirs got to show more care, concern and understanding towards them because at this point of time, they require alot of mutual support from their family members and loved ones. 

Hit The Gym!

Had brunch today and made our way to S.M's condo to hit the gym with the girls, Jerline & Rasa while the boy and S.M went for their swim.

It feels great to tire yourself out on a Saturday with some work-outs at the gym.
I'm forever anticipating for the arrival of weekends because that are the only time I can destress myself from the many efforts put into work & study.
Sometimes, it gets so tight up that I feel I am so unhealthy internally and the stress builds up to a level where I just don't feel like uttering a single word to anybody, which is also unhealthy to the body.
So gym or jogging used to be one of the way to relieve stress in my younger days when I was still in uniform.
After which, burden got heavier and I simply have no time and energy to really hit the gym or go for a simple jog.
Now that age is catching up, I feel that it is relevant to cultivate some healthy habits.

We could probably have the gym meet-up every Saturday! Anyway, they have plans for BBQ at SM's house next Sat! It's gonna be fun!

The gals and I were talking about problems that gals faced in terms of fat-ness. I'm sure you would agree that gals always find it tedious to lose tummy fats, thigh fats as well as arms fats. Actually if you google, you will find many methods which you can try to lose those fats. As a gal or woman, I'm sure we are all body-conscious and we want to be in good shape always so some of us even resort to slimming pills consumption, slimming tea drinking or even sign up for slimming sessions package at slimming centers. They might produce fruitful effects but I always feel that side effects are bound to occur and so the most fundamental method to keep yourself healthy and slim is by exercising and eating right.

Have been reading some healthy lifestyle articles and is super amazed by the wonders that my favourite green tea can do. Since i'm on the topic on getting a healthy lifestyle, might as well just do some sharing here.

I have always been a fan of green tea ever since polytechnic school days. I love Pokka Green tea the most and have always been drinking a cup of hot green tea after lunch everyday. Perhaps addiction may be one of the cause because like coffee, once you start you cannot stop. But I also feel that hot green tea makes you feel less bloated after a hearty meal as it washes the oil away.

This is my favourite brand of cold and hot green tea which are damn awesome! <3

Benefits of Green Tea: 
Source adapted from: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/11-benefits-of-green-tea-that-you-didnt-know-about.html

1.     Weight Loss. Green tea increases the metabolism. The polyphenol found in green tea works to intensify levels of fat oxidation and the rate at which your body turns food into calories.

2.     Diabetes. Green tea apparently helps regulate glucose levels slowing the rise of blood sugar after eating. This can prevent high insulin spikes and resulting fat storage.

3.     Heart Disease. Scientists think, green tea works on the lining of blood vessels, helping keep them stay relaxed and better able to withstand changes in blood pressure. It may also protect against the formation of clots, which are the primary cause of heart attacks.

4.     Esophageal Cancer. It can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer, but it is also widely thought to kill cancer cells in general without damaging the healthy tissue around them.

5.     Cholesterol. Green tea reduces bad cholesterol in the blood and improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol.

6.     Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It is said to delay the deterioration caused by Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Studies carried out on mice showed that green tea protected brain cells from dying and restored damaged brain cells.

7.     Tooth Decay. Studies suggests that the chemical antioxidant “catechin” in tea can destroy bacteria and viruses that cause throat infections, dental caries and other dental conditions

8.     Blood Pressure. Regular consumption of green tea is thought to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

9.     Depression. Theanine is an amino acid naturally found in tea leaves. It is this substance that is thought to provide a relaxing and tranquilizing effect and be a great benefit to tea drinkers.

10.  Anti-viral and Anti-bacterial. Tea catechins are strong antibacterial and antiviral agents which make them effective for treating everything from influenza to cancer. In some studies green tea has been shown to inhibit the spread of many diseases.

11.  Skincare. Green tea can apparently also help with wrinkles and the signs of aging, This is because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Both animal and human studies have demonstrated that green tea applied topically can reduce sun damage.

Sagittarians

Was doing my individual project assignment and I chanced upon the traits of a sagittarian, which I thought was quite interesting.

Based on the traits depicted by a Sagittarian, I can conclude that I am a pure sagittarian. It's true how the below mentioned traits reveal most of the character of me:

1. Intelligent: People usually think you're dumb on first sight but once they get to know you, they realised you are intelligent and become fond of your talent. (Erms, I am not super intelligent but I don't think I'm a fool either) 
2. Straightforward: Yes you are very daring (Do not ask a sagittarian how you're looking, they can easily say the truth "I think your dressing is not at all fashionable, or simply you're ugly.") They meant no hard feelings because they are just so direct and straight to the point. They just dislike to be fake. (Oh, this is so true! I just cannot be fake, like means like, hate means hate and I tend to say it or show it on my face straight) 
3. Awfully attractive: Yes! You are always surrounded by many people and you're always the center of attention. You'll always be the stunning star of the evening! (I don't think I'm awfully attractive, just that I can easily befriend and make friends fond of me and have many friends around me all the times) 
4. Careless: Sagittarians are always very careless. You'll often find them searching for their keys, wallet, journals etc. They simply cannot remember where they put their stuffs and end up losing this and that. (This is so true, that is why I talked about losing my precious anklet previously. sigh!)
5. Responsible: You're a Born Leader! (Not so much of a born leader but I definitely think I'm responsible because be it sch project work or work, I will never shirk responsibility. What is to be done, must be done) 
6. Totally cool: It's hard for you to impress a sagittarian because they simply have their principles and strong character that you just think they are super cool on the outlook. (People say I'm dao on first sight. hahaha!) 
7. Easy-going: You do not need to have any tension when you are with a sagittarian they are just so easy-going and nice. (If you know me well enough, I'm definitely very easy-going and not unapproachable on first sight!) 
8. Adventurer: Doing the impossible is definitely a sagittarian's favourite chore. They love to travel and discover new things. ( Indeed I love to travel and discover new insights and accepts challenges!) 
9. Good sense of humor: Sagittarian just have the flair to make your day with a good laugh. (I can be super crappy at times because my sense of humor is passed down from daddy. LOL)
10. Decency & Grace: Sagittarians adore people with decent attitudes and when it comes to a selections, they possess good tastes in choosing and suggesting the best. It's their gift to have unique tastes. (Oh yes super true! I hate to mix around with indecent people and so I super dislike people who are just indecent and act like sluts / bitches) 
11. Friendly: Humbleness and politeness is their nature and even though they are friendly, they have a reserved group of social circle. (Definitely true that I have a reserved group of social circle whom I trust ) 
12. Independent:Sagittarians do not rely on others and can depend on themselves for the all-year round tasks. They love freedom and hates being tied down by routine-life. (Needless to say, since young, i'm super independent!) 

I somehow love being a sagittarian because I am always younger than friends of my age group. Teehee! Birthdays always seemed so faraway for me even though the difference of a year is similar to that of others. 

The other day I mentioned that I will jog weekly and I am really determined to do so.
Went for a night jog last night with dearest and felt super refreshed thereafter. Kudos to me for running 2.2km non-stop. It's quite an achievement to me given that I have not trained my stamina for the past few years? So gradually, I am gonna increase the distance and stay healthy! (: 

All Ready For the Run!

The Last Of The Week.

Woke up supra early today to prepare myself and waited for the boy to fetch me to the skin doctor. 

The place is always so full of people and if you have just came 10 or 15mins later than the time it opens, you prolly got to wait for at least another 1hr30mins till your turn. I ever reached at 11am and waited for my turn till almost 3pm. It's seriously insane but definitely worth the wait. 

Finally, this time round, it's my last review. Say YAY because I do not have to wake up supra early to queue anymore, won't have to get irritated over the area that always don't heal and hello to the flawless-skin-to-be!

Consultation plus night cream was almost 80 bucks in total. In future, should any of the products run out, I can just drop by at the counter to purchase without consulting the doctor. =D 

Had a fruitful Sunday because I went for my jogging with dearest! Almost died because it's been another while since I last ran. But well, I'm gonna build back the stamina and I will make it a point to run every Saturday / Sunday! The boy and me even thought of going for marathon sometime after I build up my stamina. Super Supra ON! Hehe. 

After which, the boy came over to my house for dinner with mummy and we watched the Star Awards!
Loving how Rui En always have the "Think Whatever About Me, For I Feel No Need To Explain To Anyone." kind of aura. To me, she is the most authentic celebrity who doesn't hide her true self infront of others just for the sake of fame and recognition. It's like if you like her, you like her because she is her. 

Getting Ready For The Monday Battle?
Have an Early Rest and FIGHTING!