September is Menopause Awareness Month

Hi friends, I don't normally talk about menopause, but things have changed for me.

I am postmenopausal by about 6 years, and that is key.  If I had gone more than 10 years without treatment, perhaps I would have been excluded from some hormone replacement.  Unfortunately, no one really knows what to do with women who have had no treatment for their first 10 years of menopause, because you guessed it, there hasn't been good research in this field.

So there is good news and bad news, as with all things in life.  The #1 issue I want to impart is that Heart Disease is still the #1 killer of women in the USA.  So, I think it makes sense that Aging isn't just about Aging Gracefully.  It is about Aging with mind, body, and spirit.

Why Should We Care that it is Menopause Awareness Month?  

Because Aging is a fact of life. 
Just as we got The First Talk about menstruation, we need to receive The Second Talk about Menopause.
Because women matter.  
Because heart disease is the #1 killer of women.
Because your grandmother or your mother may need a little extra compassion and support.
Because too many women need evaluation for perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.
Because the science of medicine is here for Women's Health.
Because menopausal and postmenopausal women with a big belly, an android figure, are at increased risk of heart disease, hyperlipidemia, falls, fractures, and death.
Because women spend their lives nurturing and giving.  It is time for women to give something back to themselves.
Because insomnia has been shown to increase the risk of cancer in women.
Because your mother or grandmother may need better sleep.  

You should know that weighing yourself on the scale and counting calories is no longer the end-all of weight loss or optimal body composition goals.   More on that later.  You should know that the old way of measuring height:weight and calculating Body Mass Index has pretty much gone out the window, in favor of the hips-to-waist-ratio.  Do you know how much you weigh?  I'm sure you do.  Do you know your Waist-to-Hip Ratio?  *Applause* *Applause* if you do!  You can calculate your own ratio here: Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculation.  What does your ratio mean?  It means you are at increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

The lowest risk:  0.80 or below.
Moderate risk:     0.81 - 0.85
Highest risk:      0.85 or higher.

Don't pass Go without calculating your Ratio, ok?  Today is the new day to start moving Onward & Forward for yourself.  If this is the first time you are calculating your Ratio, I want to know about it!

Your success in moving forward with your body is my success in moving forward with my soul!

So Post a Comment....and if you don't know how to post a Comment, send me an email at girlpowerinamm@yahoo.com and I'll personally walk you through the process!

I'm starting a new lease on life to help myself, and in the process I'm going to make sure that I help you, too.  So visit my blog for Girl Power in Age Management Medicine:  Girl Power in Age Management Medicine.

And support every woman this month.  Talk about Menopause.  

Full Disclosure:  Dr. Margaret A. Ferrante is an Institute Physician at Cenegenics® in Beverly Hills, CA.