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Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Menopause and Midlife Health
The end of your menstrual cycle is a natural time of transition, and may bring on side effects like hot flashes, insomnia, or mood changes. In addition to finding solutions to these side effects, midlife is an important time to focus on total health, an active lifestyle, and regular health screenings.
Menopause and Mood Changes
Menopause and perimenopause can bring about a variety of emotional changes. They may include:
- Irritability
- Depression
- Increased anxiety
- Stronger premenstrual symptoms than you may be used to
Not every woman experiences this transition in the same manner, so it is important to document your feelings so that we can review them together.
Studies show that there is no specific relationship between menopause and the onset of mood disorders. That being said, if you are experiencing severe or troublesome changes in your mood, it is important for us to make sure these mood disturbances are not a reflection of a condition needing further treatment, like clinical depression, anxiety, or other more serious conditions.
Suggestions
There are many natural ways to treat the mood changes that can be brought on by menopause:
- Use relaxation techniques like deep, slow breathing. Our relaxation podcasts may help.
- Find an aerobic exercise that you like, and do it daily.
- Consider adding yoga as a regular part of your schedule.
- Consider sharing what is happening to you with friends or a support group. Writing your feelings in a journal has been shown in studies to increase feelings of well-being.
- Find a creative activity that you enjoy. Midlife is a good time to explore your artistic tendencies.
- Eat well and be active. A healthy lifestyle can help improve mood and keep stress under control. Yoga, meditation, or a support group can be reassuring, calming, and empowering.
- Estrogen therapy can enhance mood in non-depressed postmenopausal women. We can discuss if this is a good option for you.
- Antidepressants such as citalopram (Celexa) can be used successfully by some women to help with more serious depression.
If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.