Menopause Mayhem: What can happen during this time?

Estrogen levels that are constantly higher than normal combined with low progesterone levels may lead to insulin resistance and an increased accumulation of body fat. Insulin is another hormone. It is released from the pancreas and allows sugar to be absorbed into the cells to be burned as energy. If an individual has an insulin resistance, muscle cells don’t respond to it, and they don’t uptake sugar as they should. Much of the excess blood sugar then results in fat storage. Not only is having an expanding waistline depressing, it’s also translates to fat accumulation around the body's internal organs. This is very unhealthy fat to carry and can contribute to many other health problems.

Lower Progesterone Leads to Fat Accumulation

One of the primary tasks of progesterone is to raise the body’s basal temperature which usually occurs when a woman is in the second half of her menstrual cycle. During this period and with the help of progesterone, the body becomes capable of burning 300 more calories a day. However, if the body does not have enough
progesterone, it stores extra fats instead of burning those calories as fuel.

The Perimenopause Transition

Dr. Christiane Northup stated in her article titled "The Perimenopause Transition" that during the perimenopausal period, the estrogen hormone is usually the last hormone to significantly drop. This then leads to several symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, dizziness, moodiness and vaginal dryness, all of which
menopause is well-known for.

There are many cost-effective ways to minimize or eliminate the symptoms of hormone imbalance. Schedule an appointment with Marian today to find out more. Call 843-773-2289 for more information.