Women's health guide: Hidden risks of Alchohol during Menopause

Alchohol intake can have significant impact on women's menopause symptoms. With careful decisions, women can control their health during this transition period and lead a healthy life.

Menopause is a natural occurrence during the woman's life, represented by hormonal disorder that might manifest symptoms like flashes of heat, mood change, and lack of sleep. Even though issues like lifestyle take their central place while addressing such symptoms, the role of alcohol ingestion can take center stage as regards how the body reacts when there is menopause. An awareness of its consequences may make the right choice towards women's welfare.

How Alcohol Influences Menopause Symptoms

1. Hot Flashes & Night Sweats

Alcohol functions to induce hot flashes and night sweats by dilating the blood vessels, leading to a sudden increase in heat and excessive sweating. Even though some women find their symptoms aggravated despite a moderate alcohol intake, this makes it a necessity to keep an eye on levels.

2. Sleep Disturbances

Despite alcohol possibly making you sleepy at first, it interferes with the quality of sleep by interfering with REM sleeping patterns. Women experiencing menopause usually experience insomnia, and alcohol makes it more difficult to sleep.

3. Mood Swings & Anxiety

Hormonal changes experienced during menopause already make women susceptible to mood swings and anxiety. Alcohol as a depressant will enhance the mood swings, and women feel more irritable or anxious.

Long-Term Health Risks

1. Bone Health & Osteoporosis

Menopause results in the decline of estrogen levels, reducing bone density. Drinking too much alcohol also weakens bones, and hence osteoporosis and fractures are likely to occur.

2. Heart Health

There may be some positive effects on the heart of moderate drinking, but heavy drinking increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke—particularly in women during menopause.

3. Weight Gain & Metabolism

Alcohol has empty calories and reduces metabolism, so weight gain becomes hard to resist during menopause. Additional weight gain may also cause medical issues such as diabetes.

Maintaining Alcohol During Menopause

Reduce Drinking: Have only one alcoholic drink per day.

Drink Better: Have non-alcoholic drinks such as herbal teas or flavored waters.

Watch for Signs: Observe the effect of alcohol on your body and modify accordingly.

Stay Hydrated: Drinking lots of water and staying hydrated may reduce the dehydrating effect induced by alcohol.