Unusual Menopause Symptoms to Watch For
Menopause is a natural process that usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, when your ovaries stop producing eggs and your hormone levels drop. While you’re likely familiar with common symptoms of menopause including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and mood swings, you might not be familiar with some of the unusual symptoms of menopause.
8 Unusual Menopause Symptoms To Know
1. Burning Tongue or Mouth Syndrome (BMS)
This condition causes your lips, tongue, or entire mouth to tingle or burn. You may also experience a dry mouth, a metallic taste in your mouth, or loss of taste. The symptoms of burning tongue syndrome vary from mild to severe and may come and go. Strong mint flavors, cinnamon, and spicy foods often trigger burning tongue syndrome. To alleviate symptoms of burning tongue, you should avoid these triggering foods, chew gum, and drink cold water.
2. Itchy Skin and Skin Crawling
A drop in estrogen can cause thinner and drier skin and uncomfortable and itchy skin. Additionally, you may experience the sensation of insects crawling under your skin, a sensation termed formication. A drop in estrogen may also trigger the development of rashes, hives, and eczema, and you may become more sensitive to soaps and detergents. Stay hydrated and apply moisturizer regularly to alleviate symptoms of itchy and crawling skin.
3. Cold Flushes
This is when you feel a sudden chill. While cold flushes are typically brief and last a couple of minutes, they can disrupt your sleep and leave you tired in the morning. Cold flushes are also the result of shifting hormone levels, which affect the ability of your hypothalamus to regulate your body temperature. To alleviate symptoms of cold flushes, you can layer your clothes and bedding and choose natural fabrics for your clothing.
4. Rage
Extreme irritability, sometimes referred to as perimenopausal rage, can occur due to a drop in estrogen. Estrogen plays an essential role in the production of serotonin (“happy hormone”). Hence, as estrogen levels decline, so do serotonin levels, making it more difficult to manage your emotions, leading to outbursts of rage. To alleviate symptoms of perimenopausal rage, consider stress management and mindfulness activities, including meditation and deep breathing.
5. Tinnitus
Tinnitus involves hearing a ringing or buzzing in your ears and is also due to your shifting hormone levels. To alleviate tinnitus symptoms, exercise regularly, improve your sleep habits, and manage your stress levels using relaxation techniques such as meditation and deep breathing.
6. Hair Thinning or Loss
Shedding hair and hair thinning is also due to a drop in estrogen levels. To alleviate this symptom, use a gentle shampoo and moisturizing conditioner, and avoid using heating hair tools, such as hair dryers, hair straighteners, and curling irons. Eating a healthy diet including foods high in iron, iodine, B vitamins and zinc also helps improve your hair's health.
7. Changes in Body Odor
Shifting hormone levels can cause changes in your body odor, ranging from just a change in odor to a more potent odor. To manage symptoms of body odor changes, wear breathable clothing, bathe or shower more often, and use a stronger antiperspirant. Because increased body odor may be due to hot flashes and stress, avoid foods that trigger hot flashes, including alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods, and practice mindfulness activities such as meditation and deep breathing.
8. Increasing Cholesterol Levels
Estrogen helps to regulate your cholesterol levels. Therefore, drops in estrogen may cause a rise in your bad cholesterol (LDL) level. To manage increasing cholesterol levels, exercise regularly and eat cholesterol-lowering foods, such as nuts and seeds, green leafy vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains.
Cause of Menopause Symptoms
The drastic change in hormone levels, including estrogen and progesterone, during perimenopause (the time before menopause) and menopause affects many areas of your body, including your brain, muscles, joints, and gut, leading to widespread symptoms.
Preparing for Menopause
Menopause is a natural transitional time that may bring along some surprising symptoms. While these symptoms can be uncomfortable or embarrassing, they can often be managed with some lifestyle changes. However, in some cases, you may need additional treatment, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), to help get your symptoms under control.
Remember that you are not alone in your journey through menopause; many resources and support groups are available to help you cope with your unusual menopause symptoms.