Having trouble sleeping at night? Waking up in a sweat? Are you depressed or irritable? Are you 
thinking that you may have a sleep disorder. Well ... maybe ... But ... You could be entering menopause.
What most people refer to as menopause is actually a premenopausal stage called perimenopause, which marks the interval in which your body begins its transition into menopause. Perimenopause encompasses the years leading up to menopause — anywhere from two to eight years — plus the first year after your final period. It's a natural part of aging that signals the ending of your reproductive years.
Actual menopause doesn’t start until a year after your last period. During menopause, your body is much more susceptible to serious problems such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. In order to properly prevent serious conditions during menopause, it is helpful to recognize symptoms of perimenopause so you can start treatment and stop some of the problems before they begin.
Here are some of the common and not so common symptoms of menopause:
- Physical Symptoms.
- Hot flashes. These are probably the most common physical symptom of menopause. They occur when you feel like it is terribly hot when the room is actually at a reasonable temperature.
- Night sweats. This is simply a hot flash that occurs during the night. Nights sweats can generally wake you from a sound sleep (often covered in sweat).
- Heart palpitations. These are more rare and serious than other symptoms. You should go to a doctor if you experience any heart related problems.
- Other symptoms. Some other symptoms may include incontinence (inability to control urination), dry skin, and hair loss.
- Changes in the Menstrual Cycle. This is usually the first sign that you’re entering perimenopause, although menstrual changes can be caused my other problems or even just stress. You may experience a lighter or much heavier flow, early, late or irregularly spaced periods. You may even miss a few.
- Changes in Mood. You may find yourself experiencing various emotional changes ranging from increased irritability, anxiety or simple mood swings, to more serious problems such as depression.
- Changes in Sleep Patterns. Even if you’ve always been a good sleeper, you may stop being able to fall asleep at night or wake up repeatedly and not get back to sleep. Sleep problems can also be caused by other perimenopausal symptoms such as depression and night sweats.
- Sexual Changes. Many women in perimenopause have a decrease in sex drive. You may also notice other symptoms including vaginal dryness.
While these are not the only symptoms of early menopause, they are the most common. If you have are experiencing these symptoms, it is recommended you visit your doctor. This way, you can not only treat any symptoms that are too severe, but also take steps, such as dietary changes, to prevent complications.
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