Hormonal Changes, Menopause and Rheumatoid Arthritis
During menopause, many hormonal changes occur which leave an adverse impact upon a woman’s body and bones. Such changes can give way to breakage in the composition of bones which is often a cause of occurrence of Rheumatoid Arthritis among menopausal women. The problem can sometimes become so severe that it becomes debilitating and affects the patient’s ability to move around.
During menopause, bones become weak and brittle. This guide intends to throw light on the connection between Rheumatoid Arthritis and menopause.
Menopause and Bone Depleting Hormones: The Link Between Menopause & Rheumatoid Arthritis
Both of these are associated closely together as RA develops generally after menopause due to hormonal deficiency in which estrogen levels are slashed down. This is a medically proven fact that hormonal imbalance in a person opens way for lots of problems related with health and even leads to constant pain in the body and brain fog as well. This association can prove to be more problematic and can even make it tough for the woman in their menopausal phase by weakening the bones density.
Ensuring proper lifestyle and being physically active will make it possible to deal with the problems, which are linked with hormonal imbalance and RA. Menopause is problematic when estrogen levels fall below certain levels leading to bone problems. You need to maintain a healthy lifestyle and this is what makes all the difference in your ailing health status. Rheumatoid Arthritis is a problem to deal with, but ensuring hormonal balance through diet and exercise helps in boosting your health and keeping Rheumatoid Arthritis at bay during menopause.
When ovaries of a woman stop producing hormones, it leads to ceasing of menstruation, which is known as menopause. This is a natural process in which hormones get declined or cease their production. When a woman reaches her 40s or 50s, menstruation can end. In some women, it is early while in some women, menopause hits at a later stage.
During menopause, a woman’s body reduces the levels of estrogen and her bones become weaker. Though lowering of estrogen in the body significantly has a lot to do with weakening of bones, the risk for Rheumatoid Arthritis is also increased. During menopause, estrogen cannot be increased naturally. If you are able to maintain this hormone, then Rheumatoid Arthritis stays within control. So one can say that estrogen decline will cause your bones to become weaker forming ample grounds for Rheumatoid Arthritis.
The Relation of Sleep with Menopause & Rheumatoid Arthritis
If a woman has hit menopause, there are chances of developing symptoms, which can lead to massive problems in future, especially with the bone health. What actually happens in case of Rheumatoid Arthritis is that a person suffers from hot flashes, insomnia and night sweats. Now, we intend to tell you that there is also a direct connection between sleep and your bone health.
When you are not sleeping well, it will eventually lead to fatigue. How fatigue is connected with Rheumatoid Arthritis you may ask? When you suffer from fatigue, you will feel more pain in your joints and legs. If you are already suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis, then your pain will hit an all time high mark. So, this is how insufficient sleep and menopause affects your health and makes you more prone to suffer from fatigue in case of deteriorating bone health.
Is Bone Fracture Common During Menopause?
When you have reached menopause, bone breakage becomes a common thing. Bones are weaker, which leads to various problems later on. Slight injuries also pose risk of bone breakage therefore; you will suffer more from the problems, which are associated with health implications. Studies have indicated that during menopause, the estrogen levels are declining. This makes your bones lose their density faster and this is the reason why osteoporosis takes place. Rheumatoid Arthritis is an auto-immune disorder which can be treated with the help of corticosteroids. Therefore, in case of Rheumatoid Arthritis, your bones will suffer from inflammation, which has major problems for you.
How to Deal Rheumatoid Arthritis with Menopause?
When sex hormones are altered in the body, it can lead to worsening of Rheumatoid Arthritis. It has been observed that Rheumatoid Arthritis often triggers up with the onset of menopausal phase. There are many medications available in the market for controlling Rheumatoid Arthritis and this includes giving Hormone Replacement Therapy to the patients. Understanding the link between Rheumatoid Arthritis and menopause helps in making you heal well with time. Maintaining the hormonal levels has a major contribution in enabling you to handle menopause and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Other than this, women going through menopause should especially take care of their diet, take their calcium and vitamins, drink milk and engage in mild strengthening exercises. Taking care of your body and following a healthy lifestyle goes a long way in helping in dealing with menopause and its associated risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Also Read:
