A key conversation on women’s midlife health, menopause and perimenopause

HEALTH FOR WOMEN HAS NEVER BEEN MORE RELEVANT, ESPECIALLY AS MANY WOMEN ARE UNAWARE OF THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THEIR BODIES UNDERGO DURING MENOPAUSE OR PERIMENOPAUSE. JOINING ME THIS MORNING TO SPOTLIGHT THIS ISSUE IS DOCTOR WITH DIGNITY, HEALTH, MERCY MEDICAL GROUP. DOCTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. WE APPRECIATE IT. FIRST OF ALL, EXPLAIN FOR PEOPLE WHAT ARE THE REAL IMPACT OF THE HORMONAL CHANGES? YES, ABSOLUTELY. GOOD MORNING. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. SO WHEN WOMEN GO THROUGH THE PERIMENOPAUSE MENOPAUSE. THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANT HORMONAL CHANGES LIKE THE THE ESTROGEN PROGESTERONE DECREASES IN THE BODY. THAT HAS MANY EFFECTS. AND IT HITS PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY. AND THAT COULD INCLUDE ANYTHING FROM INFLAMMATION, WEIGHT GAIN, FATIGUE, LACK OF BONE DENSITY, MUSCLE MASS. AND, YOU KNOW, MANY OTHER VARIETY OF SYMPTOMS THAT THEY COULD EXPERIENCE IN DIFFERENT AGES. AND PREMENOPAUSAL. WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT WOMEN SHOULD BE ADVOCATING FOR THEMSELVES? SO I THINK HAVING A DISCUSSION WITH THEIR PROVIDER AND WITH THEIR DOCTOR ABOUT WHAT THEY’RE GOING THROUGH AND BEING TRUE TO THEIR SYMPTOMS AND NOT JUST CHOPPING IT UP TO AGING. KIND OF MAYBE EVEN KEEPING TRACK AND KEEPING A DIARY OF THEIR SYMPTOMS. ANYTHING THAT FEELS DIFFERENT SO THAT THEY CAN DEVELOP THAT PARTNERSHIP. ALSO, TALKING WITH WOMEN IN THEIR AGE GROUP. ALSO REALIZING THAT THEY’RE NOT ALONE. MAKING SURE THAT THEIR SYMPTOMS AND WHAT THEY’RE GOING THROUGH IS HEARD. AND BEING ADDRESSED. BECAUSE THE APPROACH SHOULD BE PERSONALIZED AS NOT EVERYONE GOES THROUGH THIS THE SAME WAY, OF COURSE. AND TALK MORE ABOUT NUTRITION AND EXERCISE, EVEN SLEEP. HOW THAT PLAYS A ROLE IN THIS AS WELL. ABSOLUTELY. SO NUTRITION, EXERCISE AND SLEEP ARE THE THREE PILLARS THAT ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. AND THOSE ARE THE MAIN THINGS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL OVER. I TELL MY PATIENTS THAT KIND OF THINK OF THINGS AS BEING LIKE MENOPAUSE OR AT THAT TIME AS BEING ON A TREADMILL. THAT’S ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. SO DOING THINGS THAT YOU WERE DOING BEFORE, IF IT FEELS A LITTLE BIT HARDER, YOU CAN STILL GET THERE, BUT YOU JUST NEED TO DO THAT. YOU KNOW, TAKE THE EXTRA STEP, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR DIET IS VERY CLEAN AND VERY, YOU KNOW, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY. GETTING ADEQUATE SLEEP. THOSE ARE ALL VERY HELPFUL, ESPECIALLY ALSO STRENGTH TRAINING, MAKING SURE YOU PRESERVE MUSCLE MASS BECAUSE WITH THE HORMONAL CHANGES COME PROBLEM WITH SLEEP. LACK OF INSULIN SENSITIVITY. AND MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES ALSO INCLUDING DECREASE IN BONE DENSITY AND MUSCLE MASS. SO BY CHANGING THOSE LIFESTYLE, YOU KNOW, OR MODIFYING THOSE LITTLE LIFESTYLE CHANGES, THAT WILL HELP A LOT IN MAKING THAT TRANSITION MORE SMOOTHLY AND ACTUALLY THRIVING DURING MENOPAUSE. VERY, VERY GOOD INFORMATION. WE APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US THIS MORNING

The conversation surrounding women’s midlife health is more critical than ever, with increasing awareness about perimenopause and menopause.These transformative life stages involve significant hormonal changes that impact both physical and mental health. Despite the profound effects, many women remain unaware of what to expect and how to navigate these transitions effectively.Dr. Shideh Chinichian, a family medicine doctor at Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group, is passionate about empowering women during this pivotal time in life. She emphasizes the need for awareness, advocacy, and a holistic approach to health.Dr. Chinichian joined KCRA Friday morning.Click the video above to watch the full interview. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

The conversation surrounding women’s midlife health is more critical than ever, with increasing awareness about perimenopause and menopause.

These transformative life stages involve significant hormonal changes that impact both physical and mental health.

Despite the profound effects, many women remain unaware of what to expect and how to navigate these transitions effectively.

Dr. Shideh Chinichian, a family medicine doctor at Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group, is passionate about empowering women during this pivotal time in life.

She emphasizes the need for awareness, advocacy, and a holistic approach to health.

Dr. Chinichian joined KCRA Friday morning.

Click the video above to watch the full interview.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

link