In honor of World Menopause Month and World Menopause Day (October 18th), let’s explore important health connections every woman should know.
Menopause is a natural part of aging that every woman experiences, but it’s far more than just the end of monthly periods. For millions of women living with chronic conditions like diabetes or respiratory issues, menopause can bring unexpected challenges that significantly impact their health journey. Understanding these connections is crucial for better health management and quality of life.
This World Menopause Month, it’s time to shine a light on how menopause connects to chronic health and what women can do to stay well during this important life stage.
Menopause 101: Understanding the Basics
What Is Menopause?
Menopause marks the permanent end of a woman’s reproductive years. It is a process that occurs as the ovaries gradually stop producing estrogen and progesterone, the primary female reproductive hormones. This isn’t a sudden switch but rather a gradual decline in hormone levels that can span 5-10 years (or longer in rare cases) before reaching complete menopause.
Officially, menopause is diagnosed when a woman hasn’t had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. However, the transition leading up to this point, called perimenopause, can last several years and often begins in a woman’s 40s.
When Does Menopause Typically Occur?
- Average age: 51 years old in the United States
- Normal range: Between ages 45-55
- Early menopause: Before age 45
- Premature menopause: Before age 40
Common Symptoms and Changes of Menopause
Women may experience a wide variety of symptoms as hormone levels fluctuate and decline:
- Physical symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, weight gain (particularly around the midsection), joint aches, and changes in skin and hair texture.
- Emotional and cognitive changes can include mood swings, anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, and memory issues.
- Long-term health implications extend well beyond these immediate symptoms, affecting cardiovascular health, bone density, metabolic function, and immune system strength.
Why Understanding Menopause Matters for Overall Health
The hormonal changes of menopause don’t just affect reproductive health. They also influence nearly every system in the body. Estrogen plays protective roles in:
- Cardiovascular health: Helping maintain healthy cholesterol levels and blood vessel function
- Bone health: Supporting calcium absorption and bone density
- Brain health: Influencing mood, memory, and cognitive function
- Metabolic health: Affecting how the body processes sugars and fats
- Immune function: Supporting the body’s ability to fight infection and inflammation
This is why menopause can have such significant impacts on existing chronic conditions and why some health issues become more common after menopause begins.
Menopause and Diabetes: A Two-Way Connection
Diabetes and menopause have a complicated relationship. Women diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes earlier in life may experience menopause up to 6-8 years earlier than their non-diabetic counterparts. That earlier transition can make blood sugar management more unpredictable, since dropping estrogen levels can affect how the body uses insulin.
During and after menopause, many women notice changes like weight gain, higher blood pressure, and increased cholesterol—all of which raise the risk of heart disease. Add diabetes into the mix, and it’s even more important to stay on top of blood sugar checks and daily management.
Unfortunately, the relationship works both ways. Women who experience early menopause have a 32% higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life compared to women who experience menopause at the typical age of 50-54. Early menopause can also trigger a cascade of additional health challenges, including a higher risk of developing other conditions like cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and certain lung diseases.
How we help: America’s Best Care Plus provides diabetic testing supplies and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) that make it easier to track patterns and respond quickly to changes in blood sugar during this stage of life.
Menopause and Lung Health (COPD and Asthma)
Hormones also play a role in how well the lungs function. Research shows that women who go through menopause before age 45 have a significantly higher risk of developing chronic lung conditions like COPD and asthma later in life. One reason is that estrogen seems to help protect the lungs from long-term damage caused by factors like pollution, secondhand smoke, or even workplace exposures. As estrogen levels drop, lung inflammation increases and it becomes harder to fight off and control respiratory infections. For women who already live with asthma or COPD, the hormone changes of menopause may trigger more flare-ups or make symptoms harder to control.
Studies have found that women experiencing early menopause show:
- Faster decline in lung capacity measurements
- Higher rates of wheezing and chronic bronchitis
- Increased risk of emphysema development
- More severe COPD progression if already diagnosed
Supporting Respiratory Health During Menopause
Whether managing asthma, COPD, or other respiratory conditions, consistent access to prescribed medications becomes crucial during the menopausal transition. Nebulizer treatments, bronchodilators, and anti-inflammatory medications help maintain optimal lung function when hormonal changes might otherwise compromise respiratory health.
How we help: America’s Best Care Plus offers respiratory medications and supplies that support better breathing, helping women manage conditions like asthma or COPD more effectively as they navigate menopause.
Beyond Diabetes and Lung Health: Other Chronic Condition Connections
The hormonal changes of menopause can affect multiple chronic conditions:
Cardiovascular Health: Early menopause doubles the risk of heart disease, making blood pressure monitoring and cardiac medications more important than ever.
Bone Health: Rapid bone density loss begins immediately after menopause, particularly affecting women with existing conditions that impact bone health.
Urological Health: Changes in estrogen levels can affect bladder function, making proper catheter care and urological supplies increasingly important for some women.
Taking Control: Practical Steps for Better Health
- Know Your Menopause Timeline
If you have diabetes, discuss your menopause risk with your healthcare provider. Early awareness allows for better preparation and prevention strategies.
- Don’t Ignore Respiratory Changes
New or worsening breathing difficulties around menopause shouldn’t be dismissed as “normal aging.” They may signal the need for respiratory evaluation and treatment.
- Maintain Consistent Care
Hormonal changes during menopause can make chronic condition management more challenging. Consistent access to medications and supplies becomes even more crucial.
- Monitor Changes Closely
Whether tracking blood glucose levels, lung function, or other health metrics, closer monitoring during the menopausal transition helps identify problems before they become serious.
- Advocate for Comprehensive Care
Ensure your healthcare team understands the connections between menopause and your existing conditions. This knowledge helps them provide better, more coordinated care.
The menopausal transition doesn’t have to mean accepting declining health. With proper awareness, consistent monitoring, and reliable access to necessary supplies and medications, women can navigate this natural life phase while maintaining their quality of life and managing their chronic conditions effectively.
At America’s Best Care Plus, we believe every woman deserves reliable support through life’s changes. Whether you’re monitoring your blood sugar, managing a respiratory condition, or navigating urology needs, our convenient supply programs deliver what you need right to your door. Because managing your health during menopause shouldn’t feel harder, it should feel easier.