Overcoming Pregnancy Challenges

Drinking plenty of water is an essential part of promoting good overall health, and for women going through menopause, it becomes even more important. Menopause often brings uncomfortable symptoms, but drinking more water could help to reduce some of them. Read on to see the benefits of downing more H2O during menopause.

Reason #1 – Reduce and Soothe Night Sweats and Hot Flashes

Night sweats and hot flashes are two of the most common symptoms women experience during menopause. Not only do these symptoms leave you feeling uncomfortable, they have the potential to cause dehydration, which can make your hot flashes even worse. Drink more water to ensure you stay hydrated, and try sipping on ice water when you experience hot flashes or night sweats, since the cool water may help lower body temperature.

Reason #2 – Avoid Exacerbating Common Symptoms of Menopause

Certain menopause symptoms may be exacerbated by dehydration. Headaches, a common symptom of menopause, are also a symptom of mild to moderate dehydration. If you're already dealing with headaches during menopause, failing to drink enough water may make them even worse. When you're dehydrated, the brain doesn't get the nutrients and oxygen it needs. This may result in irritability or agitation, which may increase the severity of menopause-related anxiety, depression, or mood swings.

Reason #3 – Prevent Urinary Issues

As women age and go through menopause, urinary issues, such as bladder infections, become more common. Once again, drinking plenty of water will prove helpful. According to the Mayo Clinic, one of the best ways to prevent urinary tract infections and other urinary issues is to drink plenty of water. Drinking plenty of water results in frequent urination, ensuring bacteria is flushed out of the urinary tract before it can cause an infection.

Tips for Adding More Water to Your Life

Not only are there plenty of reasons to drink plenty of water during menopause, you may actually find that you need to consume more water than you used to due to night sweats and hot flashes. If you find it difficult to stay hydrated, here are a few tips that will help.

• Tip #1 – Avoid drinks that contain sugar, caffeine, or artificial sweeteners and replace them with water.
• Tip #2 – Start your morning with a glass or two of water. The body is often dehydrated in the morning, especially if you have night sweats.
• Tip #3 – Eat veggies and fruits high in water content.
• Tip #4 – Keep a bottle of water with you all day and make sure you sip from it regularly.

For more information about menopause treatment, consider contacting Bay Area Women's Care.