3 Reasons To Visit A Family Health Clinic During Menopause

If you are menopausal, you should consider visiting a family health clinic specializing in adult medicine. Menopause can predispose women to a number of health conditions, some more serious than others. Menopause can occur naturally, or as a result of surgical ovary removal and certain hormonal medications. Here are three reasons to visit a family health clinic during menopause, and why it's so important:

Cholesterol Check

Menopause is a time when hormone levels fluctuate wildly. The hormone estrogen sharply declines during the menopausal years, and this may play an important role in the development of high cholesterol. While menopause can contribute to elevations in your total cholesterol levels, it may also cause your low density lipoproteins, or LDL cholesterol levels to rise.

High levels of LDL cholesterol may heighten the risk for cardiovascular disease, so it is for this reason that you should visit you visit a health clinic to have a simple cholesterol test. If the blood test, known as a lipid profile, reveals abnormalities, the physician can recommend treatment options such as weight management, exercise, diet modification, and drug therapy with statin medications.

Weight Counseling

It may be more difficult for you to lose weight during your menopausal years and beyond. The family health clinic physician can offer dietary recommendations that will help you lose weight, especially the weight that accumulates around your abdomen.

Fat distribution often changes during menopause, and women who once carried fat in their thighs and backsides, may notice that fat has redistributed to the belly area. Too much abdominal fat may raise the risk for heart disease, so it is important to work with your doctor on ways to lose weight if you are unable to reach your weight loss goals on your own. 

Eye Problems

Menopause may also raise your risk for ocular problems related to autoimmune disorders, which may cause tear duct dysfunction. It is also a time when your eyes may become excessively dry, gritty, and irritated. The family health clinic staff can test your eyes for excessive dryness or problems with your tear ducts, and recommend appropriate treatment.

If you are diagnosed with "dry eye syndrome," the physician may recommend the use of a lubricating eye drop, or may even refer you to an ophthalmologist for further evaluation and treatment. You might also be evaluated for allergies because they can also cause eye problems during menopause.

If you are in menopause, visit an adult medicine practitioner to have your cholesterol levels and eyes checked, and to talk to a health care provider about weight management. The sooner menopausal-related health problems are recognized and treated, the less likely you may be to develop cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, and eye disorders.

Speak with a group like Burnsville Family Physicians for more information.