Local nurse practioner gives presentation on female health
There are some (or many) health topics that we just don’t talk about.
This happens for a number of reasons; it could be they aren’t pertinent to our situation, or it could be the topic is something we find embarrassing.
 If the topic is not something we talk about because it is embarrassing, let’s just stop for a minute and remind ourselves we all are humans, we all have a lot of the same functions and sometimes talking about things helps not only ourselves but others as well.
 On May 29, an audience of 29 people attended an informative discussion on menopause sponsored by Prairie Mountain Health and hosted by Nurse Practitioner, Brittany Vrooman.
 The topic of menopause is thought to be a ‘woman thing’ but the reality is it can affect an entire family, depending on the symptoms the woman is experiencing.
Brittany is an excellent presenter, presenting the information in a concise, informative and easy to understand manner.
 The discussion started with explaining what menopause vs  perimenopause is.
 Perimenopause is the period of time leading up to menopause where fluctuating hormone levels cause varying levels of menopause symptoms and irregular periods.
 Menopause is defined at the specific point in time where a woman’s menstrual cycle has ceased for 12 consecutive months.
 Most women will reach menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, but this can vary. It is important if you have any health concerns, you should always speak to your health care professional!
 No matter what your age, a healthy lifestyle is a good idea, but as we age and our hormones start to change you may find it is more difficult to maintain a healthy weight and unfortunately their could be other symptoms including but not limited to:
*Â Tiredness
*Â Memory loss
*Â Joint pain
*Â Changes in sleep patterns
*Â Changes to skin texture
 Menopauseisanormal rite of passage that we need to embrace and learn to deal with effectively. If you are having symptoms that you can not manage or you have any concerns regarding your health, your first step should be to talk to your Healthcare Practitioner.
Great work Brittany!
