Technically, menopause occurs with the final menstrual period and involves only one day in a woman s life. The hot flashes, mood swings, and other symptoms commonly associated with menopause occur during perimenopause, the transitional years preceding and following the actual menopause. But like most women and medical practitioners, we use the word menopause throughout this document to refer to both menopause and perimenopause. By the time a woman actually stops menstruating, many of the symptoms associated with menopause persist. And for some women, the symptoms persist for several years.
Postmenopausal women are at greater risk for heart disease and osteoporosis .
Researchers estimate that more than 1.3 million American women and 25 million women worldwide will experience menopause in 2000. There are about 470 million postmenopausal women worldwide, a number that is expected to increase to 1.2 billion by 2030. The symptoms associated with menopause can be helped by changing diet and lifestyle. For example, menopausal women should make sure they re getting enough calcium and exercise . Menopause can occur anytime from the mid-40s to the late 50s.