As women age, morbidity and mortality related to chronic illness increase dramatically. These chronic illnesses include largely preventable conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and osteoporosis. An exercise program for perimenopausal women that includes aerobic and resistance training may reduce the early symptoms of menopause and prevent or relieve problems such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, cancer and weight gain. 6-10 Perimenopausal Symptoms Perimenopausal women often experience a number of general physical and emotional symptoms. Hot flashes, insomnia and mood disturbances are among the most common.
Regular exercise can decrease vasomotor symptoms, studies show.
Some mood disturbances may be related to sleep deprivation caused by hot flashes and neurotransmitter changes associated with aging. When women exercise, natural blood levels of melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep, decrease for a few hours. 14 Melatonin levels rebound and increase at night. This hormone variation, in addition to physical fatigue, helps active women fall asleep. A postmenopausal woman faces a higher risk for developing high blood pressure than a man in the same age range.