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Menopause and the Modern Woman Going through the changes of menopause can be an opportunity for women to focus on the self and change for the better 
For women of previous generations, menopause was something to be silently endured. Not much was said about “the change of life.” But if today, women between the ages of 40 and 58 that are experiencing hot flashes, night sweats or an altered libido are probably talking to their friends, searching websites and making an appointment with a physician to find ways to ease the discomforts. This isn’t your grandmother’s or even your mother’s menopause. “There used to be a sense that it was all over after menopause,” says Barbara Kantrowitz, co-author of “The Menopause Book” (Workman, 2009). That’s changed for the better. Now, menopausal women don’t feel as if they’re on the verge of senior life. Instead, they view menopause as a time to take charge of their health, Kantrowitz says. “Menopause should give women permission to focus on themselves,” says Pat Wingert, Kantrowitz’s co-author and a Newsweek correspondent working in Washington D.C. That’s important, say the authors, because women have an opportunity to improve their health if they act immediately. “Research says taking care now may lead to more vigorous senior years. It’s not too late but you don’t have time to wait,” says Kantrowitz, who works in New York City. For example, lose weight if it’s advisable to do so. “You’ll just have to accept the fact that it’s harder [to lose weight during menopause], and if you just hold your weight steady, it’s OK. When you get into your 60s it’s easier to lose weight,” Kantrowitz says. Women should increase their level of exercise to 300 minutes per week, which can help say the authors. Take better care of the skin. Women that soaked in the sun in their 20s might be paying the price with wrinkles and age spots. A dermatologist can suggest ways to reduce wrinkles and age spots, but it’s important to protect the skin as well. Many women that Wingert spoke with for her research were continuing to have a vital sex life. Keeping a positive outlook is just as important to health as taking care of the body. “At age 50 women often have more freedom and are out of the house. Life is where they want it to be and they’re ready to take advantage of that. “Being excited makes you feel young,” Wingert says. One thing hasn’t changed since the previous generation went through menopause. It’s still not a subject for the workplace. “Be discreet. Most women don’t work in a company where they can talk about their hot flashes,” Kantrowitz says. And Wingert adds: “We are living in a youth culture. We may be working with younger colleagues. We don’t want to draw attention to the fact that we’re getting older.”
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Bev Bennett, a veteran food writer and editor, is the author of "Dinner for Two: A Cookbook for Couples" and "30-Minute Meals for Dummies"
