Treatments for Difficulty Concentrating

Difficulty concentrating is one of the most common symptoms of menopause, affecting up to 2/3 of women. It can be frustrating as many times this symptom will appear to come out of nowhere. Difficulty concentrating is many times experienced as the inability to concentrate on everyday as well as unusual or complex tasks. Along with this, women may experience disorientation, general forgetfulness, and lost trains of thought. Needless to say, this can take a toll on daily life and be exacerbated by other menopausal symptoms such as sleep disorders or fatigue.

Difficulty Concentrating	Fortunately, as difficulty concentrating is a result of estrogen affecting neurotransmitter production in the body, it is possible to treat this imbalance. Though it used to be in vogue to prescribe hormone replacement therapy to treat this fundamental imbalance, persistent links to breast and ovarian cancer, along with heart disease and blood clots, have caused most healthcare professionals to rethink this drastic option. Many agree that the most effective approach is to combine a few changes in lifestyle with alternative treatment options. Three approaches for treating Difficulty Concentrating: Three levels of approaches can be considered for treating difficulty concentrating. These are categorized as: (1) Lifestyle Changes, (2) Alternative Medicine and (3) Drugs and Surgery.
Difficulty Concentrating Overview About Difficulty Concentrating Definition Symptoms When to see a doctor Current research Causes of Difficulty Concentrating Hormonal causes Other menopausal symptoms Other causes Treatments

It is recommended to begin with the least risky option, lifestyle changes, before progressing up to the next stage of treatment. Drugs and surgery should be used only in extreme cases.

1: Lifestyle Changes:

This primary level of treatment for difficulty concentrating involves the least amount of risk, though conversely it requires the highest amount of self discipline. Many times some simple changes in lifestyle can reap huge benefits in fighting difficulty concentrating, and achieving a higher overall level of health.

A healthy diet rich in brain-friendly nutrients like omega-3 and omega-6 (found in fish, walnuts, and other proteins) can help. Cutting back on caffeine, alcohol and sugar will also go a long way to decrease difficulty concentrating. Making sure to receive a good night of rest goes a long way as well. Stress-relieving techniques like meditation or yoga are also helpful in aiding a woman´s ability to concentrate, and brain exercises such as crossword puzzles can improve overall focus. Exercise is extremely important in keeping the mind sharp.

2: Alternative Medicine:

Alternative approaches involve little to no risk and can be an extremely effective way to treat difficulty concentrating. This level of approach can involve several different therapies. Herbal remedies are the most prominent, as they are able to treat the hormonal imbalance directly at its source.

In the case of herbal remedies, there are two types of herbs that can be used for treating difficulty concentrating and improving concentration: phytoestrogenic and non-estrogenic herbs. Phytoestrogenic herbs (e.g. Black Cohosh) contain estrogenic components produced by plants. These herbs, at first, do treat the hormonal imbalance by introducing these plant-based estrogens into the body. However, as a result of adding outside hormones, a woman´s body may become less capable of producing estrogen on its own. This causes a further decrease of the body´s own hormone levels.

By contrast, non-estrogenic herbs, as the name suggests, don't contain any estrogen. These herbs stimulate a woman´s hormone production by nourishing the pituitary and endocrine glands, causing them to more efficiently produce natural hormones. This results in balancing the estrogen levels, causing neurotransmitter production to resume as before. Non-estrogenic herbs (e.g. Macafem) can be considered the safest way to treat difficulty concentrating naturally as the body creates its own hormones and doesn´t require any outside assistance.

Concentration-Building Supplements: • Vitamin E • Gingko Biloba • Huperzine A • Ginseng • Acetyl-L-camitine

A combination of approaches is usually the most effective route to take. Lifestyle changes combined with alternative medicine will most likely be the best way to alleviate the symptoms of this hormonal imbalance. However, for some women the symptoms will be so severe that a more drastic treatment is necessary. In taking the leap into pharmaceutical options, side effects are inevitable, yet sometimes they can be worth it if the benefits will outweigh the risks.

3: Drugs and Surgery:

Interventions at the third level involve the highest risk and often the highest costs. The most common drug therapy for treating difficulty concentrating due to menopause in the US is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This may be a quick and strong way to combat the underlying hormonal imbalance; but, unfortunately, it entails serious side effects and increases the risk of different types of cancer among women, as the following study has proven.

In 1991 the National Institute of Health (NIH) launched the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), the largest clinical trial ever undertaken in the United States. The WHI was designed to provide answers concerning possible benefits and risks associated with use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This study was canceled in July 2002, after it was proven that synthetic hormones increase risks of ovarian and breast cancer as well as heart disease, blood clots and strokes. The findings were published in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and to this date have not been disputed.

If symptoms are at the level of severity that a woman is still considering this final option, it is wise to speak to a healthcare professional for guidance.

These three levels of approaches are not mutually exclusive. A woman may use different approaches at different times or any combination of them, depending on the duration and severity of difficulty concentrating. Today more and more women find that dealing with menopause symptoms is best accomplished via a combination of healthy lifestyle and alternative treatments.

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