Digestive Problems

The digestive system is an all-important part of the body that can determine the overall health of an individual. Many women report that digestive problems begin to occur in the years leading up to menopause, called perimenopause. Not only can digestive problems cause discomfort, but they can also lead to more serious health concerns.

Hormonal imbalance during perimenopause is one of the primary causes of digestive problems for women between the ages of 45 and 55. Luckily there are treatments that can bring a woman´s hormones back in

Digestion involves mixing food with digestive juices, moving it through the digestive tract, and breaking down large pieces of food into smaller pieces. Digestion begins in the mouth, with the act of chewing and swallowing, and is completed in the small intestine.

Once food or liquid is swallowed, the stomach then takes over by storing the food and liquid, mixing the food, liquid and digestive juice produced by the stomach, and finally emptying the contents slowly into the small intestine where nutrients are absorbed. The mixture then moves to the large intestine and colon and waits to be expelled as feces.

Symptoms of Digestive Problems

There are different symptoms of digestive problems that can indicate different causes. Below of some of the common symptoms of digestive problems:

• Cramps
• Bloating
• Gas
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• A false urge to have a bowel movement.

Continue reading to learn more about the causes of digestive problems.

Cortisol is a "stress hormone" produced by the adrenaline gland involved in stress responses. It is known to impede digestion and create digestive problems, among other adverse reaction, such as anxiety and panic disorders. As a result of imbalanced hormones during menopause there is a high level of cortisol in a woman´s body.

Estrogen has an inhibitive affect on the stress-hormone cortisol. When estrogen is too low, levels of cortisol rise, raising blood pressure and blood sugar, and slowing down the release of stomach acid and the emptying of the stomach into the small intestine. This can create some of the symptoms of digestive problems such as gas, bloating and constipation.

This means that lifestyle changes are the best place to begin. For instance, sometimes digestive problems can be alleviated simply by drinking more water or eating a healthier diet high in fiber.

Typically, combining lifestyle changes and alternative medicines will produce the best outcome. Alternative medicines can be different herbs and supplements, or even techniques like acupuncture. When seeking out alternative medicines, keep in mind that because digestive problems during menopause are associated with hormone imbalance, look for supplements that bring a natural balance to the hormonal levels, for this will go a long way to treating digestive problems at their core.