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Lisa Snowdon Advises Women to Work Out Their “Triggers” to Manage Stress During Menopause
Lisa Snowdon, the 51-year-old TV and radio presenter, discussed her experience of managing symptoms during perimenopause in an interview with Women’s Health UK. She advised women to work out their “triggers” to help process stress during menopause. Snowdon stated that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) helped her manage her symptoms and spoke more about the stigma surrounding it. She is also supporting the Menopause Mandate campaign, calling for HRT to be free on the NHS in England.
She highlighted that women face difficulty in processing stress during perimenopause and menopause, and it can affect them negatively, leading to more severe symptoms. Snowdon suggested avoiding triggers, such as caffeine or certain people, mindful decision-making, and slowing down to look after ourselves to handle the symptoms.
The Department of Health announced last month that women in England prescribed HRT as part of menopause treatment would be able to access a scheme that would enable access to a year’s worth of treatment for just under £20. Health officials estimate that around 400,000 women will benefit from this change.
Lisa Snowdon’s Way of Handling Symptoms during Menopause
Snowdon practices mindfulness, meditation, acupuncture, reflexology, and journaling, along with managing her stress levels. She also incorporates resistance training into her fitness regime and aims to complete 10,000 steps a day. She stated that a brisk walk can be beneficial, and it’s essential to stay within a healthy weight range, eat calcium-rich foods, and do weight-bearing exercise like running and dancing to manage menopause symptoms. Snowdon advised talking to family and friends about the physical or mental health struggles and finding people who are going through the same thing. It’s always better to discuss herbal or complementary medicines with a GP first.
Additionally, Snowdon also mentioned her love for burning sage and using crystals. She has one-on-one sessions with a physical trainer called Paul, who is a life coach.
What Do the Experts Say?
The menopause usually starts between 45 and 55 years old, though it can happen earlier. Symptoms include hot flushes, difficulty sleeping, night sweats, mood changes, anxiety, headaches, palpitations, joint stiffness, and recurrent UTIs. The NHS suggests that eight in 10 women will experience symptoms for some time after their periods stop, and one in 10 will suffer from them for up to twelve years.
The NHS recommends getting enough sleep, eating calcium-rich foods, staying within a healthy weight range, doing weight-bearing exercises, like running and dancing, and relaxing with activities like yoga meditation, talking to friends and family about health struggles, and finding people going through the same thing. If you choose to take herbal or complementary medicines, talk to your GP first.
The full Lisa Snowdon interview is available for reading in the April issue of Women’s Health UK.
