What are Memory Lapses?
As per the Webster’s Dictionary, memory refers to "the mental capacity of preserving or recalling facts, events, or previous experiences". Therefore, memory lapses are short-lived episodes during which a person fails to maintain this mental capacity of remembering the desired data or information. In memory lapses, a menopausal woman is likely to experience brain freeze while attempting to recall even simple or just done things. For example, if such a woman has received a call stating the name and address of her client, she is bound to forget that information in no seconds.
- Types of MemoriesFor us, broadly, memory is split into two categories namely, short- and long-term memory. However, there are many types of memories as listed below.
- Short-term Memory : Preserves information regarding small moments like the address of a person until the time it takes to reach there after getting out from home.
- Recent Memory : Recalls daily events and learns new information.
- Sensory Memory : Recognizes aromas, sounds, and sights.
- Long-term Memory : Remembers historical information.
- Declarative Memory : Remembers the meaning of words and stores general knowledge.
- Procedural : Remembers how to do things.
However, only short-term and recent memories get affected in menopausal women who pass through memory lapses.
- SymptomsThe symptoms of memory lapses are such that it can really put you into concern and worry. Actually, many women tend to misunderstand it as some mental illness. But, it might be just due to menopause. Listed below are the symptoms.
- Inability to remember information when desired
- Difficulty in concentrating
- Often forgetting a just happened event and recalling it later
- Unclear thinking
The first point above is the primary symptom of memory lapses. If you know that you have these symptoms, you must understand what cause memory lapses and then go for the treatment.
- Causes of Memory LapsesSeveral factors together can attack your brain to result in memory lapses during the menopause transition. Above all, the most likely factor is the hormonal imbalance. Further, many other menopausal symptoms can also lead to a drop in a woman’s concentration level and mental preservation. Besides these causes, a few risk factors or lifestyle decisions might increase the probabilities of memory lapses.
As a woman enters her menopause stage, certain hormonal levels in the body naturally reduce. These declining levels of hormones impose a variety of effects on the body and mind. Here, more importantly, the estrogen hormone has a role to play, which affects on the functions of the brain and impacts language skills, mood, attention, and many other memory functions. Estrogen is attributed to verbal confidence too - the ability to recall names and words. So, it cannot be denied that its drop makes a woman’s memory to suffer.
Other risk factors that can affect the likelihood of memory lapses are:
- Too much intake of alcohol
- Medications like sleeping pills, antidepressants, blood pressure and heart tablets, pain
killers, and tranquilizers
- Lack of vitamins
- Poor diet
- Lack of sleep
- Too much workload
- TreatmentI have something to tell you that will make you smile if you are tense with this frustrating symptom. This symptom is curable with a few treatments. First, try to make some simple changes in your lifestyle like making dietary adjustments or implementing a daily exercise schedule. Go for a balanced diet that includes omega-3 acids, which aid a lot in concentrating. Further, a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables and vitamins B to E are really helpful in receiving memory-boosting antioxidants and improving mental function.
The second option includes a myriad of mental exercises and games like crossword puzzles and Sudoku that can surely improve memory.
The last and third option is to go for surgical or pharmaceutical aid, which is the most drastic option. Your doctor will only recommend this, if your case is an extreme one because there are many risks associated with this approach. The other reason that will invite this option in your life is the incapability of the combination of lifestyle changes and natural remedies to treat you well. In this approach, surgeries and a myriad of drugs attempt to control the problem.
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More Topics
- Difficulty ConcentratingDifficulty concentrating refers to the inability to concentrate on daily or complex activities along with the experience of confusion, absentmindedness, and lost chains of thought. For women who are capable of having good memory or concentration power, this can prove very problematic, as it might induce tension in the workplace or in her personal life.
- Causes of IncontinenceIncontinence needs your urgent attention without which you won’t be able to get rid of it. But, that would first involve knowing the causes of incontinence followed by treatments available. Ok, we will first start with the most common type of incontinence that is stress incontinence. As this is commonly seen in women who have approached menopause or who have entered the postmenopausal stage, it’s easy to detect the root cause behind it. It can be none other than the hormonal imbalance.
- Symptom of Bloating
Bloating refers to a feeling of abundance or rigidity in the abdominal area, which can induce some pain and a definite amount of uneasiness. Many women experience this aching symptom during their menopause due to water arrest, greater intestinal gas, or both. But do you know something? Bloating can also occur as a side effect of the Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Yes, this is a proved fact.
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List of Menopause Symptoms
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Dizziness Symptoms
The dizziness symptoms indicate that this menopausal sign should not be taken lightly. Dizziness is attributed to faintness and so one must be alert to detect all the signs of it for appropriate treatment. Although the symptoms’ life span is no more than just a few seconds, these frustrating signs have the capacity to make you feel out of the way for many hours and can even hinder your daily routine.
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Sleep Disorder Treatment
Let’s accept the fact that not all women can sleep for 7 to 8 hours at night, which is the necessary condition for the finest health. Rather than taking it lightly, it is important to realize that this is something to worry about because of its probable dangerous effects. As the sleep disorders continue to prevail during menopause, women might not be able to sleep or might get awakened several times during the night.
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