Hot flashes and fashion: Know Your Options During the Holiday Season

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Dec 05, 2011, 07:30 ET

Fashion stylist Lisa Rogers gives her tips on staying cool while you're hot during menopause

TORONTO, Dec. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Hot flashes are a tough part of menopause for many women. However, women dressing for the holiday season can make smart fashion choices that look great and help them keep their cool. Today, Dr. Vivien Brown and Canadian fashion stylist Lisa Rogers team up to show women that whether it's choosing a great outfit or treatment options, managing menopause shouldn't keep them from having fun this holiday season.

Menopause usually starts between the ages of 40 and 58, and can last six years or more.¹ In a recent survey conducted by Leger Marketing, 82 per cent of women said they experience hot flashes during this time, and 43 per cent said that their symptoms of menopause have moderately or highly impacted their daily life. ²

Just as there are many treatment options available for women to help them manage their menopause symptoms, there are also many fashion options to combat hot flashes.¹Ms. Rogers explains that women can dress well while experiencing changes in their body temperature, so picking fashionable and functional styles will help them have full and active lives, free of interruption from the symptoms of menopause.

"During a highly social season, it's good to be up on the latest trends. Going through menopause doesn't mean you need to compromise fashion!" says Lisa Rogers, design consultant as seen on City Line. "There are so many options to choose from while in the throes of a hot flash. Layering and choosing natural, breathable fabrics are both easy solutions to help maintain a comfortable body temperature. The point is, prepare for your symptoms and there is no reason you can't enjoy this wonderful season."

Though so many women experience symptoms of menopause, less than four-in-ten say they have spoken to their doctor about the symptoms they are experiencing, and 53 per cent say they have received conflicting information about managing these symptoms.²There are many treatment options available to manage menopause, which include lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise as well as hormonal and non-hormonal therapies.³

"There are lots of good treatment options available and it's important for women to explore them with their doctor," explains Dr. Vivien Brown, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto and member of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. "Every woman deals with menopause differently. For some, diet and exercise are enough to manage symptoms. But for women who experience moderate to significant symptoms that might not be enough and these women could benefit from hormone therapy. It's important for them to remember they don't need to suffer through their symptoms - there are options."

References:

¹ The North American Menopause Society: Menopause Basics. http://www.menopause.org/Portals/0/Content/PDF/MG1.pdf. Accessed November 2011.
² Menopause and You OMNI Survey 2011. Leger Marketing.
³ The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada: Hormone Therapy. http://www.menopauseandu.ca/therapies/hormone-therapies_e.aspx. Accessed October 2011.

SOURCE PFIZER

Video with caption: "Video: HOT FLASHES AND FASHION: KNOW YOUR OPTIONS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20111205_C3835_VIDEO_EN_7833.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20111205_C3835_PHOTO_EN_7833.jpg&clientName=PFIZER&caption=Video%3A%20HOT%20FLASHES%20AND%20FASHION%3A%20KNOW%20YOUR%20OPTIONS%20DURING%20THE%20HOLIDAY%20SEASON&title=HOT%20FLASHES%20AND%20FASHION%3A%20KNOW%20YOUR%20OPTIONS%20DURING%20THE%20HOLIDAYS

PDF with caption: "Menopause Fact Sheet". PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2011/12/05/20111205_C3835_DOC_EN_7832.pdf