Mental Health after 40... Does this sound like you?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20% of individuals aged 55 years or older experience some form of mental issue. Most commonly, these include anxiety, depression, severe cognitive impairment, or bipolar disorder.

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But with Mental Health ?? Awareness Month in full swing, I want to take a moment and touch on an area of mental health we don’t talk about enough.

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As we age (and especially during menopause ), muscle degeneration happens. What’s not being discussed is how sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass) may influence neurotropic factors, leading to cognitive and mental health declines. We know mental and physical health intersect, so why aren’t we doing MORE about it? Keep reading…..

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On top of this, when mental health and cognitive function take a hit, so does our life satisfaction. And this can actually lead to a slow decline of our overall health, leading to chronic ailments, inflammatory conditions, and life-threatening diseases that occur with accelerated aging.

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So, here’s the thing: When we contract our skeletal muscle, this actually improves many brain factors, like BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor). BDNF is actually linked to various psychiatric conditions, hinting at the idea that brain health (and physical health) is crucial for overall mental health and functioning. BDNF further helps regulate synapses in our brains, so with reduced BDNF, inevitably, issues ensue.

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Let me clarify this…. Stay with me… Skeletal muscle degeneration and cognitive decline follow the same pathway. And women in menopause (and beyond) are often more at risk due to increased muscle degeneration caused by inflammation and changing hormones.

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Most doctors don’t look at these connections. It’s so ingrained in the traditional healthcare system to slap a band-aid ?? or pill ?? on the problem. I’ve even personally seen women go through regular doctor visits where this is not addressed, and it largely impacts how independent they are toward the end of their life. In other words, it greatly impacts their mental health and quality of life.

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So, let’s change the direction of the tides??. Let’s make it a point not to strictly turn to pills or treatment when problems arise but to seek out comprehensive preventative measures. In light of Nurses’ Week (which ran from May 6th to May 12th), we also see this in the healthcare world; burnout, exhaustion, mental health issues, and more. It’s time we start opening our eyes and paying attention; Not only that, but taking this step further and taking action so we can lead healthy, happy, and fulfilling lives well into our later years—especially since around the years of menopause, we also experience significant grief in the form of loss of youth, loss of life, loss of relationships, loss of loved ones, and more.

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Okay, so what does “taking action” look like?

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According to various research , exercise is very important for muscle retention, including regular strength, balance, and power exercises. This can help us maintain muscle mass, prevent muscle wasting, and prevent associated mental health and cognitive conditions. We need to fill in this blind spot, especially if we want to keep our independence for as long as possible (or potentially even throughout our entire life; Yes! This is possible!). If you are 35 and up and heading closer to midlife than your 20s, then resistance and strength movement is critical for metabolic, bone, and muscular health and composition.

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Lastly, we can use technology and data metrics to guide us through this journey toward better health. We can use wearable fitness trackers, such as FitBit or Whoop, to let us know how much we’re moving throughout our days and help us set goals (and achieve them). Some of these devices can further give us an estimate of our HRV (Heart Rate Variability), which can be used to determine how hard to push in your next exercise session. For instance, a lower HRV than your norm may mean you need to go for gentle movement today as your body continues to recover. High HRV, on the other hand, likely means you can push it in your workout today!

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Are you interested in learning more about how you can level up your health?

Start with a FREE Manage Your Hormones Consultation

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Get more information about the future of telemedicine and hybrid services being offered by Thrive Beyond Wellness. This is a concierge style women’s health practice that is geared for the woman who has been told:

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1. Your labs are NORMAL, but you still feel like CRAP! ??
2. Need a holistic approach to hormone replacement and not sure if it’s right for you.
3. Know your hormones are contributing to unwanted weight and poundage and ready to feel good and confident about yourself again.

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There are limited patients accepted, so register while you still can!

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Start with a FREE Consultation with one our team members and see if we are a good fit for you.

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Heal Women… Heal the World. Heal Communities.??

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What's New with Dr. LaReesa??

Did you know there are less independent physician practices since the pandemic? AMA data shows that between 2012 and 2020, the share of doctors working at private practices that were at least partially owned by a larger hospital system grew by nearly 40%. According to a survey from the American Medical Association , “2020 marked the first year independent physicians accounted for fewer than half of all practicing doctors in the U.S.”

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Well, I am on a mission to create an integrative healthcare experience that empowers, heals, and transforms women so they can positively impact their lifespan and their community.

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Join me!

Who: Mina Health & Element Apothec

What: Menopause 102: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): A Personalized Patient Journey

When: Tuesday, March 23, 2023 at8:00 PM EST

Where: Register HERE

Why: Earlier this year, we hosted Menopause 101 in partnership with Mina Health, an at-home menopause hormone testing company. It brought such an engaged audience that we are excited to announce that Menopause 102 is here!

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How can I HELP? In honor of my new in-person offering and my Birthday Month coming up in July, I am offering a special $50 savings on our Deep Dive Consultation if you sign up for information on our Weight Release Program . Simply indicate 'Weight Release' somewhere on your intake form.

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Our weight release program is for women who:

• Need to lose hormonal related weight gain
• Are ready to hop off rollercoaster and not sure what all the buzz is about the new weight loss drugs and if it fits them
• Are ready to take ownership and obtain a partnership with a medical guidance
• Are tired of one size fits all solutions and ready for maintaining results ?

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Start here with your Manage Hormones Consultation today. After your FREE Manage your Hormones Consultation, you can save $50 on your Deep Dive Consultation by booking in May and mentioning 'weight release'!

5 Ways to Care for Your Health During Women’s Health Month

Women’s Health Month is upon us! So, what is a better time than now to focus on your health and potential.

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1. Move each day. This might mean a few walks around the office or block. The point is to move our bodies more???? ♀?. If you can, start a strength training routine ???? ♀? to support muscle mass at every age (and your overall mental and physical health!).
2. Book your routine health screenings. With me ! Go beyond the pap and mammogram and truly be PROACTIVE about the impact of autoimmune, cancer, and cardiovascular risks can improve with the right personalized strategy for you. Remember, prevention is always better than having to treat health conditions after the fact. Additionally, catching problems early can significantly increase your chances of survival and good health down the road.
3. Thank your body. I’m serious! A women’s body does so many things that we often don’t take a moment to be grateful for. It’s the carrier of life. It changes drastically through different phases of life. It fights off disease and illness (sometimes, like it’s nothing at all!). Yet, through all of this, it’s been our vessel getting us to where we are now, and for that, we should be thankful????. Look at yourself in the mirror and love and appreciate your body for all that it is! Take a moment and say a quick “Thank you.” Never underestimate the value of self-love!
4. Check in with yourself mentally. How are you feeling right now? On a scale from 1-10, where are you at? What can you do to improve? Do you need some time to yourself? Make it happen. Do you need to take better care of your physical health? Make a plan.
5. Re-assess your diet. A major problem in today’s society is our processed and pre-packaged ?? filled diets that have high calories and few nutrients. Try this challenge this coming week: Add five more whole foods to your diet. Just five! This could be fruits, veggies, eggs, meats, milk, and more. The goal is to include more whole foods and fill up on these nutritious entities over highly processed and refined foods. Food is thy medicine??.

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Finding ways to support our health each day is so important for our happiness and life fulfillment. When it comes down to it, all aspects of health intersect. We can’t simply ignore one for the other without repercussions. So, take this as an eye-opening opportunity. Discover where you’re lacking and take baby steps toward filling in those gaps!

Sincerely,

Dr LaReesa

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Integrative GYN

Menopause Health Expert

Physician Founder, Thrive Beyond Now

P.S.?It’s all about ease and grace, and I do my best to create a strategy that is smart and sexy to build confidence and clarity and embrace the power of being Valued, Understood, and Heard, which springs vitality.

Learn how to optimize your health, life, and performance by re-balancing your hormones and working with your genes as opposed to against them. Schedule a Manage Your Hormones Consultation and be among the first to get started at Thrive Beyond Wellness.