HealthBeat Wrap: Tai Chi, Menopause And Panic AttacksPOSTED: 1:50 p.m. EDT September 22, 2003 BOSTON -- Monday on the HealthBeat, memory loss during menopause, panic attacks after and Chinese wisdom -- a movement to give your health a boost.
Memory And MenopauseDoes a woman's memory decline during menopause? A new study says no. Chicago researchers followed more than 800 menopausal women for six years, testing them annually for loss of brain function. Their conclusion is that menopause is not accompanied by a decline in working memory and perceptual speed. This was the first study to track cognitive performance during the change.Panic AttacksWomen have many discomforts during menopause, but some face real anxiety after. About 10 percent of postmenopausal women experience panic attacks, which is much higher than previously thought. Women reported feeling sudden intense fear, with shortness of breath, palpitations and dizziness. The study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found some commonalities. "There was an association with depression. Women who reported more depressive symptoms were more likely to experience the attacks, and there were some medical conditions that seemed to be associated with the attacks," Massachusetts General Hospital Dr. Jordan Smoller said. Women with a history of migraines, lung disease, cardiovascular disease, and thyroid problems were more likely to report panic attacks.Copyright 2003 by TheBostonChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |









