Exercise Away Your Worst Menopause Symptoms.

A recent poll revealed that the worst menopause symptom women suffer from is anxiety. Women ranked anxiety at 26%, hot flashes at 24%, mood swings at 22%, insomnia at 16%, and lastly, night sweats at 13% as their worst menopause symptoms.

Are there natural, safe ways to combat anxiety? Yes, there are many, and one of the best is that dreaded word - exercise. If you're not exercising regularly, you may be missing out on an easy, inexpensive way to improve your overall mood as well as your ability to cope with stress and anxiety. While exercise is not a cure all for clinical anxiety disorders, it seems to be an important tool in combating the worst menopause symptom - anxiety.

Theories vary as to why exercise is so beneficial. The most prevalent is that during exercise, hormones called endorphins are released in the brain. They are "feel good" hormones involved in the body's positive response to stress. The mood-heightening effect can last for several hours after exercising, according to some endocrinologists. Doctors who regularly prescribe exercise to patients find it is especially helpful to ease emotional or mental distress.

Endorphin production usually begins about 15 to 20 minutes into an exercise session and peaks after about 45 minutes. Repetitious movements, such as walking, running and cycling, also increase levels of serotonin. Low levels of serotonin have been linked to depression and obsessive-compulsive disorders, as well as aggressive behavior.

Regular exercisers have always known that exercise may result in feelings of well-being, and reduced anxiety as well as an increased ability to relax. Various studies confirm such results. In a study at Concordia University in Montreal, almost all the participants reported an improvement in mood after exercising. Those who felt the worst prior to exercising reported the greatest improvements in mood. The United States Surgeon General reports that physical activity "reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression and fosters improvements in mood and feelings of well-being."

There also is another element. Exercise puts you in a different physical and mental state. It puts you in touch with your body and brings you into the present moment. A characteristic of depression and anxiety is a preoccupation with the past and the future. Concentrating on the present is deeply healing.

The basic forms of exercise can be categorized as aerobic, stretching and strength training. Aerobic exercise is anything that gets you breathing deeper over sustained time, even a brisk walk. Because of the cardiovascular benefits, this should be a part of every routine. Stretching, as in yoga and t’ai chi, adds flexibility, enabling one to "stretch" their limits mentally as well as physically. Weight training can strengthen muscles and bones while helping to shape the body. While any of these exercises can be therapeutic, a combination of the three provides the best mental and physical benefits.

So the next time you feel down or stressed out, try going for a brisk walk, a run or a swim. Johns Hopkins Health Information reports that exercise has both psychological and physiological effects that can relieve stress, anxiety,improve your health, and increase your self-esteem. It is definitely worth the time and effort.

Consult your doctor before starting a rigorous exercise program. He or she will help you decide which types of exercises are best for you. An exercise program should start slowly and build up to more strenuous activities. Women who already have osteoporosis of the spine should be careful about exercise that jolts or puts weight on the back, as it could cause a fracture.

If physical conditions prevent exercise, try Deprex for anxiety. Deprex is a scientifically advanced and highly effective complex of natural antidepressants. The Deprex formula is designed to safely provide nutritional support for moderate to severe clinical depression and possible mood imbalances.

Unlike prescriptive antidepressant medications, Deprex is an all-natural alternative that provides the necessary dietary precursors to complement the body's ability to potentiate the production of serotonin, which plays an important part in mood regulation. Deprex also increases serotonin and norepinephrine activity while reducing negative cortisol secretion - all without adverse side effects.