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Privacy NoticeSarah Lancashire recently opened up about her debilitating “brain fog” due to the “most terrible” menopause. The 58-year-old actress, just scooped up a special recognition award at the National Television Awards (NTAs) last week for her body of work, including roles in Coronation Street, Last Tango In Halifax, and Happy Valley. But she recently revealed that she is struggling with a host of unpleasant symptoms due to the menopause, including brain fog and memory loss. Lancashire told The Mail on Sunday: “I’m having the most terrible menopause. I’ve got brain fog. “I was in Sainsbury’s the other day, and I found myself just stood there in the aisle and could not remember what I was there for. It just comes over you all of a sudden. “I can’t remember things that happened 30 years ago either.”
Sarah recently won a special recognition award at the National Television Awards (NTAs)
(Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty I)
The actress on the hit show, Happy Valley
(Image: BBC/Lookout Point/AMC/Matt Squire)
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According to the NHS, brain fog and memory issues are common side effects of the menopause, caused by a change in the balance of the body’s hormones. Menopause usually occurs when a woman gets older, although it can also occur at any age and in some cases, doesn’t have a clear cause. The health service explains that the change occurs when the ovaries stop producing as much of the hormone oestrogen and no longer release an egg each month. Symptoms of menopause According to the NHS, most women who go through the menopause will experience some symptoms, but for some, these can be “quite severe and have a significant impact on everyday life.” The health service states that the first sign of menopause “is usually a change in the normal pattern of your periods,” including women “developing unusually light or heavy periods.” During the menopause, the frequency of periods may be affected and eventually periods will stop altogether, although for some women other menopause symptoms may continue. The NHS explains that the most common symptoms of the Menopause are “migraines, irritability and low mood especially around the period time, without seeing irregularity in periods.” As their body changes, women may also experience brain fog, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, hot flushes, joint aches, loss of sex drive, night sweats, and vaginal dryness.
Actress Sarah is experiencing symptoms due to the menopause, including brain fog and memory loss
(Image: BBC/Lookout Point/Matt Squire)
She described her experience with the menopause as “terrible”
(Image: James Veysey/REX/Shutterstock for NTA)
Treatments for menopausal symptoms Luckily, there are now many treatment options available for women to try if they are experiencing unpleasant side effects from the Menopause, with the NHS advising those experiencing symptoms to contact their GP. Treatments include hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and vaginal oestrogen preparations, lubricants, or moisturisers for vaginal dryness. Those struggling with the mental health effects of menopause may also benefit from talking therapies or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The NHS also advises that eating a healthy, balanced diet, exercising regularly, and taking supplements such as vitamin B6 and vitamin D can help ease symptomsStory SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnSarah LancashireHealth
