Women's Guide to Health - 40's

This time of your life can be a roller coaster of emotions as you move from the child bearing years toward menopause. This is when you officially start to age. You begin losing bone mass and your metabolism has started to slow down, resulting in a softening of the body shape.Doctor visits should include annual fecal occult tests to check for blood in the stool which is an indication of possible colon cancer. You should also begin annual mammograms. Since bone density can deteriorate as you age, you may want to undergo a bone density test before you start menopause to get a baseline reading.

Menopause may begin or be around the corner. It is like puberty in reverse. You may feel symptoms such as irritability, irregular periods, mood swings and sleep disturbances. Exercise, supplements and talking with your doctor can make this short time in your life more manageable.