There are many phases in a woman's life, menarche, menstruations, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause. Each phase comes with its own challenges, and changes the way of looking at life. However, narrowing to one, today we are focusing on weight gain after menopause. Gaining weight is a common concern for many women are approaching menopause. This period brings hormonal changes, shifts in activity levels and effects of aging. All of these contribute to weight gain. However, not everyone experiences weight gain during menopause, and individual experiences may vary greatly.

Menopause and Its Life Phases

Before diving into the specifics of weight gain, it’s helpful to understand the terminology associated with menopause:

• Premenopause refers to the period between puberty and the commencement of perimenopause.
• Perimenopause is the transitory period before menopause, characterized by fluctuating reproductive hormones.
• Menopause is defined as the absence of menstrual cycles for 12 consecutive months.
• Postmenopause is the period following menopause; typically used interchangeably with "menopause."

Hormonal Changes and Weight Gain

Hormones influence weight fluctuations after menopause, specifically how fat is distributed and how the body controls hunger.

Fat Content and Distribution

The hormonal fluctuations of perimenopause and menopause influence where fat is stored in the body:

Perimenopause: During this phase, estrogen levels fluctuate while progesterone levels decline steadily. In early perimenopause, higher estrogen levels can promote fat storage in the hips and thighs as subcutaneous fat, which generally carries fewer health risks.

Menopause: As estrogen levels drop significantly, fat storage shifts to the abdominal area as visceral fat.

This type of fat surrounds internal organs and is associated with health risks like:

• Insulin resistance
• Type 2 diabetes
• Heart disease
• Other metabolic issues

Appetite Regulation

Lower estrogen levels during perimenopause can have an impact on appetite management. A 2019 analysis found that decreased estrogen may diminish satiety signals, making you feel less full after meals. This might lead to increased calorie consumption and weight gain.

The Effect of Age on Weight

Weight gain during menopause is attributed to more than just hormonal changes. Several elements come into play throughout the aging process:

Increased fat content and decreased muscle mass: These changes affect the body's resting energy expenditure (REE), which means fewer calories are expended when at rest.

Lower activity levels: Fatigue, sleep difficulties, and menopause-related symptoms can all lead to a decrease in physical activity, further reducing REE and increasing weight.

Managing Weight Gain During Menopause

If you are concerned about weight gain during menopause, a variety of strategies can help you manage it effectively. It is usually recommended that you speak with a healthcare practitioner before developing a specific approach.

Dietary modifications

Focus on a well-balanced diet that includes less carbohydrates, more fiber, and less added sugar and salt.

Include nutrient-dense meals to boost overall health.

Physical exercise

Regular exercise helps to maintain muscle mass and reduce body fat. Strength training, aerobic, and flexibility exercises are quite beneficial.

If you have osteoporosis, see your doctor about safe activity options.

Rest and Stress Management

Prioritize sleep and relaxation to combat fatigue and stress, both of which can contribute to weight gain.

Mindfulness practices or yoga may help reduce stress levels.

A new study has revealed an alarming trend in stroke cases in the past three decades. Strokes have often been associated as an age-related disease. But according to a study published in Neurology, the rate of stroke among adults aged 20 to 54 has nearly doubled between 1993-94 and 2020.

Researchers examined data from the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Stroke Study and identified 2,076 first-time strokes among people in this age group.

The rate of stroke rose from 33.9 cases per 100,000 person-years in 1993-94 to 62.2 in 2020. The increase was largely driven by ischemic stroke, which happens when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked.

The study points towards an alarming pattern, especially among younger age groups. It raises the question of why are strokes are occurring earlier in life?

High Blood Pressure, Diabetes And Other Risks

The researchers found that several risk factors of stroke became more common among younger people. These included lifestyle disorders like high blood pressure, diabetes and atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm that can increase the risk of blood clots.

Apart from lifestyle diseases, researchers also saw an increase in substance use. Among younger adults who had suffered a stroke, substance use rose from 4.6% in 1993-94 to 40.2% in 2020. Much of this increase was linked to marijuana use.

However, the study does not prove that these factors caused the overall rise in stroke rates. Researchers did not have comparable information from people who had not suffered a stroke, making it impossible to determine whether the changing risk factors directly explain the surge in cases.

According to the study, the increase was concentrated mainly in ischemic strokes. The rate of ischemic stroke among 20- to 54-year-olds rose from 23.8 to 47.3 cases per 100,000 person-years during the study period.

Researchers did not observe a similar increase in intracerebral haemorrhage, which involves bleeding within the brain, or subarachnoid haemorrhage, which involves bleeding around the brain.

Also read: Can A Roller Coaster Cause A Brain Bleed? What Sudden Acceleration And Deceleration Does To The Brain

What Is An Ischemic Stroke?

An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying part of the brain becomes blocked, cutting off oxygen and nutrients. Brain cells can start dying within minutes, which is why stroke treatment is highly time-sensitive.

The warning signs of stroke can appear suddenly. They include:

• Facial drooping
• Weakness
• Numbness in an arm or leg
• Difficulty speaking

The commonly used FAST acronym stands for Face, Arm, Speech and Time. If these symptoms appear, emergency medical care should be sought immediately.

Also read: UK Student Nearly Dies After Accidental Paracetamol Overdose: Why It Can Cause Liver Failure

More Young People Are Surviving Stroke

This is another interesting finding. Although stroke became more common among younger adults, the study found that the 30-day death rate declined modestly, from 11.7% in 1993-94 to 9.4% in 2020 after adjusting for age, race and sex.

That means more younger people may be surviving strokes but potentially living with their long-term consequences.

The researchers say the findings highlight the importance of identifying and managing stroke risk factors earlier in adulthood. More research is still required to understand what is behind the changing pattern and how it can be prevented.

A 20-year-old UK student nearly died after accidentally taking two over-the-counter medicines that both contained paracetamol.

Riley Lubas, a first-year University of Bath student, developed a bad cold in March 2025. Days later, he developed severe stomach pain and was found to have serious liver damage.

What Happened?

Doctors initially suspected hepatitis, but Riley's condition rapidly worsened. He became delirious and hallucinated as his liver began to fail. His lungs and kidneys also stopped working, leaving him in multiple organ failure.

He was placed on life support and dialysis before being transferred to King's College Hospital in London, where doctors identified the cause after asking about his paracetamol use.

"It didn't necessarily help with a solution, but it was good to know the cause at last," his father, Chris, said.

Also read: ‘Zombie’ Drug Medetomidine, Spotted In Heroin Supply, Raises Concern As It Could Evade Overdose Antidote

Riley Had To Learn To Walk And Talk Again

Riley was assessed for a liver transplant after his parents were warned that some of the damage could be "irreversible". But his liver began to recover.

"We watched Riley's situation closely for a couple of days, and he continued to improve, until he was taken off dialysis and life support just a week later."

Riley spent six weeks at King's College Hospital and later moved to an ICU in Newport. After a tracheostomy and multiple organ failure, he had to relearn how to speak and walk.

"But just seeing him up and alive again was unbelievable," his father said.

Riley has since recovered and returned to work as a bartender.

"It was mad how quickly it all escalated," he said.

"Because I was already sick, when my stomach hurt I just assumed I'd caught a stomach bug, so I didn't notice the pain in my liver specifically."

"I'm just so grateful that I was able to come out the other end alright."

Why Combining Cold And Flu Medicines Can Be Risky

Read More: Are GLP-1 Drugs Safe for Children? Study Finds Nutritional Deficiency in Nearly 17% Within a Year

Riley's case highlights the risk of taking multiple medicines without realizing they contain the same active ingredient.

Dr Will Mackintosh, a GP and chairman of RCGP Cymru Wales, said accidental paracetamol overdose in young people was "a fairly rare occurrence", but warned that people can inadvertently take two products containing paracetamol, BBC reported.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned that "simple misunderstandings" about medicines can have serious consequences, highlighting the importance of checking the ingredients beforehand.

The Royal College of General Practitioners Cymru Wales also advised people to "read the label carefully" before taking medicines.

How Much Paracetamol Is Safe?

For most adults, the usual dose is 500 mg to 1,000 mg at a time, with at least four hours between doses.

The usual maximum is 4,000 mg in 24 hours, although some people may need a lower dose because of their weight, liver or kidney problems, alcohol use or other health conditions.

The important point is to count paracetamol from all medicines, including cold and flu products.

How Can An Overdose Damage The Liver?

The liver breaks down paracetamol. When too much is taken, a toxic substance can build up and damage liver cells. Severe overdose can lead to liver failure and death.

Early symptoms may include nausea, vomiting and stomach pain, but serious poisoning may not cause obvious symptoms immediately. Later signs can include jaundice, confusion and extreme sleepiness.

What To Do After Taking Too Much

If you think you have taken too much paracetamol — including by combining medicines that contain it — seek urgent medical advice immediately.

Do not wait for symptoms. Early treatment can reduce the risk of serious liver damage.

Always check the active ingredients on painkillers and cold and flu medicines before taking them together.

Doctors at a Mumbai hospital successfully performed a complex coronary angioplasty on an elderly diabetic patient with severely calcified coronary arteries using an advanced technique called Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL), helping restore blood flow to the heart despite multiple procedural challenges.

The patient, who had been experiencing symptoms suggestive of coronary artery disease, was found to have extensive calcium deposits in the coronary arteries. Further evaluation also revealed poor blood flow in the leg arteries, making conventional vascular access for the procedure difficult.

What Is Coronary Artery Calcification?

Coronary artery calcification is commonly seen in elderly individuals and people with long-standing diabetes. Excessive calcium makes the arteries rigid and narrow, often making routine angioplasty technically challenging and increasing the risk of incomplete stent expansion, which can affect long-term outcomes

Severely calcified coronary arteries remain one of the biggest challenges in interventional cardiology. The calcium makes the arteries extremely rigid, making it difficult to properly expand the stent. In such situations, conventional angioplasty alone may not be sufficient.

Despite the patient’s complex anatomy and poor peripheral vascular access, the team successfully performed the procedure through the radial artery in the wrist, avoiding access through the diseased leg vessels.

Also read: Stopping Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro Linked To 22% Higher Heart Attack, Stroke Risk: Study

Breaking Deep Calcium Deposits In Artery Wall

To prepare the artery for stenting, doctors used Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL), an advanced technology that delivers controlled sonic pressure waves to fracture deep calcium deposits within the artery wall. This allows the blood vessel to expand more effectively, enabling safe and optimal placement of the coronary stent.

IVL works on a principle similar to the technology used for breaking kidney stones, but it is specifically designed for heavily calcified coronary arteries. By modifying the calcium before placing the stent, we can achieve better stent expansion, reduce procedural complications and improve long-term outcomes in appropriately selected patients.

The procedure was completed successfully, with excellent blood flow restored to the affected coronary artery. The patient recovered well and was discharged in a stable condition.

Doctors say the case highlights how newer technologies are expanding treatment options for patients who were once considered extremely difficult to treat due to severe coronary calcification.

Advanced techniques such as IVL are transforming the management of complex coronary artery disease, particularly in elderly diabetic patients, allowing us to safely treat lesions that would have been significantly more challenging with conventional techniques alone.

The case underscores the growing role of advanced interventional cardiology in treating complex heart disease while minimising procedural risk and improving patient outcomes.