With more menopausal women seeking natural therapies to ease
symptoms, a new study has found that simply adding a brisk
walking routine can reduce a variety of psychological symptoms
such as anxiety, stress and depression. The research is
published in the January issue of Cancer Epidemiology,
Biomarkers & Prevention. “With the aging population, physical
activity represents one way for women to stay mentally healthy.
Physical activity can help throughout the menopausal transition
and afterwards,” said Temple University public health researcher
Deborah Nelson, Ph.D, the study’s lead author. From 1996 to
1997, 380 women living in Philadelphia were recruited and they
have been followed for more than eight years. The women reported
their physical activity level and menopausal symptoms including
stress, anxiety, depression and hot flashes. The average age at
the beginning of the study was 42 –years –old; 49 percent were
African American, 58 percent reported more than a high school
education, and 38 percent smoked c