Menopause. Lost Wellbeing? You Can Find It at the Spa

Change is never easy. And when menopause approaches, going through the antechamber of premenopause, every woman inevitably begins to deal with physical transformations, which also have an impact on mental well-being. If the skin and hair become thinner, the waistline increases, for example. You may feel a drop in energy, a sense of exhaustion and tiredness, difficulty sleeping, muscle pain, hot flashes, difficulty concentrating and remembering, even a reduction in sexual desire. And then your mood changes due to hormonal changes, so from one moment to the next you become irritable, hypersensitive, anxious and even depressed. Common symptoms, but every woman is a world unto herself and each one experiences this transitional phase in her own way.

To understand how to take better care of ourselves and face this new stage of life with serenity and awareness, even a stay in a spa can be useful.

In the hills of Ciociaria, Palazzo Fiuggi - the famous wellness medical spa loved by many stars and celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey - offers the "Femina Longevity" program, lasting 7 days, created to respond to the needs of female health and well-being during the natural biological change of menopause. A holistic and personalized approach that helps overcome symptoms and discomfort, providing the necessary tools to stimulate the body and mind, giving new vitality and energy.

"Although menopause is a transitional phase in every woman's life, it brings with it a series of changes at a hormonal, psychological, emotional and organic level. Staying in a medical spa, such as Palazzo Fiuggi, can bring several benefits. Taking care of yourself, during the perimenopause and menopause phases, should not be underestimated as we are approaching a period in which a woman can feel more social and environmental pressures", explains Fabrizio Di Salvio, medical surgeon expert in nutrition and resident doctor of Palazzo Fiuggi.

We spoke with him to better understand the beneficial effects that can be drawn from this program and the advice to apply when returning home and to everyday life.

Let's talk about the “Femina Longevity” program: what does it consist of and why is it effective for perimenopause and menopause?

“The Longevity program is aimed at counteracting the effects of aging, supporting cellular regeneration and preventing age-related diseases. Average life expectancy is increasingly increasing and this trend will continue progressively over the next 25 years. This program is a series of preventive-therapeutic paths that involve the medical department, spa treatments, personalized training sessions and a foodline, created by Heinz Beck, a 3-Michelin-star chef, specifically designed to slow down these processes. In addition to the main program, the Femina section helps women in peri- and menopause. If the guest has not had recent clinical check-ups, a gynecological visit accompanied by a transvaginal ultrasound, Pap test and an HPV DNA test will be useful in the context of cervical cancer screening. Since Palazzo Fiuggi is a center for prevention, a breast examination and a breast ultrasound for breast cancer screening are added to these check-ups. The prescription of any natural supplements to support some of the symptoms of menopause (hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, etc.). We also offer a session of cognitive behavioral psychotherapy for the emotional sphere. The interview will aim to direct the guest - if necessary - towards an online path aimed at re-establishing the disorders of the psycho-affective, sexual and emotional sphere that could be found in this condition.

What are the benefits of this program that last even after you return home?

“By combining a cardiology consultation and a metabolic visit, we are able to evaluate – at 360° – the entire preventive aspect of menopause. Furthermore, the postural, baropodometric and other biomechanical assessment tests included in the HPM program of the Movement Lab will allow us to provide the guest with a highly specific program to support metabolic and muscular function. The benefits are tangible from the second day with a progressive improvement throughout the stay. The reacquisition of a darkened vitality, an increase in strength and full recovery of energy are the first effects to be noticed. Subsequently, even once the course has ended, thanks to the prolonged action of the Longevity intravenous infusions (with antiaging, antioxidant, detox, energizing effect) and the Ozone Therapy treatments (with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiaging action thanks to the activation of enzymes that counteract the action of oxygen and nitrogen free radicals - these can be chosen on site), our body and mind will continue to carry out an action of cellular rejuvenation and defense against harmful agents".

Among the treatments, which are the most innovative?

“Speaking of the therapeutic ones, there are the Body Work Deep Stress and the Body Work Deep Detox, which work on the tendon-muscular meridians, thanks also to digital pressure. An innovative therapeutic model created to start detoxification processes, to release tension and to activate the circulation of energy. Based on the principles of Chinese medicine, the goal is to reach a holistic state of mental and physical balance connected to the flow of universal energy. There is also cryotherapy, a controlled exposure to the cold, which improves the quality of the skin, strengthens antioxidant defenses, decreases the levels of stress-related hormones and increases the immune defenses. Also worth trying is the Skin analyzer, which gives an evaluation of the state of the skin and blemishes, with the creation of a personalized program of aesthetic medicine treatments. On the front of medical procedures, I also suggest the Microbiota Genetic Test. It provides a snapshot of the status of the intestinal bacterial flora to assess the possible presence of dysbiosis, alterations in intestinal permeability, chronic inflammatory intestinal diseases that could lead to an alteration of the intestine-brain axis with a negative impact on any symptoms of menopause. All our guests also have access to the Medical Zoom Call, which is necessary and useful for following progress remotely and for taking stock of final exams and those tests whose results are received after departure. At your discretion, it is carried out 1 week/1 month after your stay.

Even nutrition must be taken into consideration to live menopause to the fullest, right?

“Exactly, because nutrition, in this phase of life, plays a crucial role. Hormonal changes lead to a change in the distribution of subcutaneous adipose tissue, with an accumulation at the waistline (android shape - apple) and a consequent increase in visceral fat and cardiovascular and metabolic risk. The weight gain that is observed is attributed both to chrono-aging and to the menopause transition. Body composition changes in parallel with the decrease in basal metabolism, slowed down by estrogen deficiency. Eating patterns are fundamental for their influence on longevity and quality of life. The glycemic and insulinemic impact of meals, based on a wise balance of nutrients, will overcome this process and the guest will be able to take with them a personalized plan specifically calibrated on the analyses and the path taken at Palazzo Fiuggi. Furthermore, it is essential to increase daily protein intake to counteract the loss of skeletal muscle mass that occurs with age. Dietary fats should be optimally balanced by replacing some saturated fatty acids with polyunsaturated fatty acids. It is also necessary to try to maintain a correct balance between omega-3 and omega-6 and completely remove trans fatty acids from the diet. Increasing the intake of fiber, using organic whole grains (quinoa, amaranth, millet, buckwheat, etc.), reduces the risk of obesity, cardiovascular, tumor and metabolic diseases and nourishes our microbiota by modulating the production of estrogen. However, be careful not to exceed 50 g per day to avoid annoying side effects! Let's not underestimate the detox action of water (especially that of Fiuggi), which can stimulate diuresis, remove toxins and combat dryness of the mucous membranes.