PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND VASOMOTOR SYMPTOMS IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Background: The mechanisms causing postmenopausal vasomotor symptoms a re unknown, but changes in hypothalamic beta-endorphins have been sugg ested to be involved. beta-endorphin production may be increased by re gular physical exercise. Objective: To assess if physically active wom en suffered from vasomotor symptoms to a lower extent than sedentary w omen. Material and methods: All women (n = 1323) in the ages ranging f rom 55-56 years in the community of Linkoping Sweden, were included. I n a questionnaire these women were asked about their physical exercise habits and their complaints from vasomotor symptoms. Only those 793 w omen who had reached a natural menopause were grouped into sedentary, moderately or highly active women, based on a physical activity score. Results: Only 5% of highly physically active women experienced severe hot flushes as compared with 14-16% of women who had little or no wee kly exercise (P < 0.05; relative risk 0.26; CI 95%: 0.10-0.71). This w as not explained by differences in body mass index, smoking habits or use of hormone replacement therapy. Women who used hormone replacement therapy were more physically active than non-users (P < 0.05). Conclu sion: Fewer physically active women had severe vasomotor symptoms comp ared with sedentary women. This may be due to a selection bias but als o to the fact that physical exercise on a regular basis affects neurot ransmitters which regulate central thermoregulation. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.