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OB-GYN talks about women’s health, shedding light on menopause

Dr. LaReesa Ferdinand joined News 6 on Breakfast With Bridgette

ORLANDO, Fla. – Tuesday on Breakfast with Bridgett, Dr. LaReesa Ferdinand talked about women’s health and all the factors tied into menopause.

From surprising statistics and symptoms to self awareness, care and treatment, there’s a lot more women can do to take charge of “the change.”

Some recent news coverage of celebrities like Halle Berry drawing attention to menopause as they encourage more conversations between women and their doctors.

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“It is a natural process,” Dr. Ferdinand said. “I like to call it a transition because many women will start experiencing symptoms around their 40′s, about 5% will go through early, natural menopause, around 45, the  average age is about 51. Imagine this, about 1.3m will be in menopause every year and 6,000 go through it everyday. I don’t know about you, but my mother didn’t talk to me about menopause or periods. What I like about the limelight is, it’s given that opportunity to say let’s talk about it, let’s have free conversation before you get there. Let’s be proactive and let’s be preventive. That’s what I do in the integrative space, take principles and make sure we encompass that whole body connection. Because we are more than one segment of menopause, many of us are going through many other transitions in our life.”

Beyond hot flashes, Dr. Ferdinand says several other changes often fly under the radar that women need to talk to their doctors about much sooner than they usually do.

“You really do have to have a more integrative approach to your health care. Meaning you’re taking care of your mind, you’re taking care of your body and you’re taking care of your spirit. And really acknowledging going back to that self-awareness where you are in this season. Many of the things you did as a playbook in your 20′s, guess what ladies, you need a new playbook when you get to your 40′s and your 50′s,” Dr. Ferdinand said.

Watch the full interview here and watch more Breakfast with Bridgett every weekday at 7:30 a.m. on the News 6 Plus streaming app or ClickOrlando.com.

Find out more about Dr. Ferdinand’s practice here, click here.


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