Dr Zoe Williams, resident doctor on This Morning, has highlighted nine lesser-known menopause symptoms that are often overlooked, including dry eyes, burning tongue, tingling hands and feet, and itchy or crawling skin. She also provided actionable advice to ease these daily irritations.
According to a poll of 1,000 women who are menopausal, perimenopausal, or postmenopausal, only 23% were aware that dry eyes could be a symptom. The research, conducted by OnePoll.com, revealed that 52% of women opted to 'carry on as usual' despite experiencing severe discomforts, and 30% believed their symptoms weren't worth mentioning.
Common Yet Overlooked Symptoms
Dr Williams explained that hormonal fluctuations, particularly drops in oestrogen, cause changes throughout the body, affecting blood vessels, circulation, joint tissues, nerve signals, gut movement, sweat glands, and tear, saliva, and oil production. This leads to a range of symptoms beyond the well-known hot flushes and mood swings.
Other aggravating symptoms include anxiety and sudden panic (54%), brain fog (65%), joint stiffness (53%), digestive issues like bloating or nausea (42%), and skin changes (47%). More unusual effects include burning mouth syndrome (20%) and electric shock sensations (16%).
Dry Eyes: A Common Yet Unrecognised Issue
Dry eyes affected 42% of women in the study, causing gritty (38%), itchy (31%), blurry (30%), and light-sensitive (18%) eyes. For 18%, it was a constant irritation. This impacted daily tasks like working on a computer (58%), reading (50%), driving (33%), and spending time outdoors (33%).
Dr Williams, partnering with Specsavers, emphasised that while one in three people suffer from dry eyes, this increases to one in two for menopausal women. She recommends seeing an optometrist for personalised solutions such as drops, eye compresses, or the ZEST eyelid cleansing procedure.
Tips to Ease Symptoms
Dr Williams offered specific advice: for headaches or migraines, prioritise sleep, hydration, regular meals to stabilise glucose, and gentle neck and shoulder stretches. For tingling or burning sensations, switch to fragrance-free skincare and alcohol-free dental care. Anti-inflammatory foods like berries, leafy greens, and turmeric can help joint pain, while increasing fibre eases digestive issues. Omega-3 fatty acids support tear quality for dry eyes. Breathable natural fabrics can keep skin cooler and reduce odour.
Emotional Impact and Lack of Awareness
The study found that 64% said the most aggravating symptoms were ones nobody warned them about, and 29% felt largely unprepared. This contributed to negative emotions: 54% felt emotionally flat or detached, 54% felt less like themselves, 49% lost motivation, 45% felt overwhelmed, 42% had increased self-doubt, and 36% socially withdrew.
Dr Williams concluded: "Menopause and perimenopause symptoms are often reduced to hot flushes, night sweats, and fatigue. Yet many women experience a wider range of lesser-known symptoms that can be confusing or unexpected. Our eyes, in particular, are an area most of us wouldn’t associate with this stage of life."
