As women go through the menopause, they may see a decline in their ability to carry out routine tasks such as climbing stairs and carrying heavy things, according to a US study.
Exactly why is not clear, though weight gain and depression seem to account for the link to a degree, said researchers whose findings were published in the journal Menopause.
“There is definitely a connection between menopause and the physical limitations women perceive themselves as having,” said lead researcher Lisa Tseng, a medical student at the University of Pittsburgh.
Tseng said her findings suggest that the physiological changes of menopause play a role. A woman’s body tends to go through physical changes with an increase in fat and decrease in muscle mass. With a decline in estrogen, bone mass also falls.
Men also lose muscle mass and strength as they age, but studies have found that a reduction in women’s physical strength seems to speed up around the menopause.
(Reuters)
根據一項美國研究指出，女性走過更年期時，可能會看到做爬樓梯與提重物等例行工作的能力下滑。
在《更年期》期刊刊登發現的研究人員說，實際原因並不清楚，不過體重增加與憂鬱症狀似乎可以解釋些許關聯。
首席研究員、匹茲堡大學醫學系學生麗莎．曾（譯音）說：「更年期與女性認為自己身體受到限制之間絕對有關聯。」
麗莎．曾表示，她的發現顯示，更年期的生理改變造成這種作用。女性的身體組成似乎會隨著脂肪增加以及肌肉質量降低而改變，隨著雌激素減少，骨質密度也會降低。
男性也會隨著年紀增長流失肌肉密度與力量，但研究發現女性力量的減少似乎會在更年期左右加速。
（路透/翻譯：國際新聞中心）
1. account for v. phr.
解釋原因 (jie3 shi4 yuan2 yin1)
例: He has to account for to his manager all of his movements.
(他對經理解釋他所有動作的原因。)
2. age v.
年紀增長；變老 (nian2 ji4 zeng1 zhang3)
例: She’s aged since the last time we met.
(自從上次我看到她，她變老了。)
3. speed up v. phr.
加速 (jia1 su4)
例: This drug may have the effect of speeding up your heart rate.
(這種藥可能會有加速你心跳的影響。)
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