Zoe Ball โคhas revealed a โคfrightening health battle that left her struggling to breathe, later diagnosed as linked to perimenopause. The radio โpresenter, 53, โขshared her experience on the BBC’s The โฃZoe Ball Breakfast Show, detailingโ a recent episode that prompted a visit to the doctor.
Ball’s experience shines a light on โthe โฃfrequently โenough-overlooked and varied symptoms ofโ perimenopause, a transitional period before menopauseโ affecting millions of women. Her openness โคaims to encourage โothers experiencingโข similar issues to seek medical advice and understandโ their own hormonal health, while emphasizing the importance ofโค individualizedโฃ care.
“I had โa reallyโ scary moment actually a coupleโฃ of weeksโ ago,” Ball explained on air.โค “I justโฆ couldn’tโ breathe. And I was โขlike, ‘Oh my god, what’s โhappening?’ And Iโข ended up going โto โthe doctor, and it was justโฆhormonal, apparently.” She added, “We have to remember that this is just me individually. don’t follow โwhat I โคdo people, you’ve got to check โyour own hormone โlevels.”
Theโฃ NHS states that perimenopause and โmenopause symptoms vary โsignificantly between individuals,โค with โchanges to โขmenstrual cycles โฃoften being the first โขsign.โฃ Commonโ mental health effects include โขmood swings, anxiety,โค and brain โฃfog, while physical symptoms can range from hot flushes and muscle achesโ to sleep โdisturbances. These symptoms can last for months or years, โevolving over time.
Anyone concernedโฃ about potential perimenopause or menopauseโ symptoms is advised to consult their GP for personalized guidance and support.