Heart disease and heart risk affect everyone as they age but are more prominent in women as they reach menopause.
While Heart.org says menopause does not cause cardiovascular disease, new research suggests there are risk factors that increase the chance of cardiovascular disease around menopause.
“Menopause isn’t a disease. It’s a natural phase of a woman’s life cycle,” Dr. Neica Goldberg, a cardiologist, and an American Heart Association volunteer, said. “It’s important for women, as they approach menopause, to take stock of their health.”
For women, monitoring heart health is vital to living a longer and healthier life.
However, not all is at a loss here. A new statement from Samar R. El Khoudary, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute, shows that hormone replacement therapy may be the solution to reducing the risk of cardiovascular health.
According to El Khoudary, recent studies have shown that hormone replacement therapy can decrease Type 2 diabetes risk and protect against bone loss.
Below, you will find some quick facts about menopause and the increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
New research from The University of Queensland found that women who have hot flashes and night sweats after menopause are 70 percent more likely to have heart attacks, angina, and strokes.
Sleep disturbances, along with depression, may also lead to an increased risk of heart disease — which is especially common among women who are menopausal.
Premature menopause in young women is associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease and overall mortality. New research led by the Massachusetts General Hospital concluded that women who experienced premature menopause “often exhibit certain blood cell changes that elevate their risk of developing coronary artery disease.
The study, led by Pradeep Natarajan, MD, an assistant professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School conducted found that “premature menopause was associated with a 36 percent higher likelihood of exhibiting clonal hematopoiesis in the blood, with a larger association for women with natural premature menopause.”
Hydration and Physical Activity
Go Red for Women, the American Heart Association’s signature women’s initiative found that physical activity and diet may affect premature menopause. They posit, “Women who drink little to moderate amounts of alcohol may have later onset of menopause, and cigarette smokers are likely to start about a year earlier than nonsmokers.”
While there is still more research to be done, Heart.org and Go Red for Women recommend the best way to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease is with healthy lifestyle changes that benefit the heart.
The American Heart Association recommends including these in your diet:
- fruits, vegetables,
- whole grains,
- low-fat dairy products,
- poultry, fish, and nuts,
- while limiting red meat and sugary foods and beverages.
The AHA also recommends that women aim for at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of physical activity each week to prevent heart disease. For an effective weight loss program, they recommend 300 minutes (5 hours) or more weekly.