The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) cites heart disease as the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Unfortunately, when women experience menopause, the risk increases.
On the bright side, it’s also an opportunity to build awareness of these risks, and Rosa Gynecology offers a proactive game plan on how to best protect your heart through menopause and beyond.
Why Risk Increases: The Role of Estrogen
Estrogen, a group of female sex hormones, not only regulates the menstrual cycle and supports pregnancy, but also promotes heart health. It helps allow flexibility in blood vessel walls and provides a healthy balance of cholesterol. During menopause, estrogen levels drop. According to the American Heart Association, this can cause metabolic syndrome. As a result, arteries may become thicker and stiffer, bad cholesterol and triglycerides increase, and body fat distribution shifts to belly fat. All of these amp up the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Beyond Hormones: Shared Risk Factors
In addition to hormonal changes, other factors come into play. Vasomotor symptoms, more commonly known as night sweats and hot flashes, are the most frequently occurring symptoms of the menopause transition, taking place in 75% of women. Additionally, a study shared by the National Library of Medicine says 40% to 60% of women experience disturbed sleep and insomnia during menopause. Both night sweats and insomnia can indirectly impact the heart by making it more difficult to have the energy to maintain a regular exercise routine.
A recent study by Northwestern Medicine reveals that women who enter menopause before age 40 have an approximately 40% higher lifetime risk of developing coronary heart disease. And Black women are three times more likely to experience menopause before age 40.
Action Steps: Taking Control
The best way to face cardiovascular risks during menopause is to be proactive. Make blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol screenings a priority. These numbers can change rapidly during menopause transition. Keeping an eye on them allows you to get ahead of the problem.
The National Institute on Aging suggests several lifestyle tips to help lower heart disease risks during and after menopause. These include health-conscious nutrition, exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting or avoiding alcohol, and not smoking.
Restorative rest remains essential during menopause. The National Institute on Aging recommends a variety of ways to enhance your sleep during the menopause transition. Key suggestions involve following a regular sleep schedule, limiting screen time before bed, refraining from exercising right before bedtime, avoiding caffeine later in the day, and staying away from eating large meals just before you sleep.
Rosa Gynecology Can Help Your Heart Health Stay in Rhythm During Menopause
Menopause is a natural transition, but heart disease is avoidable. As you experience menopause, Rosa Gynecology can help you take the appropriate steps for optimal heart health. From discussing menopause symptom relief through hormone replacement therapy to looking at your cardiovascular history and potential risks, we’re here for you.
