Skip to main content

Menopause Bring New Risks for Women's Heart Health

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Oct. 20, 2023 -- The risk of having heart disease grows as a woman ages, so women need to be familiar with their heart disease risk factors, the American Heart Association (AHA) says.

Menopause factors into this risk in several different ways, with age, estrogen, symptoms and other body changes also playing a role.

Women who reach menopause at younger ages -- before 45 -- have a significantly higher risk of heart disease, according to the AHA. When a woman has had surgical removal of her ovaries, forcing menopause early, she can also have a higher risk of heart disease.

However, the same surgery around the age of natural menopause does not raise risk, the AHA said. A hysterectomy, where the uterus is removed, also doesn't appear to influence cardiovascular risk before or after menopause.

Some well-known symptoms of menopause are hot flashes and night sweats. They can last up to 10 years and are also associated with worse heart disease risk levels.

Depression and sleep problems have also been linked with heart disease risk.

So, too, has increased visceral fat, which is the fat in the abdominal cavity.

Estrogen is also a factor. This hormone keeps blood vessels relaxed and open. It starts to decline with the approach of menopause. Cholesterol may then build up in the artery walls, according to the AHA. That can increase the risk of heart disease or stroke.

Risk factors like cholesterol levels and metabolic syndrome appear to increase with menopause beyond just the impact of aging.

A person has metabolic syndrome if they have 3 out of 5 risk factors. These factors are: high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high triglycerides, low HDL ("good") cholesterol and abdominal obesity.

Sources

  • American Heart Association, news release

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted October 2023

Read this next

Could Sauna Time Help Curb Weight Gain During Menopause?

WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2024 — A 30-minute sauna or warm bubble bath every day might help women of a certain age fend off unwanted weight gain. That's the promising takeaway...

Diets Heavy in Ultra-processed Foods Linked to Earlier Death: Study

MONDAY, July 1, 2024 -- People who eat more ultra-processed foods are more likely to suffer an early death, particularly from heart disease or diabetes, a new study warns. Older...

More Green Spaces, Lakes Bring Fewer Hardened Arteries

MONDAY, July 1, 2024 -- Parks and lakes aren’t just good for your soul -- new research suggests they also appear to protect your arteries. Living near green space and...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.