How Menopause Increases Your Risk of Heart Disease

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In fact, 1 in 39 women dies from breast cancer each year, while 1 in 3 women dies from heart disease. That’s about one death every minute, and menopause is a major factor in this. As women go through menopause, the risk of heart disease increases. While heart disease risks go up for everyone as they get older, the menopause transition plays a big role in boosting heart disease risks. The American Heart Association shared this in a 2020 report published in Circulation.

While many people think that breast cancer is the leading killer of women in the U.S., in reality heart disease kills more people than all cancers combined. One in 39 women in the U.S. dies from breast cancer each year, while 1 in 3 dies from cardiovascular disease. That’s roughly one death each minute – and we know that menopause plays in important role in a woman’s cardiovascular disease risk.”, Garima Sharma, M.D., FAHA, volunteer of the American Heart Association

“Menopause is a natural phase of life for most women in their 40s or 50s, but it’s never too early to start learning about how the significant hormonal and physiological changes impact your heart health even in your younger years. In fact, being heart healthy as you head into menopause may reduce later risks,” said Dr. Garima Sharma, a volunteer of the American Heart Association and director of women’s cardiovascular health at Inova Health System.

Why Menopause Increases Heart Disease Risk

Dr. Sharma explains that heart health risks for women go up before and after menopause. Several studies have found key links between menopause and heart disease:

• Irregular heart rhythms (AFib): After menopause, 1 in 4 women may develop atrial fibrillation. Stress and lack of sleep are often to blame, according to a study in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA).
• Heart failure: Obesity increases heart failure risk, especially for women who hit menopause at 55 or older, as shown in another JAHA study.
• Coronary heart disease: Research from the 2022 American Heart Association meeting revealed that women who enter menopause before age 40 have a 40% higher risk of coronary heart disease.
• Dementia: Women who experience menopause very early (before age 40) are 35% more likely to develop dementia, according to a study presented at the 2021 American Heart Association meeting.
• Loneliness: Social isolation and loneliness increase the risk of heart disease by 29% in post-menopausal women.

What Happens to Your Heart During Menopause?

“Menopause does not cause cardiovascular disease; however, during the menopausal transition women experience many changes in their bodies, including some that can impact their cardiovascular health,” Dr. Sharma said.

Here are some common changes that can raise heart disease risks:

• Drop in estrogen levels
• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Gaining body fat around organs
• Sleep issues and depression
• Increased cholesterol
• Stiffening of blood vessels

“More women in the U.S. are living longer, and a significant portion of them will spend up to 40% of their lives postmenopausal, so it’s important to monitor a woman’s health and lifestyle and develop intervention strategies to protect heart health,” Sharma said. “Solutions won’t be one-size-fits-all. This is an area where there is a big need for personalized, preventive cardiology care for women focused on lowering cardiovascular risk.”

It is of fundamental importance that health personnel recognise that womens heart attacks are different to men, MW, United States.

Tips to Stay Heart Healthy

The American Heart Association has been promoting heart health for over 100 years. Here are some tips they recommend to protect your heart before, during, and after menopause:

1. Know your health numbers: Check your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar regularly.
2. Stay active: Exercise helps keep your heart in good shape.
3. Eat healthy foods: Focus on a diet that’s good for your heart.
4. Sleep well: Getting enough sleep is important for your overall health.
5. Take care of your mental health: Your mental well-being affects your heart too.

By taking steps to protect your heart health as you approach menopause, you can lower your risk of heart disease later in life.

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