People With Frequent Hot Flashes Are 50% More Likely To Get Cardiovascular Disease

Marked by sudden overheating, sweating, flushed skin, a racing heart, anxiety, and even chills, hot flashes are arguably the most notorious symptom of the menopause transition.

They’re incredibly common: 80% of people who undergo menopause experience vasomotor symptoms (VMS)—i.e., hot flashes and night sweats—an average of 4-5 times per day for approximately seven years, per the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America. And for a lucky 25% of women in menopause, hot flashes are severe and last up to nine years (how fun).

Despite how disruptive they can be, hot flashes have long been billed as a normal part of the menopause transition that doesn’t require medical intervention. (Though there are some treatments available to ease symptoms.)

Experts have long observed that for women, cardiovascular disease risk increases after menopause, following hormonal shifts and changes in body composition. The first year after one’s final period is marked by higher total cholesterol1, LDL (aka "bad" cholesterol), and apolipoprotein B (an oft-used biomarker for CVD risk2).

The JAHA study followed over 3,000 women in their 40s and 50s over 22 years. At each visit, participants answered a questionnaire about the frequency and severity of any hot flashes they’d experienced in the prior two weeks. They also reported any cardiac events and submitted related medical records to be reviewed by independent cardiologists. 

Researchers found that people who reported frequent hot flashes at the start of the study were 50% more likely to have CVD later on. Additionally, those whose frequent hot flashes persisted (for an average of four annual visits) had a 77% increased risk of cardiovascular disease. When controlling for demographic, risk factors, and even the use of hormone therapy, the connection persisted. 

Interestingly, people who were Black, had little education, or experienced financial hardship were more likely to report frequent hot flashes. In other research, Black women were also found to be more likely to report VMS than women of other racial groups. 

Menopause is marked by an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The 2021 JAHA study zeroed in on a group that may be at an elevated risk: those who experience frequent hot flashes.

Exercising regularly is such ubiquitous advice that it can be easy to forget what critical benefits it brings. In a 2018 study from the Journal of the American Heart Association, women who exercised long enough to burn more than 500 calories per week (about one hour of jogging, depending on speed and weight ) had a 73% lower risk of CVD than women whose weekly exercise burned fewer than 500 calories.

Perhaps the easiest daily habit to support heart health is taking a quality supplement. Ingredients like omega-3s5, CoQ106, and resveratrol7 have research backing their cardioprotective effects.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women, and the risk of developing CVD increases during menopause. Research conducted over the past few years shows that people who experience hot flashes are at an even greater risk.