Why It's Critical Women Over 40 Pay Attention To Heart Health

Significant and adverse changes occur in women's heart health before and during menopause, but preventive measures, interventions, and monitoring can reduce cardiovascular disease risks. This is all spelled out in a scientific statement released today by the American Heart Association.

In the years leading up to menopause, also known as the menopause transition, women's ovaries start to produce less estrogen. According to studies, this sex hormone may have cardioprotective benefits1; therefore, a lack of estrogen may contribute to an increased risk of heart disease. 

Women who have undergone surgical menopause (i.e., partial or full hysterectomies) may also be at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). 

Many side effects of menopause, including depression or hot flashes and night sweats, may all be related to cardiovascular disease2. The physiological changes that occur during menopause, like a decrease in muscle mass and an increase in body fat, can also affect cholesterol levels and metabolic health3 in midlife.

Eating a heart-healthy diet and staying active are two ways to promote heart health at all stages of life. "Lifestyle and behavioral interventions are critical to maintaining cardiovascular health and reducing heart disease," Matthew A. Allison, M.D., MPH, FAHA, said in a news release. "However, we do not have adequate randomized clinical trials testing these interventions specifically during the menopause transition." 

Since the association between CVD and menopause is so strong, the researchers suggest hormone replacement therapies (HRT) as a potentially beneficial tool. These may help maintain and manage the production of estrogen, even when the ovaries are removed or no longer naturally producing these sex hormones. That said, not all medical experts agree on this type of therapy, and further research proving the benefits of HRT and other interventions is necessary.