How Does Menopause Impact a Woman's Heart Health

As many women suffer and die of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as men but may get less attention in general (not at the Kahn Center for Cardiac Longevity. The American Heart Association (AHA) is celebrating its 100th anniversary of education the public and is emphasizing women's heart health amongst other topics. A recent statement from the AHA is worth sharing for consideration. 

POINTS TO CONSIDER

A number of studies presented at the American Heart Association’s scientific meetings or published in the Association’s medical journals note the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and other health complications during various stages of menopause:

• After menopause an estimated 1 in 4 women may develop irregular heart rhythms – known as atrial fibrillation – in their lifetime, with stressful life events and insomnia being major contributing factors, according to one study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA).
• Another JAHA study found that obesity significantly increased heart failure risk among women who experienced late menopause – at age 55 or older,
• A study presented at the Association’s 2022 Epidemiology, Prevention, Lifestyle & Cardiometabolic Health Conference (EPI), found that women who naturally entered  menopause by the age of 40 had a 40% increased risk of developing coronary heart disease over their lifetime, compared to women who did not go through early menopause.
• A separate study presented at the 2021 EPI meeting found that women who experience very early menopause were 35% more likely to develop some type of dementia later in life, compared with women who enter menopause around age 50.
• Another 2021 EPI meeting study found that social isolation and loneliness may increase cardiovascular disease risk by 29% in post-menopausal women.

During the menopausal transition women experience many changes in their bodies, including some that can impact their cardiovascular health:

• Decline in estrogen levels
• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Depression
• Sleep problems
• Increased body fat around the organs
• Increased cholesterol levels
• Stiffening or weakening of the blood vessels

As 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. 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.

CONSIDERATIONS

At the Kahn Center, women get as thorough an evaluation for cardiovascular risk and disease as men do get. A wide panel of labwork, carotid intimal medial thickness (CIMT) ultrasound imaging, and CT based coronary artery imaging are routinely selected. Often, echocardiography is selected. The same goals for optimal lab values and lifestyle benchmarks are stresses and taught. The earlier in life that women at risk for CVD are identifed, the more years there are too make an impact. 

The future is bright for the prevention of CVD in women. Get tested thoroughly, early in life, and in follow up. At the Kahn Center we do discuss hormone replacement therapy with women who are approaching or in menopause and identify expert clinicians they can work with if they choose to proceed. We have also had good results from a line of natural products containing maca.