Connections found between menopause and heart health

Connections found between menopause and heart health

It's a time in life every woman goes through - menopause. With it comes the well-known changes, such as increases in LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as changes in body composition. Internal organs are also modified, and that can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women, so the importance of cardiovascular risk prevention can't be overstated, says Heidi Werner, MD, a family doctor from Emplify Health by Gundersenand a Menopause Society certified provider. And those preventative steps are even more important as women reach menopause, which happens around the age of 51.

"Menopause is a single day in a woman's life," Werner says. "It is the one single day when you are one year after your final menstrual period. For some women, it's hard to know when that day is because they're on different things like birth control or have had a hysterectomy."

She adds that early menopause is considered anything between ages 40 and 4, and premature menopause is anything under the age of 40. That's important because the risk of cardiovascular disease is higher for women who fall into these two categories.

No matter where you are on this journey, Werner suggests getting an annual wellness exam is a great place to start when it comes to tracking your cardiovascular health, as well has having your cholesterol and glucose checked on a regular basis.

"Those are fundamental for assessing cardiovascular risk," Werner says. "But I also want to make sure that we're prioritizing lifestyle, which is really fundamental when it comes to cardiovascular disease risk reduction."

That means eating a balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean protein. Getting physical activity is also paramount - including strength training, which is important for bone density, which tends to decrease during menopause.

"The most important thing we can do is always lifestyle. I'm a firm believer that regardless of if we're using medications, whether it's blood pressure control or menopause therapy, we must do the lifestyle first. That's the foundation," Werner says.

Werner adds, however, that the Food and Drug Administration, as well as numerous menopause societies, have found that menopause therapy is nota primary way to prevent cardiovascular disease, though it may provide some protection in certain patients.

"It's very important to get the correct knowledge and expertise to make sure you're an appropriate candidate for that therapy," Werner says.

To learn more about your risk of cardiovascular disease during menopause talk to your primary care provider or gynecologist.