“Cardiovascular disease (CVD), also called heart
and circulatory disease, is an umbrella name for
conditions that affect your heart or circulation”.1

Umbrella
What may the Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Cardiovascular Conditions
  • Cardiovascular Disease/s (CVD/CVDs)
  • Cardiovascular Disorders
  • Diseases/Disorders of the Heart and Blood Vessels
  • Diseases/Disorders of the Heart and Circulatory System
  • Heart Disease/s
  • Heart and Circulatory Disease
  • Stroke

Cardiovascular Disease

What is cardiovascular disease (CVD)?

DotS the definition of CVD may vary. In Cardiovascular Heart Disease the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) definition is:

“Cardiovascular disease (CVD), also called heart and circulatory disease, is an umbrella name for conditions that affect your heart or circulation. These include high blood pressure, stroke and vascular dementia”.2

Cardiovascular Diseases

What are cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)?

DotS the definition of CVDs may vary. In Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs): What Are Cardiovascular Diseases? the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition is:

“Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels and they include:

  • Coronary heart disease – a disease of the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle
  • Cerebrovascular disease – a disease of the blood vessels supplying the brain
  • Peripheral arterial disease – a disease of blood vessels supplying the arms and legs
  • Rheumatic heart disease – damage to the heart muscle and heart valves from rheumatic fever, caused by streptococcal bacteria
  • Congenital heart disease – birth defects that affect the normal development and functioning of the heart caused by malformations of the heart structure from birth; and
  • Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism – blood clots in the leg veins, which can dislodge and move to the heart and lungs”.3

Before Menopause

Cardiovascular DiseaseCardiovascular DiseaseBefore menopause do women have a lower risk of CVD than men?

In What Is Menopause? The Menopause Transition: Postmenopause – Heart Health the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) note:

“Before menopause, women have a lower risk of heart disease than men. However, as women age and their oestrogen levels fall, their risk of cardiovascular disease increases”.4

After Menopause

After menopause can women have an increased risk of CVD?

The North American Menopause Society explain:

“Although many women think of heart disease as a man’s disease, the number one killer of women in North America is cardiovascular disease, that is, diseases of the heart and circulatory system. After age 55, more than half of all the deaths in women are caused by cardiovascular disease. Risk for this disease increases after menopause. Be sure to talk to your healthcare team about what your risks are and how you can reduce them”.5

Risk Factors

What are risk factors for CVD?

In Cardiovascular Heart Disease: What Increases My Risk of Cardiovascular Heart Disease? the BHF elaborate on:

“A risk factor is something that increases the chance of getting a condition. The more you have, the higher your chance of CVD. Even if you can’t change all your risk factors, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk.

There are several risk factors for CVD, including:

  • Smoking
  • Stress
  • Alcohol
  • High blood pressure
  • High blood cholesterol
  • Being physically inactive
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Diabetes
  • Family history of heart disease
  • Ethnic Background
  • Sex – men are more likely to get CVD earlier than women
  • Age – the older you are, the more likely you are to get CVD”.6

Prevention

Is CVD preventable?

In 8 Things You Can Do To Prevent Heart Disease and Stroke the American Heart Association explain and elaborate on:

  1. “Know your risk…
  2. Eat a healthy diet…
  3. Be physically active…
  4. Watch your weight…
  5. Live tobacco-free…
  6. Manage conditions…
  7. Take your medicine…
  8. Be a team player…”.7

In Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Does Menopause Increase A Woman’s Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke? the (United States) Go Red for Women elaborate on:

“Cardiovascular risk factors that every woman should know about include:

  • Age at the time of menopause…
  • The cause and timing of menopause…
  • Estrogen…
  • Hot flashes and night sweats…
  • Depression and sleep problems…
  • Increased visceral fat…
  • Cholesterol levels and metabolic syndrome risk…”.8

WISEWOMAN Program

What is the WISEWOMAN program?

Your Country may have a program similar to the (United States) WISEWOMAN Program. In WISEWOMAN Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): What Is the WISEWOMAN Program? the (United States) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) elaborate on:

“The WISEWOMAN (Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for WOMen Across the Nation) program helps women understand and reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke and provides services to help promote lasting heart-healthy lifestyles”.9

What services does the WISEWOMAN program fund?

The CDC explain:

“The WISEWOMAN program funds heart disease and stroke risk factor screenings that include blood pressure, diabetes, body mass index (BMI), and cholesterol screenings. Services are provided in local health departments, doctors’ offices, and community health centers”.10

Know Your Numbers

What numbers do women (and men) need to know?

In Know Your Numbers They Could Just Save Your Life Go Red for Women elaborate on:

“Talk to your healthcare provider today to learn about your Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, Blood Sugar and BMI (Body Mass Index). Your heart depends on it”.11

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have CVD or I have a family history of CVD?

If you think you have CVD or you have a family history of CVD, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this

On page seven in Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Go Red for Women elaborate on:

“Talk to your health care team about your risk factors and how to prevent cardiovascular disease before, during and after menopause”.12

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Cardiovascular Disease?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Links

Where may I find Links related to Cardiovascular Disease?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

 Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Cardiovascular Heart Disease. Page Last Reviewed: October 2019. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/cardiovascular-heart-disease Accessed: 04 October 2023
  2. Cardiovascular Heart Disease. Page Last Reviewed: October 2019. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/cardiovascular-heart-disease Accessed: 04 October 2023
  3. Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs): What Are Cardiovascular Diseases? 11 June 21. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds) Accessed: 04 October 2023
  4. What Is Menopause? Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause: Postmenopause – Heart Health. Last Updated: 04 September 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause Accessed: 04 October 2023
  5. Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause – Q. Do I have to start worrying about heart disease? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-your-health-after-menopause Accessed: 04 October 2023
  6. Cardiovascular Heart Disease: What Increases My Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases? Page Last Reviewed: October 2019. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/cardiovascular-heart-disease Accessed: 04 October 2023
  7. 8 Things You Can Do To Prevent Heart Disease and Stroke. Last Reviewed: 14 March 2019. American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/prevent-heart-disease-and-stroke Accessed: 04 October 2023
  8. Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Does Menopause Increase A Woman’s Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke? Last Reviewed: 27 July 2021. Go Red for Women https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/know-your-risk/menopause/menopause-and-cardiovascular-risk Accessed: 04 October 2023
  9. WISEWOMAN Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): What Is the WISEWOMAN Program? Page Last Reviewed: 09 December 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/wisewoman/faqs.htm Accessed: 04 October 2023
  10. WISEWOMAN Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): What Services Does the WISEWOMAN Program Fund? Page Last Reviewed: 09 December 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/wisewoman/faqs.htm Accessed: 04 October 2023
  11. Know Your Numbers They Could Just Save Your Life. Go Red for Women https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/know-your-risk/know-your-numbers Accessed: 04 October 2023
  12. Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease Risk. Last Reviewed: 27 July 2021. Go Red for Women https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/know-your-risk/menopause/menopause-and-cardiovascular-risk Accessed: 04 October 2023
Topic Last Updated: 15 January 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 04 October 2023

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