Heart Disease and Menopause

“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…”.1

Umbrella

What may the Heart Disease and Menopause Umbrella include?

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

  • After Menopause
  • Before Menopause
  • Cardiovascular Disease (CVD
  • Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
  • Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
  • Heart Conditions
  • Heart Disease/s
  • Perimenopause
  • Postmenopause

Heart Disease

What is heart disease?

DotS the definition of heart disease may vary. The (United States) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s definition is:

“The term “heart disease” refers to several types of heart conditions. The most common type of heart disease in the United States is coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD affects the blood flow to the heart. Decreased blood flow can cause a heart attack”.2

Before Menopause

Heart Disease and MenopauseHeart Disease and MenopauseIs there an association between before menopause and heart disease?

In What Is Menopause: Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause – Postmenopause: Heart Health the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) explain:

“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. Heart disease is one of the leading cause of death for Australian women. Heart disease also claims three times as many lives as breast cancer”.3

In Menopause and Heart Disease the British Heart Foundation (BHF) note:

“Before the menopause, women in general have a lower risk of being affected by coronary heart disease. But after the menopause, your risk increases”.4

In Coronary Heart Disease: Women and Heart Disease – Why Does Coronary Heart Disease Affect Women Differently? the (United States) National Institute of Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) elaborate on:

  • “Hormone changes may affect a woman’s risk for coronary heart disease. Before menopause, the hormone estrogen provides women with some protection against heart disease. This may be because estrogen keeps the arteries flexible or because estrogen may have beneficial effects on blood lipids. As women age, though, their risk for coronary heart disease increases, and menopausal hormone therapy may further increase that risk”.5

Postmenopause

Is there an association between postmenopause and heart disease?

The JH explain:

“After menopause, risk factors for heart disease increase. These include:

  • High blood pressure
  • An increase in total cholesterol
  • An increase in LDL (‘bad’ cholesterol)
  • A decrease in HDL (‘good’ cholesterol)
  • An increase in blood fats, such as triglycerides”.6

Early Menopause

Is there an association between early menopause and heart disease?

Yes. According to the NHLBI:

Heart Disease and Menopause“Women who experience early menopause, especially after a hysterectomy, are more likely to develop heart disease than women of the same age who have not yet experienced menopause”.7

Hormone Replacement Therapy Risk

Can hormone replacement therapy (HRT) reduce the risk of developing coronary heart disease?

In Menopause and Your Heart: HRT: Benefit or Risk To Your Heart? the BHF note:

“There’s also evidence that HRT can reduce your risk of developing coronary heart disease, or of having a heart attack and stroke. This is because it replaces hormones in your body, which can help to protect your heart. Evidence shows that HRT should be started within 10 years of starting the menopause and before the age of 60. The earlier HRT is started, the more effective it is at protecting your heart and reducing your risk of coronary heart disease”.8

Cholesterol Levels

Is there an association between some types of HRT and cholesterol levels?

In Menopause and Your Heart: HRT: Benefit or Risk To Your Heart? the BHF also note:

“It’s thought that HRT can have a positive effect on your cholesterol levels, however some types of HRT can increase your cholesterol levels. Talk to your doctor if you have high cholesterol”.9

Blood Clots and Stroke

Is there an association between HRT, blood clots and a stroke?

In Menopause and Your Heart: HRT: Benefit or Risk To Your Heart? the BHF explain:

“HRT tablets can slightly increase your risk of blood clots and a stroke, but the risk is low for women under 60. Most women are prescribed HRT through the skin (such as HRT patches). If you’re worried about this, speak to your doctor about having HRT as a patch or gel instead”.10

Heart Disease Prevention

What are the most effective ways to prevent heart disease?

In The Connection Between Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease Risks, published 20 February 2023, the author elaborates on:

“Research suggests the most effective ways to prevent heart disease include not smoking, being physically active, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, getting enough sleep, and keeping cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose levels under control”.11

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have heart disease or I have a family history of heart disease?

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

In Heart Disease: It’s Not Just for Men – You and Your Doctor: A Heart Healthy Partnership the NHLBI also remind us:

“A crucial step in determining your risk is to see your doctor for a thorough checkup. Your doctor can be an important partner in helping you set and reach goals for heart health. But don’t wait for your doctor to mention heart disease or its risk factors. Many doctors don’t routinely bring up the subject with women patients. Here are some tips for establishing good, clear communication between you and your doctor:

  • Speak Up…
  • Keep Tabs on Treatment…
  • Be Open…
  • Keep It Simple…”.12

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Heart Disease and Menopause?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Heart Disease and Menopause?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. About Heart Disease In Women
  2. Alcohol
  3. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  4. BMS TV: Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
  5. Be A Force for Change. Know the Signs. Get Your Heart Checked. [Video]
  6. Cardiosmart.org
  7. Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Heart Attack Warning Signs In Women
  8. Causes and Prevention of Heart Disease
  9. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Menopause and Heart Disease
  10. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  11. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  12. Consumer Video and Podcast Series 2023: Premature and Early Menopause
  13. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit [13 January 2024]
  14. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
  15. Coronary Heart Disease
  16. Coronary Heart Disease: What Is Coronary Heart Disease?
  17. Coronary Heart Disease: Women and Heart Disease
  18. Diabetes and Heart Disease
  19. Diabetes: Your Heart and Diabetes
  20. Early Menopause: Women’s Experiences – Resources and Information: Quick Links – 1. Question Prompt List
  21. Empoweredtoserve.org [EmPOWERED To Serve]
  22. FAQs: Heart Health for Women
  23. Facts About Women and Heart Disease
  24. Family History
  25. Fitness
  26. Getting Serious About Heart Health: Risk Factors for Cholesterol
  27. Goredforwomen.org [Go Red for Women, United States]
  28. Guidance on Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  29. Healthy Diet
  30. Healthy Eating
  31. Healthy Lifestyle
  32. Healthy Living
  33. Heart Disease
  34. Heart Disease In Black Women
  35. Heart Disease In Hispanic Women
  36. Heart Disease In Women: Understand Symptoms and Risk Factors
  37. Heart Disease and Stroke In Women
  38. Heart Disease, Family Health History, and Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Family Health History and Heart Disease
  39. Heart Disease: About Women and Heart Disease
  40. Heart Disease: It’s Not Just for Men – Questions To Ask Your Doctor
  41. Heart Health After Menopause
  42. Heart Health Information In Your Language: Healthy Heart Habits
  43. Heart Health Information In Your Language: Women and Heart Disease
  44. Heart Health for Women [+ Video]
  45. Heart Palpitations
  46. Heart-Healthy Living
  47. Heart-To-Heart: Talking To Your Health Care Professional
  48. Herheart.org [Her Heart]
  49. How Estrogen Supports Heart Health
  50. Know Your Numbers They Could Just Save Your Life
  51. Know Your Risk
  52. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – After the Menopause
  53. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Early and Premature Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Only Happens In Your 50s]
  54. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause [+ Video: Menopause]
  55. Life’s Essential 8
  56. Mayo Clinic Minute: Are You Getting Enough Sleep for Your Best Heart Health? [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  57. Mayo Clinic Minute: Menopause and the Heart Connection [+ Video]
  58. Mayo Clinic Minute: Signs of Coronary Artery Disease, How To Reduce Your Risk [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  59. Mayo Clinic Minute: What Is Heart Disease? [+ Video]
  60. Mayo Clinic Q&A Podcast: Heart Rhythm Problems Need Attention [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  61. Menopausal Hormone Therapy, Heart Disease and Stroke
  62. Menopause
  63. Menopause Can Bring Increased Cholesterol Levels and Other Heart Risks. Here’s Why and What To Do About It
  64. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  65. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause
  66. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Common Conditions Associated With Menopause and Midlife
  67. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause
  68. Menopause and Cardiovascular Risk
  69. Menopause and Heart Disease
  70. Menopause and Heart Health
    Heart Disease and Menopause
  71. Menopause and Heart Health – 4 Tips for A Healthy Heart While Your Body Is Changing
  72. Menopause and Your Heart
  73. Menopause and Your Heart: HRT: Benefit or Risk To Your Heart?
  74. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  75. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Cardiovascular Disease
  76. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Chelation for Coronary Heart Disease: What You Need To Know
  77. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  78. Rethinking Menopausal Hormone Therapy: For Whom, What, When, and How Long?
  79. Q&A: Health Changes During Menopause Associated With Increased Cardiovascular Risk
  80. Smokefreewomen [United States]
  81. Taking It To Heart: Addressing Cardiovascular Disease In Women [Video]
  82. The Connection Between Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease Risks
  83. The Heart Truth
  84. The Women’s Health Initiative Randomized Trials and Clinical Practice
  85. The Women’s Health Initiative Trials: Clinical Messages
  86. Tips To Keep Stress From Hurting Your Heart
  87. Tips for Women To Prevent Heart Disease
  88. Video: Leslie Cho, MD, Discusses CV Risks, Benefits of Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  89. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Cardiovascular Disease In Women
  90. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies [18 October 2024]
  91. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Heart Disease, Risk Factors of Developing Heart Disease, and Can I Take Hormones?
  92. Webinars: Previous – Hormones and Stroke: An Update on Treatment and Risk
  93. What Is Meant By the Term Heart Age?
  94. What Is Menopause? [+ Video]
  95. Womenheart.org [WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women With Heart Disease, United States]
  96. World Heart Day [29 September]
  97. World Menopause Day 2023
    World Menopause Day 2023
  98. World Menopause Day 2023: Patient Information Leaflet – Cardiovascular Disease: What Women Need To Know [Multiply Languages]
  99. World Menopause Day 2023 World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women [Multiply Languages]
  100. World Menopause Day 2024: Poster for Women

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. What Is Menopause? Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause – Postmenopause: Heart Health. Last Updated: 31 October 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause Accessed: 16 November 2024
  2. Heart Disease: About Heart Disease. 15 May 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/ Accessed: 16 November 2024
  3. What Is Menopause? Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause – Postmenopause: Heart Health. Last Updated: 31 October 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause Accessed: 16 November 2024
  4. Menopause and Heart Disease. Page Last Reviewed: October 2023. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/living-with-a-heart-condition/women-with-a-heart-condition/menopause-and-heart-disease Accessed: 16 November 2024
  5. Coronary Heart Disease: Women and Heart Disease – Why Does Coronary Heart Disease Affect Women Differently? Last Updated: 20 December 2023. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/coronary-heart-disease/women#Why-does-coronary-heart-disease-affect-women-differently? Accessed: 16 November 2024
  6. What Is Menopause? The Menopause Transition – Postmenopause: Heart Health. Last Updated: 31 October 2024 | Last Reviewed: 31 October 2024. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause Accessed: 16 November 2024
  7. Coronary Heart Disease: Women and Heart Disease – Why Does Coronary Heart Disease Affect Women Differently? Last Updated: 20 December 2023. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/coronary-heart-disease/women#Why-does-coronary-heart-disease-affect-women-differently? Accessed: 16 November 2024
  8. Menopause and Your Heart: HRT: Benefit or Risk To Your Heart? Page Last Reviewed: October 2023. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/support/women-with-a-heart-condition/menopause-and-heart-disease Accessed: 16 November 2024
  9. Menopause and Your Heart: HRT: Benefit or Risk To Your Heart? Page Last Reviewed: October 2023. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/support/women-with-a-heart-condition/menopause-and-heart-disease Accessed: 16 November 2024
  10. Menopause and Your Heart: HRT: Benefit or Risk To Your Heart? Page Last Reviewed: October 2023. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/support/women-with-a-heart-condition/menopause-and-heart-disease Accessed: 16 November 2024
  11. Williamson, L. The Connection Between Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease Risks. 21 February 2023 https://www.heart.org/en/news/2023/02/20/the-connection-between-menopause-and-cardiovascular-disease-risks Accessed: 16 November 2024
  12. Heart Disease: It’s Not Just for Men – You and Your Doctor: A Heart Healthy Partnership. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/education-and-awareness/heart-truth/heart-disease-not-just-men Accessed: 16 November 2024
Topic Last Updated: 21 November 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 16 November 2024

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