“For women, age becomes a risk factor at 55. After menopause, women are more apt to get heart disease, in part because their body’s production of estrogen drops”.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), which affects the blood flow to the heart. Decreased blood flow can cause a heart attack”.2
Before Menopause
Is there an association between before menopause and heart disease?
In Risk Factors: Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Other Common Non-Modifiable Risk Factors Include – Gender the World Heart Federation elaborate on:
“Gender: Your gender is significant: as a man you are at greater risk of heart disease than a pre-menopausal woman. But once past the menopause, a woman’s risk is similar to a man’s”.3
In Health After Menopause: Cardiovascular Disease the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) explain:
“Before menopause, women have a lower risk of heart disease than men, but as women age and their oestrogen levels fall after menopause, their risk of cardiovascular disease increases”.4
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”.5
Postmenopause
Is there an association between postmenopause and heart disease?
In Listen To Your Heart: Learn About Heart Disease – Specific Risk Factors Affecting Women the (United States) National Institute of Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) elaborate on:
“For women, age becomes a risk factor at 55. After menopause, women are more apt to get heart disease, in part because their body’s production of estrogen drops”.6
In Menopause and Heart Disease: Estrogen Levels May Play A Role the American Heart Association (AHA) explain:
“A decline in the natural hormone estrogen may be a factor in heart disease increase among post-menopausal women. Estrogen is believed to have a positive effect on the inner layer of artery wall, helping to keep blood vessels flexible. That means they can relax and expand to accommodate blood flow”.7
Postmenopause, what other changes may contribute to an increased risk for heart disease?
In Menopause and Heart Disease: Estrogen Levels May Play A Role the AHA also explain:
“Assorted changes in the body occur with menopause. Blood pressure starts to go up. LDL cholesterol, or “bad” cholesterol, tends to increase while HDL, or “good” cholesterol declines or remains the same. Triglycerides, certain types of fats in the blood, also increase”.8
The JH also note:
“Blood pressure can increase after menopuase, as can total cholesterol and LDL, or ‘bad cholesterol’. There can also be a decrease in HDL, or ‘good cholesterol’. Other blood fats such as triglycerides can also increase”.9
Early Menopause
Is there an association between early menopause and heart disease?
Yes. According to the NHLBI:
“Women who go through early menopause, either naturally or because they had a hysterectomy, are twice as likely to develop heart disease as women of the same age who have not yet gone through menopause. Another reason for the increasing risk is that middle age is a time when women tend to develop risk factors for heart disease”.10
Hormone Therapy Risk
Can choosing to use HT or HRT increase the risk of heart disease?
In Menopause and Heart Disease: Does Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Affect Your Risk of Heart and Circulatory Disease? the BHF also note:
Taking HRT in tablet form can increase the risk of a blood clot, which such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the lower leg or pulmonary embolus in the lung. But this risk can be reduced by having HRT through the skin, as a patch or gel. You should discuss your individual needs with your GP.
Recent evidence shows that menopausal women taking HRT have no higher risk of dying from a heart attack than women who don’t take HRT”.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:
- Speak Up…
- Keep Tabs on Treatment…
- Be Open…
- Keep It Simple…”.12
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics related to Heart Disease and Menopause?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
Health Topics A-Z
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Cardiovascular Disease and Go Red for Women
- Cardiovascular Disease and the WISEWOMAN Program
- Heart Disease
- Heart Disease and Women
- Heart Disease and Women’s Risk Factors
- Hormone Therapy and Heart Disease
- Know Your Numbers
- Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease
- Metabolic Syndrome
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.- 9 Myths and Misunderstandings About Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT): 4. Misunderstanding – MHT Increases the Risk of Heart Disease
- About Heart Disease In Women
- Alcohol
- American Heart Month 2020: High Blood Pressure Control—We’ve Got This!
- Answers By Heart Fact Sheets: Lifestyle and Risk Reduction
- Bioidentical Hormones Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Cardiosmart.org
- Causes and Prevention of Heart Disease
- Common Myths About Heart Disease
- Complementary and Alternative Therapies Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Coronary Heart Disease
- Coronary Heart Disease
- Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Coronary Heart Disease: Women and Heart Disease
- Diabetes and Heart Disease
- Diabetes and Your Heart
- Don’t Get Tricked By These 3 Heart-Health Myths
- Don’t Let A Little Habit Turn Into A Big Problem
- Drinking Red Wine for Heart Health? Read This Before You Toast
- Early Menopause: Women’s Experiences – Resources and Information: Quick Links – 1. Question Prompt List
- Early Menopause: Women’s Experiences – Women’s Profiles
- Empoweredtoserve.org [EmPOWERED To Serve]
- Facts About Heart Disease In Women
- Family History
- Family History and Other Characteristics That Increase Risk for Heart Disease
- Fasting Diet: Can It Improve My Heart Health?
- Fitness
- For Women: The FDA Gives Tips To Prevent Heart Disease [Food and Drug Administration, United States]
- Goredforwomen.org [Go Red for Women, United States]
- Healthy Body: Top 10 Healthy Heart Tips
- Healthy Eating
- Healthy Lifestyle
- Healthy Living
- Heart Attack Symptoms: Know What’s A Medical Emergency
- Heart Disease In African-American Women
- Heart Disease In Hispanic Women
- Heart Disease In Women: Understand Symptoms and Risk Factors
- Heart Disease: It’s Not Just for Men – Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- Heart Doctor Explains Cholesterol Levels
- Heart Health Information In Your Language: Healthy Eating Information
- Heart Health Information In Your Language: Healthy Heart Habits
- Heart Health Information In Your Language: Smoking and Your Heart Health
- Heart Health Information In Your Language: Women and Heart Disease
- Heart Health for Women
- Heart Health for Women [+ Video: Getting A Beat on What Women Know About Heart Health]
- Heart Health for Women [Multiply Languages]
- Heart Health: Conversation Starters
- Heart-Healthy Living
- Heart-To-Heart: Talking To Your Doctor
- Herbal Supplements and Heart Medicines May Not Mix
- Home Remedies: Lifestyle Changes Can Help Your Heart Health
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- How To Make Healthy Food and Healthy Lifestyle Choices Now
- How To Prevent Heart Disease After Menopause
- Infographic: Exercise Is Medicine
- Infographic: Women and Heart Disease
- Know Your Numbers? They Could Just Save Your Life
- Know Your Risk
- Listen To Your Heart: Learn About Heart Disease – What Are Your Risk Factors for Heart Disease?
- Lower Your Risk for the Number 1 Killer of Women
- Mayo Clinic Minute: 3 Things Women Should Know About Heart Disease [+ Video]
- Mayo Clinic Minute: Myth-Busting Heart Health [+ Video]
- Mayo Clinic Minute: Sleep and Your Heart [+ Video]
- Mayo Clinic Minute: What Is Heart Disease? [+ Video]
- Mayo Clinic Minute: Women, Estrogen and Heart Disease [+ Video]
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: Coronary Artery Disease — Prevention and Early Warning Signs
- Mayo Clinic Q&A Podcast: An Alert for Women About Heart Disease
- Mayo Mindfulness: Tackle Stress, Anxiety and Depression To Benefit Your Heart
- Menopause and Heart Disease
- Menopause and Heart Disease
- Menopause and Heart Disease: Does HRT Affect Your Risk of Heart and Circulatory Disease?
- Menopause: Non-HRT and Lifestyle Options [Video Interview Stories]
- My Family Health Portrait
- My Life Check | Life’s Simple 7
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Cardiovascular Disease: What You Need To Know
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Chelation for Coronary Heart Disease
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
- Quit Tobacco Today [+ Video: Meet Florence – She Can Help You Quit Tobacco!]
- Real Women
- Recipes [American Heart Association]
- Recipes [Heart Foundation, Australia]
- Report on Latest Menopause Science Looks At Heart Risks
- Smokefreewomen [United States]
- The Heart Truth
- Tuesday Tips: 8 Myths About Heart Disease You Need To Know [+ Video]
- Video Series-2020 – How To Talk To Your Primary Care Clinician About Your Overall Health
- Video Series-2020 – What Women Need To Know About Heart Disease
- Vitamin D Is Good for the Bones, But What About the Heart?
- WISEWOMAN
- What Is A Healthy Body Weight?
- What Is Meant By the Term Heart Age?
- What It Means To Go Red for Women [+ Video]
- What the Heart Has To Do With the Head
- Women With A Heart Condition
- Women and Heart Disease Prevention
- Womenheart.org [Women Heart: The National Coalition for Women With Heart Disease]
- Women’s Wellness: 6 Things Every Woman Should Know About Heart Disease [+ Video]
- Women’s Wellness: How Jobs Affect Women’s Heart Health [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
- Women’s Wellness: Understand Heart Disease Symptoms and Risk Factors Unique To Women
- World Heart Day 29 September
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- Listen To Your Heart: Learn About Heart Disease – What Are Your Risk Factors for Heart Disease? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/education-and-awareness/heart-truth/listen-to-your-heart Accessed: 21 December 2020
- Heart Disease: About Heart Disease. Page Last Reviewed: 08 September 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/about.htm Accessed: 21 December 2020
- Risk Factors: Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Other Common Non-Modifiable Risk Factors Include – Gender. 30 May 2017. World Heart Federation https://www.world-heart-federation.org/resources/risk-factors/ Accessed: 21 December 2020
- Health After Menopause: Cardiovascular Disease. Last Updated: 22 October 2020 | Last Reviewed: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/health-after-menopause/ Accessed: 21 December 2020
- Menopause and Heart Disease. 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: 21 December 2020
- Listen To Your Heart: Learn About Heart Disease – What Are Your Risk Factors for Heart Disease? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/education-and-awareness/heart-truth/listen-to-your-heart Accessed: 21 December 2020
- Menopause and Heart Disease: Estrogen Levels May Play A Role. Last Reviewed: 31 July 2015. American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease/menopause-and-heart-disease Accessed: 21 December 2020
- Menopause and Heart Disease: Estrogen Levels May Play A Role. Last Reviewed: 31 July 2015. American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease/menopause-and-heart-disease Accessed: 21 December 2020
- Health After Menopause: Cardiovascular Disease. Last Updated: 22 October 2020 | Last Reviewed: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/health-after-menopause/ Accessed: 21 December 2020
- Listen To Your Heart: Learn About Heart Disease – What Are Your Risk Factors for Heart Disease? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/education-and-awareness/heart-truth/listen-to-your-heart Accessed: 21 December 2020
- Menopause and Heart Disease: Does HRT Affect Your Risk of Heart and Circulatory Disease? 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: 21 December 2020
- 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: 21 December 2020