Heart Disease and Menopause

“Heart disease increases with age, including during and after menopause. In middle age women tend to develop more risk factors for heart disease, in part due to…”.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?Heart Disease and MenopauseHeart Disease and Menopause

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”.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 Listen To Your Heart: Women and Heart Disease – Menopause and Heart Disease the (United States) National Institute of Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) elaborate on:

“Heart disease increases with age, including during and after menopause. In middle age women tend to develop more risk factors for heart disease, in part due to increasing body weight and in part because their body’s production of estrogen drops”.5

Postmenopause

Is there an association between postmenopause and heart disease?

The JH explain:

“Blood pressure can increase after menopause, 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”.6

Early Menopause

Is there an association between early menopause and heart disease?

Yes. According to the NHLBI:

Heart Disease and Menopause“Women who go through early menopause, especially if they had a hysterectomy, are more likely to develop heart disease as women of the same age who have not yet gone through menopause”.7

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:

“HRT can be very effective for relieving some symptoms of the menopause. But some women avoid taking it because they worry that it may increase their risk of certain health conditions such as blood clots.

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”.8

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…”.9

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

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.

  1. 4 Tips To Keep Your Heart Healthy While Working From Home
  2. 9 Myths and Misunderstandings About Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT): 4. Misunderstanding – MHT Increases the Risk of Heart Disease
  3. About Heart Disease In Women
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  5. American Heart Month: #OurHearts #Our Hearts
  6. Archives: Videos – Addressing the Endocrine Changes of Menopause Through MHT [Multiply Languages]
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  8. Cardiosmart.org
  9. Causes and Prevention of Heart Disease
  10. Common Myths About Heart Disease
  11. Complementary and Alternative Therapies Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  12. Coronary Heart Disease
  13. Coronary Heart Disease
  14. Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  15. Coronary Heart Disease: Women and Heart Disease
  16. Diabetes
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  19. Drinking Red Wine for Heart Health? Read This Before You Toast
  20. Early Menopause: Women’s Experiences – Resources and Information: Quick Links – 1. Question Prompt List
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  22. Empoweredtoserve.org [EmPOWERED To Serve]
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  29. For Women: The FDA Gives Tips To Prevent Heart Disease [Food and Drug Administration, United States]
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  39. Heart Disease In Women: Understand Symptoms and Risk Factors
  40. Heart Disease: It’s Not Just for Men – Questions To Ask Your Doctor
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  43. Heart Health Information In Your Language: Women and Heart Disease
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  51. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  52. How To Make Healthy Food and Healthy Lifestyle Choices Now
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  56. Know Your Numbers They Could Just Save Your Life
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  60. Mayo Clinic Minute: 3 Things Women Should Know About Heart Disease [+ Video]
  61. Mayo Clinic Minute: Sleep and Your Heart [+ Video]
  62. Mayo Clinic Minute: What Is Heart Disease? [+ Video Courtesy Mayo Clinic News Network]
  63. Mayo Clinic Minute: Women, Estrogen and Heart Disease [+ Video]
  64. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Coronary Artery Disease — Prevention and Early Warning Signs
  65. Mayo Clinic Q and A: How To Add Variety To Your Cardiovascular Routine
  66. Mayo Clinic Q&A Podcast: An Alert for Women About Heart Disease
  67. Mayo Clinic Q&A Podcast: Heart Rhythm Problems Need Attention [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
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  74. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Cardiovascular Disease
  75. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Chelation for Coronary Heart Disease: What You Need To Know
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  77. Quit Tobacco Today [+ Video: Meet Florence – She Can Help You Quit Tobacco!]
  78. Real Women
  79. Recipes [American Heart Association]
  80. Recipes [Heart Foundation, Australia]
  81. Report on Latest Menopause Science Looks At Heart Risks
  82. Smokefreewomen [United States]
  83. The Heart Truth
  84. US Taskforce Advises Against Low Dose Aspirin for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
  85. Video Series-2021 – How Clinicians Determine Which Women May Benefit From Statin Therapy
  86. Video Series-2020: What Women Need to Know About Heart Disease
  87. Video Series-2021: What Women Need to Know About Hormone Therapies
  88. Video Series-2021 – What You Need to Know About the #1 Cause of Death in Women
  89. Vitamin D Is Good for the Bones, But What About the Heart?
  90. Webinars: Previous – What To Offer for Vasomotor Symptoms When MHT Is Contraindicated
  91. WISEWOMAN
  92. What Is Meant By the Term Heart Age?
  93. What It Means To Go Red for Women [+ Video]
  94. What the Heart Has To Do With the Head
  95. Women With A Heart Condition
  96. Womenheart.org [Women Heart: The National Coalition for Women With Heart Disease]
  97. Women’s Wellness: 6 Things Every Woman Should Know About Heart Disease [+ Video]
  98. Women’s Wellness: How Jobs Affect Women’s Heart Health [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  99. Women’s Wellness: Understand Heart Disease Symptoms and Risk Factors Unique To Women
  100. World Heart Day 29 September Heart Disease and Menopause

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Listen To Your Heart: Women and Heart Disease – Menopause and 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: 14 September 2021
  2. Heart Disease: About Heart Disease. Page Last Reviewed: 13 January 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/about.htm Accessed: 14 September 2021
  3. Health After Menopause: Cardiovascular Disease. Last Updated: 25 March 2021 | Last Reviewed: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/health-after-menopause/ Accessed: 14 September 2021
  4. 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: 14 September 2021
  5. Listen To Your Heart: Women and Heart Disease – Menopause and 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: 14 September 2021
  6. Health After Menopause: Cardiovascular Disease. Last Updated: 25 March 2021 | Last Reviewed: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/health-after-menopause/ Accessed: 14 September 2021
  7. Listen To Your Heart: Women and Heart Disease – Menopause and 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: 14 September 2021
  8. 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: 14 September 2021
  9. 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: 14 September 2021

Topic Last Updated: 16 October 2021 – Topic Last Reviewed: 14 September 2021
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