Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease

“Before menopause, women have a lower risk of heart
disease than men. But, as women age and their oestrogen
levels fall, their risk of heart disease increases…”.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 Disease the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) definition is:

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

Menopause and Cardiovascular DiseaseMenopause and Cardiovascular DiseaseAfter Menopause

After menopause can women have an increased risk of CVD?

In Heart Health: Cardiovascular Disease the (United States) Menopause Society (formerly the North American Menopause Society) explain:

“The risk for CVD in women increases with age such as it does in men, but the increase starts a little later in women. Most CVD in women occurs during the years after menopause. Cholesterol levels have been found to increase in the early years after menopause. Of note, premature menopause is an established risk factor for CVD”.3

Menopause and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

What are menopause and CVD risk factors?

In Menopause and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Does Menopause Increase A Woman’s Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke? the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women elaborate on:

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

  • Age at the time of menopause. Women who reach menopause before age 45 have a significantly higher risk of coronary heart disease…
  • The cause and timing of menopause. Menopause caused by surgical removal of both ovaries at an early age can lead to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease…
  • Estrogen. Levels of estrogen, which helps keep blood vessels relaxed and open, start to decline markedly as menopause approaches…
  • Hot flashes and night sweats. Hot flashes and night sweats are the most common menopause-related symptoms and can last up to 10 years….
  • Depression and sleep problems. In some studies, depression and sleep disturbances were linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
  • Increased visceral fat. This type of fat, in the abdominal cavity near vital organs, is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
  • Cholesterol levels and metabolic syndrome risk. These cardiovascular risk factors appear to increase with menopause beyond the effects of normal aging…”.4

Prevention

How may CVD be prevented?

In Prevention: What Can You Do To Lower Your Risk of Cardiovascular Disease? the World Heart Federation explain and elaborate on:

  1. “Eat a healthy and balanced diet…
  2. Exercise regularly…
  3. Maintain a healthy body weight…
  4. Avoid tobacco use…
  5. Avoid alcohol…
  6. Know your numbers…
  7. Take your medication as prescribed…
  8. Know the warning signs…”.5

Know Your Numbers

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

In Know Your Numbers It Could Just Save Your Life the (United States) Go Red for Women elaborate on:

“It is vital for all women to understand their personal risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Knowing your risk starts with knowing four important health numbers — total cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, and body mass index. Having these numbers in check and at healthy levels can reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke.

Talk to your health care provider today about your numbers, what they mean, and how you can manage them. Your heart and well-being depend on it”.6

WISEWOMAN Program

What is the (United States) WISEWOMAN program?

Your Country may have a program similar to the 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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) WISEWOMAN program is at the forefront of the nation’s efforts to achieve optimal cardiovascular health for persons 35-64 years old. The program focuses on women who are uninsured, underinsured, or have lower incomes”.7 

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

In Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Go Red for Women note:

“Talk to your health care team about your risk factors and how to prevent cardiovascular disease before, during and after menopause”.8

Health Topics A-Z

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

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

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

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. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  2. BMS TV: Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
  3. Be A Force for Change. Know the Signs. Get Your Heart Checked. [Video]
  4. CVS Health Screenings [+ Video]
  5. CAMS Menopause Hour: The Menopause Journey: Navigating Cardiometabolic Risk In Women [Council of Affiliated Menopause Societies]
  6. Cardiovascular Disease Prevention In Women: A Discussion With Erin Donnelly Michos, MD
  7. Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Heart Attack Warning Signs In Women
  8. Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs)
  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 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Premature and Early Menopause
  13. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  14. Doing These 8 Things May Greatly Lower Risk for Heart Disease and Stroke
  15. Factors Impacting Women’s Cardiovascular Health Across the Lifespan
  16. February Is American Heart Month
    Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease
  17. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  18. Find An AMS Member [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  19. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  20. Getting Serious About Heart Health: Risk Factors for Cholesterol
    Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease
  21. Goredforwomen.org [Go Red for Women, United States]
  22. HRT Questions Answered
  23. Heart Disease: Preventing Heart Disease – Choose Healthy Habits
  24. Heart Health
  25. Heart Health for Women
  26. Heart Health for Women
  27. Heart Palpitations
  28. Heart-Health and Cholesterol In Menopause
  29. Herheart.org
  30. Improving Heart Health At Midlife and Beyond Could Lower Future Risk of Stroke, Dementia
  31. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  32. KnowDiabetesbyHeart
  33. Know Your Numbers
  34. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – After the Menopause [Other Languages and Formats]
  35. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Early and Premature Menopause [Other Languages and Formats]
  36. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Myths] [Other Languages and Formats]
  37. Menopause and Cardiovascular DiseaseLet’s Talk About Perimenopause
  38. Life’s Essential 8
  39. Looking After Yourself Around the Time of Menopause
  40. Mayo Clinic Minute: Are You Getting Enough Sleep for Your Best Heart Health? [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  41. Mayo Clinic Minute: Menopause and the Heart Connection [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  42. Mayo Clinic Minute: Signs of Coronary Artery Disease, How To Reduce Your Risk [+ Video]
  43. Mayo Clinic Minute: The Link Between Heart Disease and Stroke [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  44. Mayo Clinic Minute: What Women Need To Know About Stroke [+ Video]
  45. Menopause
  46. Menopause
    Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease
  47. Menopause Can Bring Increased Cholesterol Levels and Other Heart Risks. Here’s Why and What To Do About It
  48. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  49. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
  50. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  51. Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease and Using HRT To Treat Menopause Symptoms
  52. Menopause and Cardiovascular Risk
  53. Menopause and Your Heart
  54. Menopause and Your Heart
  55. Menopause: Ensuring A Tranquil Transition
  56. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024]
    Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease
  57. Menopause: Identification and Management: NICE Guideline [NG23] Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024
  58. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  59. Million Hearts
  60. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  61. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Cardiovascular Disease
  62. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245 [Video]
  63. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  64. Navigating Menopause Care Resource Guide
  65. People Who Follow These 8 Heart Health Metrics May Live Years Longer
  66. Perimenopause
  67. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  68. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
    Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease
  69. Q&A: Health Changes During Menopause Associated With Increased Cardiovascular Risk
  70. Resources: Fact Sheets
  71. Resources: Infographics
  72. Resources: Posters
  73. Risk Factors
  74. Staying Healthy During and After Menopause
  75. Societal Influences’ Impact on Cardiovascular Disease In Women
  76. Stroke
  77. Taking It To Heart: Addressing Cardiovascular Disease In Women [Video]
  78. The Connection Between Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease Risks
  79. The Heart Truth [National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, United States]
  80. The Menopausal Transition Period and Cardiovascular Risk
  81. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  82. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Cardiovascular Disease In Women
  83. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  84. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Heart Disease, Risk Factors of Developing Heart Disease, and Can I Take Hormones?
  85. WISEWOMAN Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  86. Webinars: Previous – Cardiovascular Disease
  87. Webinars: Previous – Lifestyle Medicine
  88. Webinars: Previous – Recommendations on Cardiovascular Risk Assessment
  89. Webinars: Previous – The Heart of the Matter
  90. What Is Cardiovascular Disease?
    Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease
  91. What Is Perimenopause and Menopause?
  92. Women & CVD
    Cardiovascular Disease
  93. Women and Heart Health Fact Sheet
  94. Womenheart.org [WomenHeart, United States]
  95. Women’s Health Disparities: Cardiovascular Disease
  96. World Heart Day [29 September]
    Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease
  97. World Menopause Day 2023
    Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease
  98. World Menopause Day 2023: Patient Information Leaflet – Cardiovascular Disease: What Women Need To Know [Multiply Languages]
  99. World Menopause Day 2025
    Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease
  100. World Stroke Day
    Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. What Is Perimenopause and Menopause? Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause: Staying Healthy After Menopause – Heart Health After Menopause. Last Updated: 28 August 2025 | Last Reviewed: 22 April 2025. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause Accessed: 26 October 2025
  2. Cardiovascular Disease. Published: December 2024. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/cardiovascular-heart-disease Accessed: 26 October 2025
  3. Heart Health: Cardiovascular Disease. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/heart-health Accessed: 26 October 2025
  4. Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Does Menopause Increase A Woman’s Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke? Last Reviewed: 12 September 2024. Go Red for Women https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/know-your-risk/menopause/menopause-and-cardiovascular-risk Accessed: 26 October 2025
  5. Prevention: What Can You Do To Lower Your Risk of Cardiovascular Disease? World Heart Federation https://world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/prevention/ Accessed: 26 October 2024
  6. Know Your Numbers It Could Just Save Your Life. Go Red for Women https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/know-your-risk/know-your-numbers Accessed: 26 October 2025
  7. WISEWOMAN Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): What Is the WISEWOMAN Program? 15 May 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/wisewoman/php/faqs/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/wisewoman/faqs.htm Accessed: 26 October 2025
  8. Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease Risk. Last Reviewed: 12 September 2024. Go Red for Women https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/know-your-risk/menopause/menopause-and-cardiovascular-risk Accessed: 26 October 2025
Topic Last Updated: 26 October 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 26 October 2025

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
/by