Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease

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

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New or Updated

  1. 4 Reasons To See a Cardiologist
  2. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  3. Be A Force for Change. Know the Signs. Get Your Heart Checked. [Video]
  4. CVS Health Screenings [+ Video]
  5. Cardiovascular Disease Prevention In Women: A Discussion With Erin Donnelly Michos, MD
  6. Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Heart Attack Warning Signs In Women
  7. Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs)
  8. Complementary & Alternative Therapies: Non-Hormonal Treatments for Menopause Symptoms
  9. Complementary Medicines and Therapies for Hot Flushes
  10. Complementary Medicines and Therapies: Options for Menopausal Symptoms
  11. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Menopause and Heart Disease
  12. Diabetes
  13. Doing These 8 Things May Greatly Lower Risk for Heart Disease and Stroke
  14. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Sleep Disturbances In Menopause
  15. February Is American Heart Month
    Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease Heart Disease and Menopause
  16. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  17. Find A Practitioner [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  18. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  19. Getting Serious About Heart Health: Risk Factors for Cholesterol
    Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease
  20. Goredforwomen.org [Go Red for Women, American Heart Association United States]Menopause an Cardiovascular Disease Menopause an Cardiovascular Disease
  21. HRT Questions Answered
  22. Heart Disease: Preventing Heart Disease
  23. Heart Disease: What Every Woman Needs To Know
  24. Heart Health
  25. Heart Health and Cardiovascular Disease
  26. Heart Health for Women [+ Videos]
  27. Heart Health for Women [+ Videos]: Download Heart Health for Women Fact Sheet In Other Languages
  28. Heart Palpitations
  29. Heart-Health and Cholesterol In Menopause
  30. Herheart.org
  31. How Can Early Menopause Affect My Health?
  32. How Healthy Is Your Heart? Take This Quiz To Find Out
  33. Improving Heart Health At Midlife and Beyond Could Lower Future Risk of Stroke, Dementia
  34. Inflammation, Hormones and the Hidden Cause of Chronic Disease
  35. International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause
  36. 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
  37. Know Your Numbers
  38. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – After the Menopause [Other Languages and Formats]
  39. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Early and Premature Menopause [Other Languages and Formats]
  40. Life’s Essential 8
  41. Looking After Yourself Around the Time of Menopause
  42. Mayo Clinic Minute: Are You Getting Enough Sleep for Your Best Heart Health? [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  43. Mayo Clinic Minute: Know the Risk Factors To Prevent Stroke
  44. Mayo Clinic Minute: Menopause and the Heart Connection [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  45. Mayo Clinic Minute: Signs of Coronary Artery Disease, How To Reduce Your Risk [+ Video]
  46. Mayo Clinic Minute: The Link Between Heart Disease and Stroke [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  47. Mayo Clinic Q&A: How Menopause Affects Heart, Brain and Bone Health
  48. Menopause
  49. Menopause
    Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease
  50. Menopause Can Bring Increased Cholesterol Levels and Other Heart Risks. Here’s Why and What To Do About It
  51. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  52. Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease and Using HRT To Treat Menopause Symptoms
  53. Menopause and Cardiovascular Risk
  54. Menopause and Women’s Health
  55. Menopause and Your Heart
  56. Menopause and Your Heart
  57. Menopause: How To Talk To Your Doctor
  58. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  59. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
    Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease
  60. Million Hearts
  61. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  62. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Cardiovascular Disease
  63. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect In Menopause]
  64. Navigating Menopause Care Resource Guide
  65. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: CAMS Menopause Hour Webinars – The Menopause Journey: Navigating Cardiometabolic Risk In Women
  66. Online Events International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – Evaluating High-Risk Patients In Menopause At Risk of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
  67. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: Lifestyle Medicine
  68. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations – Lifestyle, Diet, Exercise
  69. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations – Midlife Body Changes
  70. Perimenopause
  71. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  72. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
  73. Q&A: Health Changes During Menopause Associated With Increased Cardiovascular Risk
  74. Resources: Fact Sheets [Multiply Languages]
  75. Risk Factors
  76. Staying Healthy During and After Menopause
  77. Societal Influences’ Impact on Cardiovascular Disease In Women
  78. Stroke
  79. Supplements: What Works, What Doesn’t and the Truth About Menowashing
  80. The Connection Between Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease Risks
  81. The Heart Truth [National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, United States]
  82. Twenty-Year Cardiovascular Disease Incidence In Menopausal Women: Insights From the ATTICA Study
  83. (Video) Heart Disease In Women: 4 Things A Mayo Clinic Cardiologist Wants You To Know [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  84. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Cardiovascular Disease In Women
  85. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  86. WISEWOMAN Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  87. Webinar: Early Menopause
  88. What Is Cardiovascular Disease?
    Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease
  89. What Is the Difference Between Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause?
  90. Why Heart Disease In Women Is Still Being Missed
  91. Why Perimenopause May Be the Best Time To Act on Heart Disease Risk
  92. Women & CVD
    Cardiovascular Disease
  93. Womenheart.org [WomenHeart, United States]
  94. Women’s Health Disparities: Cardiovascular Disease
    Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease
  95. Women’s Heart Health: What We’re Missing and Why It Matters | WHAM Roundtable
  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: 01 February 2026
  2. Cardiovascular Disease. Published: December 2024. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/cardiovascular-heart-disease Accessed: 01 February 2026
  3. Heart Health: Cardiovascular Disease. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/heart-health Accessed: 01 February 2026
  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: 01 February 2026
  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: 01 February 2026
  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: 01 February 2026
  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: 01 February 2026
  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: 01 February 2026
Topic Last Updated: 06 June 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 01 February 2026

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