“…the number one killer of women in North America is cardiovascular disease, that is, diseases of the heart and circulatory system”.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. The British Heart Foundation’s definition is:
Before Menopause
Before menopause do women have a lower risk of CVD than men?
The World Heart Federation (WHF) explain:


The (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) also note:
“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
After Menopause
After menopause can women have an increased risk of CVD?
In Health After Menopause: Cardiovascular Disease the JH elaborate on:
“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”.5
In Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause – Q. Do I have to start worrying about heart disease? the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) explain:
“A. You do. Although many women think of heart disease as a man’s disease, the number one killer of women in North America is cardiovascular disease, that is, diseases of the heart and circulatory system. After age 55, more than half of all the deaths in women are caused by cardiovascular disease”.6
Breast Cancer
Is CVD a bigger killer of women than breast cancer?
In Resources for Women the WHF note:
Risk Factors
What are risk factors for CVD?
In Risk Factors: Cardiovascular Risk Factors the WHF elaborate on:
You will not necessarily develop cardiovascular disease if you have a risk factor. But the more risk factors you have the greater the likelihood that you will, unless you take action to modify your risk factors and work to prevent them compromising your heart health.
- Modifiable Risk Factors…
- Non-Modifiable Risk Factors…
- Other Non-Modifiable Risk Factors Include…”.8
Hot Flushes and Night Sweats
Is there an association between menopausal vasomotor symptoms (VMS) i.e., hot flushes and night sweats and CVD?
In Vasomotor Menopausal Symptoms and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Pooled Analysis of Six Prospective Studies – Conclusion the authors conclude:
“Severity rather than frequency of VMS (hot flushes and night sweats) was associated with increased risk of CVD. VMS with onset before or after menopause were also associated with increased risk of CVD”.9
Prevention
Is CVD preventable?
Yes. In What Can I Do To Avoid A Heart Attack or Stroke? Q: What Can I Do To Avoid A Heart Attack or A Stroke? the WHO elaborate on:
“The good news, however, is that 80% of premature heart attacks and strokes are preventable. Healthy diet, regular physical activity, and not using tobacco products are the keys to prevention. Checking and controlling risk factors for heart disease and stroke such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar or diabetes is also very important”.10
In Women and CVD – Facts and Tips: How To Protect Your Heart – Protect Your Heart the WHF explain and elaborate on:
- Get active…
- Stop smoking and protect yourself from tobacco…
- Maintain a healthy weight…
- Know your numbers…
- Eat healthily…
- Know the warning signs
- Carefully take your medication
- Keep track of your achievements and progress…”.11
In Health After Menopause: Cardiovascular Disease the JH also note:
“Lifestyle changes might not be enough for some women with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, so medication for high blood pressure and/or cholesterol may be required”.12
Physical Activity
Is there an association between physical activity and CVD?
In Risk Factors: Cardiovascular Risk Factors – Modifiable Risk Factors: Physical Inactivity and Cardiovascular Disease the WHF note:
“Physical activity protects you by regulating your weight and improving your body’s use of insulin. Being active is beneficial for your blood pressure, blood lipid levels, blood glucose levels, blood clotting factors, the health of your blood vessels and inflammation, which is powerful promoter of cardiovascular disease”.13
WISEWOMAN Program
What is the WISEWOMAN program?
Your Country may have a program similar to the (United States) 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:
What services does the WISEWOMAN program fund?
The CDC explain:
Know Your Numbers
What numbers do women (and men) need to know?
In Know Your Numbers? They Could Just Save Your Life: Start By Knowing Your Numbers Go Red for Women elaborate on:
Your heart depends on it”.16
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.
The NAMS note:
“Risk for this disease increases after menopause. Be sure to talk to your healthcare team about what your risks are and how you can reduce them”.17
In Hot Flushes and Night Sweats Linked To 70 Per Cent Increase In Cardiovascular Disease:
“This research helps to identify women who are at a higher risk for the development of cardiovascular events and who may need close monitoring in clinical practice,” Professor Mishra said”.18
On page seven in Prevention of Diseases After Menopause the authors note:
“Screening for CVD at regular intervals after menopause is extremely important. This includes measurement of blood pressure, lipids and perhaps inflammatory markers, BMI, and ascertainment of lifestyle factors such as activity level and smoking status. In addition, a family history of heart disease and stroke is important”.19
What is BMI?
BMI may be defined as Body Mass Index.
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics related to Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
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.- 6 Things Every Woman Should Know About Heart Health
- About Cardiovascular Disease
- About Heart Disease In Women
- About Stroke
- African and African Caribbean Background
- Alcohol
- Alcohol and Heart Health
- American Heart Association
- American Stroke Association
- Answers By Heart Fact Sheets: Cardiovascular Conditions
- Bioidentical Hormones Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Cardiovascular Diseases
- Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs)
- Cardiovascular Health After Menopause Transition, Pregnancy Disorders, and Other Gynaecologic Conditions: A Consensus Document From European Cardiologists, Gynaecologists, and Endocrinologists
- Cardiovascular Health: Risks & Causes
- Cardiovascular Health: Symptoms of Heart Attack & Stroke In Women
- Cardiovascular Heart Disease
- Complementary and Alternative Therapies Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Coronary Heart Disease: Women and Heart Disease
- Dailydiabetes.org
- Diabetes and Heart Disease
- Diabetes, Heart Disease, & Stroke
- Diabetessisters.org [DiabetesSisters]
- Doctor Appointments: Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- Early Menopause: Experiences and Perspectives of Women and Health Practitioners – Women’s Profiles
- Get Familiar With Signs of A Heart Attack or Stroke
- Goredforwomen.org [Go Red for Women, United States]
- Healthy Body: Top 10 Healthy Heart Tips
- Healthy Lifestyle
- Healthy Lifestyle
- Healthy Living
- Healthy Living
- Healthy Weight
- Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms: Warnings Signs of Heart Attack, Stroke & Cardiac Arrest
- Heart Disease In African-American Women
- Heart Disease In Hispanic Women
- Heart Disease: It’s Not Just for Men – Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- Heart Health Information In Your Language: Healthy Heart Habits [Multiply Languages]
- Heart Health Information In Your Language: Women and Heart Disease [Multiply Languages]
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Hormone Therapy In Postmenopausal Women: Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions
- Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
- Hot Flushes and Night Sweats Linked To 70 Per Cent Increase In Cardiovascular Disease
- How To Make Healthy Food and Healthy Lifestyle Choices Now
- How To Prevent Heart Disease
- How To Prevent Heart Disease After Menopause
- Infographic: Exercise Is Medicine
- Infographic: Treat Your Heart As A House
- Know Your Numbers? They Could Just Save Your Life
- Know Your Risk
- KnowDiabetesbyHeart
- Listen To Your Heart: Learn About Heart Disease – What Are Your Risk Factors for Heart Disease?
- Making Mayo’s Recipes: Two Days’ Worth of Heart-Healthy Menus
- Making the Invisible Visible
- Mayo Clinic Minute: Myth-Busting Heart Health [+ Video]
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: Coronary Artery Disease — Prevention and Early Warning Signs
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: How To Add Variety To Your Cardiovascular Routine
- Mayo Mindfulness: Tackle Stress, Anxiety and Depression To Benefit Your Heart
- Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause
- Menopause Hormone Therapy: Who Shouldn’t Take It?
- Menopause and Heart Disease
- Menopause and Heart Disease
- Menopause and Your Heart
- Menopause – Is Menopausal Hormone Therapy (HRT) Safe? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
- Million Hearts
- My Life Check | Life’s Simple 7
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Cardiovascular Disease
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Chelation for Coronary Heart Disease: What You Need To Know
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science: How Medications and Supplements Can Interact
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth
- National Wear Red Day
- Preventing Cardiovascular Disease
- Protect Your Heart
- Recipes [American Heart Association]
- Risk Factors: Cardiovascular Risk Factors
- Smokefreewomen [United States]
- South Asian Background
- Staying Active
- Stroke
- Stroke
- Stroke
- Stroke Association [United Kingdom]
- Video Series-2019 – Cardiovascular Update: What Women Need To Know
- Video Series-2020 – What Women Need To Know About Heart Disease
- WISEWOMAN: WISEWOMAN Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Watch, Learn and Live: American Heart Association’s Interactive Cardiovascular Library
- What Is A Stroke?
- What Is Cardiovascular Disease?
- What Is Meant By the Term Heart Age?
- What It Means To Go Red for Women
- What the Heart Has To Do With the Head
- Women With A Heart Condition
- Women and CVD – Facts and Tips: How To Protect Your Heart – Protect Your Heart
- Women and CVD – Facts and Tips: Know Your Numbers
- Women and Heart Disease [Videos]
- Women’s Wellness: Understand Heart Disease Symptoms and Risk Factors Unique To Women
- World Heart Day 29 September
- World Stroke Day October 29th
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources at:
Sources
- Know Your Numbers? They Could Just Save Your Life: Start By Knowing Your Numbers. Go Red for Women https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/know-your-risk/know-your-numbers Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Cardiovascular Heart Disease. Page Last Reviewed: October 2019. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/cardiovascular-heart-disease Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Risk Factors: Cardiovascular Risk Factors – Other Common Non-Modifiable Risk Factors Include. 30 May 2017. World Heart Federation https://www.world-heart-federation.org/resources/risk-factors/ Accessed: 16 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: 16 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: 16 December 2020
- Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause – Q. Do I have to start worrying about heart disease? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-your-health-after-menopause Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Resources for Women. 22 May 2017. World Heart Federation https://www.world-heart-federation.org/resources/resources-for-women/ Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Risk Factors: Cardiovascular Risk Factors. 30 May 2017. World Heart Federation https://www.world-heart-federation.org/resources/risk-factors/ Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Zhu, D., Chung, H-F., Dobson, A. J., El Khoudary, S. E., Crawford, S., Mishra, G. D. eta al. Vasomotor Menopausal Symptoms and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Pooled Analysis of Six Prospective Studies – Conclusion. 22 June 2020. https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(20)30664-5/pdf Accessed: 16 December 2020
- What Can I Do To Avoid A Heart Attack or A Stroke? Q: What Can I Do To Avoid A Heart Attack or A Stroke? 13 September 2015. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/features/qa/27/en/ Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Women and CVD – Facts and Tips: How To Protect Your Heart – Protect Your Heart. 22 May 2017. World Heart Federation https://www.world-heart-federation.org/resources/women-cvd-facts-tips/ Accessed: 16 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: 16 December 2020
- Risk Factors: Cardiovascular Risk Factors – Modifiable Risk Factors: Physical Inactivity and Cardiovascular Disease. 30 May 2017. World Heart Federation https://www.world-heart-federation.org/resources/risk-factors/ Accessed: 16 December 2020
- WISEWOMAN Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): What Is the WISEWOMAN Program? Page Last Reviewed: 02 October 2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/wisewoman/faqs.htm Accessed: 16 December 2020
- WISEWOMAN Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): What Services Does the WISEWOMAN Program Fund? Page Last Reviewed: 02 October 2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/wisewoman/faqs.htm Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Know Your Numbers? They Could Just Save Your Life: Start By Knowing Your Numbers. Go Red for Women https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/know-your-risk/know-your-numbers Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause – Q. Do I have to start worrying about heart disease? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-your-health-after-menopause Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Hot flushes and Night Sweats Linked To 70 Per Cent Increase In Cardiovascular Disease. 02 July 2020. Queensland University https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2020/07/hot-flushes-and-night-sweats-linked-70-cent-increase-cardiovascular-disease Accessed: 16 December 2020
- Lobo, R. A., Davis, S. R., De Villiers, T. J., Gompel, A., Henderson, V. W., Hodis, H. N., Lumsden, M. A., Mack, W. J., Shapiro, S. and Baber, R. J. Prevention of Diseases After Menopause: Cardiovascular Diseases. 2014:7 https://www.imsociety.org/downloads/world_menopause_day_2014/white_paper/wmd_white_paper_english.pdf Accessed: 16 December 2020