Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease

“Cardiovascular disease (CVD), also called heart and circulatory disease, is an umbrella name for conditions that affect your heart or circulation”.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 Heart Disease the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) definition is:

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

Cardiovascular Diseases

What are cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)?

DotS the definition of CVDs may vary. In Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs): What Are Cardiovascular Diseases? the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition is:

“Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels and they include:

  • Coronary heart disease – disease of the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle
  • Cerebrovascular disease – disease of the blood vessels supplying the brain
  • Peripheral arterial disease – disease of blood vessels supplying the arms and legs
  • Rheumatic heart disease – damage to the heart muscle and heart valves from rheumatic fever, caused by
  • Streptococcal bacteria
  • Congenital heart disease – malformations of heart structure existing at birth
  • Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism – blood clots in the leg veins, which can dislodge and move to the heart and lungs”.3

Before Menopause

Cardiovascular DiseaseCardiovascular Disease
Before menopause do women have a lower risk of CVD than men?

The (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) 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 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”.5

The North American Menopause Society explain:

“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. 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”.6

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”.7

Risk Factors

What are risk factors for CVD?

In Cardiovascular Heart Disease: What Increases My Risk of Cardiovascular Heart Disease? the BHF elaborate on:

“A risk factor is something that increases the chance of getting a condition. The more you have, the higher your chance of CVD. Even if you can’t change all your risk factors, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk.

There are several risk factors for CVD, including:

  • Smoking
  • Stress
  • Alcohol
  • High Blood Pressure
  • High Blood Cholesterol
  • Being Physically Inactive
  • Being Overweight or Obese
  • Diabetes
  • Family History of Heart Disease
  • Ethnic Background
  • Sex – men are more likely to get CVD earlier than women
  • Age – the older you are, the more likely you are to get CVD”.8

PreventionCardiovascular Disease

Is CVD preventable?

In Cardiovascular Diseases: Avoiding Heart Attacks and Strokes – What Can I Do To Avoid A Heart Attack or A Stroke? the WHO explain and 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.

  • Eat a healthy diet…
  • Take regular physical activity…
  • Avoid tobacco use…
  • Check and control your overall cardiovascular risk…
    • Know your blood pressure…
    • Know your blood lipids…
    • Know your blood sugar…”.9

In Health After Menopause: Cardiovascular Disease the JH note:

“It is very important to try and to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, especially at this time of your life, with a healthy lifestyle that includes:

  • A healthy and nutritious diet
  • Regular exercise for fitness
  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Not smoking
  • Minimising alcohol”.10

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”.11

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:

“The WISEWOMAN (Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for WOMen Across the Nation) program helps women understand and reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke and provides services to help promote lasting heart-healthy lifestyles”.12

What services does the WISEWOMAN program fund?

The CDC explain:

“The WISEWOMAN program funds heart disease and stroke risk factor screenings that include blood pressure, diabetes, body mass index (BMI), and cholesterol screenings. Services are provided in local health departments, doctors’ offices, and community health centers”.13

Know Your Numbers

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

In Know Your Numbers They Could Just Save Your Life Go Red for Women elaborate on:

“Talk to your healthcare provider today to learn about your Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, Blood Sugar and BMI (Body Mass Index). Your heart depends on it”.14

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 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”.15

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Cardiovascular Disease?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to 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.

  1. 4 Tips To Keep Your Heart Healthy While Working From Home
  2. 6 Things Every Woman Should Know About Heart Health
  3. About Cardiovascular Disease
  4. About Heart Disease In Women
  5. About Stroke
  6. African and African Caribbean Background
  7. Alcohol
  8. American Heart Association
  9. American Stroke Association
  10. Bioidentical Hormones Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  11. COVID-19 & CVD
  12. Cardiovascular Diseases
  13. Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs)
  14. Cardiovascular Health After Menopause Transition, Pregnancy Disorders, and Other Gynaecologic Conditions: A Consensus Document From European Cardiologists, Gynaecologists, and Endocrinologists
  15. Cardiovascular Health: Risks & Causes
  16. Cardiovascular Health: Symptoms of Heart Attack & Stroke In Women
  17. Cardiovascular Heart Disease
  18. Complementary and Alternative Therapies Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  19. Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  20. Diabetes and Heart Disease
  21. Diabetessisters.org [DiabetesSisters]
  22. Doctor Appointments: Questions To Ask Your Doctor
  23. Early Menopause: Experiences and Perspectives of Women and Health Practitioners – Women’s Profiles
  24. Get Familiar With Signs of A Heart Attack or Stroke
  25. Goredforwomen.org [Go Red for Women, United States]
  26. Healthy Body: Top 10 Healthy Heart Tips
  27. Healthy Lifestyle
  28. Healthy Lifestyle
  29. Healthy Living
  30. Healthy Living
  31. Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms: Warnings Signs of Heart Attack, Stroke & Cardiac Arrest
  32. Heart Disease In African-American Women
  33. Heart Disease In Hispanic Women
  34. Heart Disease: It’s Not Just for Men – Questions To Ask Your Doctor
  35. Heart Health Information In Your Language
  36. Heart Health Information In Your Language: Healthy Heart Habits [Multiply Languages]
  37. Heart Health Information In Your Language: Women and Heart Disease [Multiply Languages]
  38. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  39. Hormone Therapy In Postmenopausal Women: Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions
  40. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  41. Hot Flushes and Night Sweats Linked To 70 Per Cent Increase In Cardiovascular Disease
  42. How To Make Healthy Food and Healthy Lifestyle Choices Now
  43. How To Prevent Heart Disease
  44. How To Prevent Heart Disease After Menopause
  45. Infographic: Exercise Is Medicine
  46. Infographic: Treat Your Heart As A House
  47. Infographic: Women and Heart Disease
  48. Is It Fatigue – or A Stroke? Women Shouldn’t Ignore These Signs
  49. Know Your Numbers They Could Just Save Your Life
  50. Know Your Risk
  51. KnowDiabetesbyHeart
  52. Listen To Your Heart: Learn About Heart Disease – Women and Heart Disease
  53. Making Mayo’s Recipes: Two Days’ Worth of Heart-Healthy Menus
  54. Mayo Clinic Minute: What Is Heart Disease? [+ Video]
  55. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  56. Mayo Clinic Q&A Podcast: Don’t Miss A Beat With Preventive Heart Care [+ Video]
  57. Mayo Mindfulness: Tackle Stress, Anxiety and Depression To Benefit Your Heart
  58. Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause
  59. Menopause Hormone Therapy: Who Shouldn’t Take It?
  60. Menopause and Heart Disease
  61. Menopause and Heart Disease
  62. Menopause and Your Heart
  63. Menopause – Is Menopausal Hormone Therapy (HRT) Safe? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
  64. Million Hearts
  65. My Life Check | Life’s Simple 7
  66. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Cardiovascular Disease
  67. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Chelation for Coronary Heart Disease: What You Need To Know
  68. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  69. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science: How Medications and Supplements Can Interact
  70. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth
  71. Pippa Middleton’s Top 10 Heart-Healthy Recipes [British Heart Foundation]
  72. Preventing Cardiovascular Disease
  73. Recipes [American Heart Association]
  74. Recipes [National Heart Foundation of Australia]
  75. South Asian Background
  76. Smokefreewomen [United States]
  77. Staying Active
  78. Stress and Heart Health
  79. Stroke
  80. Stroke
  81. Stroke Symptoms
  82. Stroke – Causes, Signs and Symptoms
  83. Symptoms of A Heart Attack and Stroke In Women
  84. Time To Follow Your Heart
  85. Top Health Checks for Women
  86. Use Heart To Fight COVID-19
  87. Video Series-2020 – What Women Need To Know About Heart Disease
  88. Video Series-2021 – What You Women Need To Know About Hormone Therapies
  89. Video Series-2021 – What You Need to Know About the #1 Cause of Death in Women
  90. WISEWOMAN: WISEWOMAN Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  91. What Is A Stroke?
  92. What Is Cardiovascular Disease?
  93. What Is Cardiovascular Disease? Cardiovascular Disease
  94. What It Means To Go Red for Women [+ Video]
  95. What the Heart Has To Do With the Head
  96. Women With A Heart Condition
  97. Women and Heart Disease [Videos]
  98. Women’s Wellness: Understand Heart Disease Symptoms and Risk Factors Unique To Women
  99. World Heart Day 29 September World Heart Day 2020
  100. World Stroke Day October 29th World Stroke Day 2020

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Cardiovascular Heart Disease. Page Last Reviewed: October 2019. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/cardiovascular-heart-disease Accessed: 31 May 2021
  2. Cardiovascular Heart Disease. Page Last Reviewed: October 2019. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/cardiovascular-heart-disease Accessed: 31 May 2021
  3. Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs): What Are Cardiovascular Diseases? 17 May 2017. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds) Accessed: 31 May 2021
  4. 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: 31 May 2021
  5. 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: 31 May 2021
  6. 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: 31 May 2021
  7. 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: 31 May 2021
  8. Cardiovascular Heart Disease: What Increases My Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases? Page Last Reviewed: October 2019. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/cardiovascular-heart-disease Accessed: 31 May 2021
  9. Cardiovascular Diseases: Avoiding Heart Attacks and Stroke – 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: 31 May 2021
  10. 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: 31 May 2021
  11. 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: 31 May 2021
  12. 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: 31 May 2021
  13. 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: 31 May 2021
  14. Know Your Numbers They Could Just Save Your Life. Go Red for Women https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/know-your-risk/know-your-numbers Accessed: 31 May 2021
  15. 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/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/wmd-2014-white-pages-english.pdf Accessed: 31 May 2021

Topic Last Updated: 17 June 2021 – Topic Last Reviewed: 31 May 2021
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