Peoria Standard

Early menopause, defined as menopause occurring before age 45, has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease. Research from the American Diabetes Association involving nearly 10,000 postmenopausal women found that those who experienced early or premature menopause had a higher likelihood of developing heart disease, particularly if they also had Type 2 diabetes.

Kathleen Meade, APRN, a nurse practitioner with OSF HealthCare, explained the role of estrogen in heart health. She said that the decrease in estrogen during menopause can result in higher cholesterol, increased blood pressure, and more body fat—all factors associated with heart disease.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among women in the United States, affecting more than 60 million women nationwide. “For women, heart disease is very serious,” said Meade. “A lot of times we think of the other things that might potentially affect our life and our quality of life, like cancers, but with heart disease, it’s the most prevalent cause of death in women.”

Women who experience early menopause face these changes for a longer period, raising their lifetime risk for heart disease compared to those who reach menopause at the average age of 50 to 52. Menopause-related hormonal changes can lead to stiffening blood vessels, higher blood pressure, and altered cholesterol levels, all contributing to increased heart disease risk.

“When women go through menopause, they fail to produce any estrogen,” Meade explained. “Estrogen is a vital link between vascular flexibility, and that would increase their chances of having hypertension. And it increases their risk of plaque buildup, or if they have high cholesterol or hyperlipidemia. So, you put those together, that's what causes the increased risk of heart disease.”

In addition to menopause, other significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, unhealthy diet, obesity, smoking, and lack of physical activity. “Women can take several steps to decrease their cardiovascular risk,” Meade said. “One would be to maintain an active lifestyle. We recommend 150 minutes of exercise per week. Follow a low fat, heart healthy diet. The Mediterranean diet is an excellent way to provide healthy oils and low fat and good protein.” She also advised limiting alcohol and processed foods, increasing intake of fruits and vegetables, and ensuring at least eight hours of sleep each night.

Understanding the connection between menopause and heart disease helps health care providers like Meade create more effective treatment plans for patients. “You can more individually tailor their care accordingly to when they went through menopause and when you possibly put them on hormone replacement therapy,” she said. “Look at all the other cardiovascular risk factors – address hypertension, hyperlipidemia or cholesterol, look at their sleep patterns, at exercise routines and weight management. We can put all that together to try to reduce their chances of having a heart attack or a stroke.”

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is prescribed to replace estrogen after menopause and is used to treat symptoms such as hot flashes as well as prevent bone loss. Meade emphasized that HRT should be tailored for each person after consultation with a health care provider.

Meade shared her personal experience with menopause: “I’ve gone through menopause, and I'm happy to say that I feel great,” she said. “I generally bring it up in our conversations when the time is right. A lot of times they bring it up, because it does impact our lives in every aspect. I feel like I can walk beside them, help them and give them expert advice and treatment options.”

For additional information about women’s health issues related to menopause and cardiovascular risk, visit the OSF HealthCare website.