Menopause is just a part of life, but lots of us don’t really know what to expect, especially when it comes to our hearts.
Many people think menopause is all about hot flushes or brain fog. But did you know – that after menopause your chance of getting heart disease – which is the number one killer of women – significantly increases? We just don’t talk about it enough.
Why Does Menopause Increase Heart Risk?
Before menopause, women usually have a lower risk of heart issues than men. This is partly because of oestrogen, a hormone that helps keep blood vessels flexible, helps with good cholesterol, and reduces swelling.
But when menopause starts, oestrogen levels reduce. Blood vessels can get stiff. Bad cholesterol might go up, and good cholesterol might drop.
Before menopause, women are less likely to have heart problems than men.
After menopause, that risk increases and is sometimes even higher than men’s.
By the time they’re 70, women are more likely than men to die after their first heart attack. One large study showed that within a year of a heart attack, 26% of women die, compared to 19% of men.
Why Can Heart Issues in Women Sometimes Go Unnoticed?
The signs can be different and sometimes brushed aside. Women might feel unusual chest discomfort, jaw pain, feel sick, or fatigued. They don’t always get the crushing chest pain that men often get.
Why Aren’t More Women Aware of the Risk?
Many people think breast cancer is the biggest risk of death in women. But heart disease kills over twice as many women each year.
In a survey, less than half of women knew heart disease was the top cause of death for women. Even fewer knew how menopause changes that risk. We need to change this so that we can do things to lower the risk.
See the article on How Can I Protect My Heart At Menopause?