As you age, a lot of changes take place in your body. And one such phase in every woman's life is menopause, which causes drastic hormonal changes leading to mood swings, hot flashes and weight gain. However, what most women do not know is its impact on the heart health. Yes, menopause can increase your risk of heart disease. Although other risk factors like age and family history of early heart disease cannot be changed, one can lower the risk of heart disease in a post-menopausal woman following a few lifestyle changes.
After menopause, women are more likely to get heart disease, partly because their body's production of estrogen drops. Also, women who have gone through early menopause, either naturally or because they have had their ovaries removed are twice as likely to develop heart disease as compared to women of their same age who have not yet reached menopause, says Dr Duru Shah, Director, Board of the International Menopause Society. While menopause is a completely natural occurrence, the decreased levels of estrogen have an effect on the body because the hormone helps protect women against heart disease. Here's how menopause affects your heart health.
1. High blood pressure: As the levels of estrogen decrease after menopause, the heart muscles and the blood vessels become stiff and less elastic. This causes the blood to exert more pressure on the walls of the arteries, causing the blood pressure to rise. And high blood pressure puts pressure on the heart increasing your risk of heart disease. Hence, make sure your blood pressure is under control post menopause by going for regular checkups to lower your risk of heart disease.
2. High cholesterol: A common culprit of heart disease, high cholesterol is seen in women post menopause. This is because a lack of estrogen hormone in the body causes an increase in LDL (low-density lipoprotein or bad) cholesterol and a decrease in HDL (high-density lipoprotein or good) cholesterol, which further increases the risk of heart disease in women. Not just cholesterol, menopause also causes a rise in the triglycerides, type of fats, which can put you at risk fo cardiovascular disease. So cut down on the intake of foods rich in cholesterol and include cholesterol-lowering foods in your diet as you age.
3. Weight gain: Women are at a high risk of gaining weight after menopause, especially around the abdomen. This is the because estrogen plays a key role in burning fats and lack of the hormone leads to storage of fat. Moreover, menopause slows down the metabolism, which further leads to weight gain as you age, which puts you at risk of heart disease. To deal with it, make sure you keep a tab on your weight by exercising every day or at least brisk walk for 30 minutes to lower your risk of heart disease. Here's more on how to lose weight in old age.
4. Diabetes: It is known that the risk of suffering from heart disease is high if you have diabetes. However, what most people do not know is that after a woman goes through menopause, you become more resistant to insulin. This is why most women are likely to become prediabetic or diabetic as they transition from premenopause to menopause. So check your glucose levels as you hit menopause and eat healthy to prevent heart disease due to diabetes.
5. Abnormal heart rate: Known as atrial fibrillation, abnormal heart rate can also up your risk of heart disease. As you reach 50 and the oestrogen levels fall, the functioning of the heart is also affected. The hormonal changes not only slow down the heart rate but also lead to blockages, which causes cardiovascular and coronary heart disease in woman. And if you have high blood pressure, then the risk increases further. Hence, maintain your blood pressure and consult your doctor if you experience symptoms of heart disease like dizziness and fatigue.
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