Cardiovascular risk increases after menopause due to declining estrogen levels, but women who experience later menopause (age 55+) show a 20% lower risk of heart disease.

A recent study published in Circulation Research found that women with later-onset menopause had healthier cardiovascular systems due to:

• Lower oxidative stress levels
• Improved endothelial function
• Reduced levels of certain triglyceride-derived lipid metabolites

The research examined 92 women and found:

• Late-onset group showed 24% worse vascular function than premenopausal women
• Normal-onset group showed 51% worse vascular function than premenopausal women
• These differences persisted for 5+ years after menopause

Why Menopause Affects Heart Health:

• Estrogen helps maintain blood vessel flexibility
• Regulates cholesterol levels
• Declining estrogen may increase LDL (bad) cholesterol
• Common menopause symptoms can lead to reduced activity

Steps to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk:

1. Monitor and optimize:

• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol levels
• Blood sugar

2. Lifestyle modifications:

• Regular exercise (both aerobic and resistance training)
• Stress management
• Quality sleep
• Nutritious diet without caloric restriction

3. Consider hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for early menopause cases

Heart disease affects over 60 million women in the United States and remains the leading cause of death. Managing these risk factors becomes increasingly important during and after menopause to maintain cardiovascular health.

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