Menopause and heart health: A relatively unaddressed issue

The perimenopausal period and menopause are life-changing events in the lives of women and have been remotely addressed.

- Dr Samir Kubba

The perimenopausal period and menopause are life-changing events in the lives of women and have been remotely addressed. Cardiovascular health of females has also received less attention when compared to men. Menopause increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in women due to various factors. Premature menopause, defined as menopause before the age of 40 years, and surgical menopause further increase the risk.

Menopause is associated with an increase in blood pressure, body mass index, obesity, body fat redistribution, dyslipidaemia, metabolic syndrome and an increase in lipoprotein a (Lp(a)). Besides these, the woman is naturally ageing too. All these factors are implicated in increasing the risk of CVD. Some data suggests that postmenopausal women run the same or even higher risk of CVD than men.