A new study provides further evidence for the important link between the age that women go through menopause and their long-term cardiovascular risk. Menopause isn’t a disease. Menopause is a natural biological process, marking the end of a woman’s reproductive years. In the United States, that’s usually just before turning 52. About one in 10 women experience late-onset menopause, starting the transition after age 55. The study found that the later in life that women get menopause, the healthier their cardiovascular system. The earlier you experience it, the worse health toll it takes.
When women do get close to that period, they undergo a massive drop in the hormone estrogen. This hormone has been well documented to provide cardiovascular protective benefits. Yet, this decline can set off a cascade of debilitating health effects. Just by virtue of aging, you’ll experience higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels, regardless of diet and exercise regimen. Whatever the underlying mechanism, our findings indicate that for women, a later natural menopause may bring long-lasting cardiovascular benefits.
Understanding Menopause and Its Impact on Heart Health
Menopause is an important life stage for every woman. It sets off profound biological changes that have far-reaching effects on her health. Average age of menopause in the U.S. is 52, a sometimes welcome transition many women look forward to. Throughout this transition stage, estrogen levels drop dramatically, and this hormonal change can result in a wide variety of health effects.
Estrogen is thought to be a natural protector against heart disease. Not surprisingly, its reduction during menopause removes that protective effect, raising risks associated with cardiovascular conditions in-kind. Their study has helped to illuminate that women begin to lose some cardiovascular protections after a decrease in estrogen. This seemingly small change can make tremendous difference on their overall heart health.
Women who undergo menopause, at the average age, research indicates suffer highly dysfunctional blood vessel function. Premenopausal women experience placental vasculopathy despite inferior health, placing them at lower risk than their male counterparts. Notably, those with normal-onset menopause showed blood vessel function that was 51% impaired compared to their premenopausal peers. In comparison, women with late-onset menopause had just a 24% drop in function. This protective effect was found to persist for at least five years after menopause.
“Our data suggest that women who complete menopause at a later age have a kind of natural inherent protection from vascular dysfunction that can come from oxidative stress over time,” – Matthew Rossman, PhD
Benefits of Late-Onset Menopause
The implications of these findings are clear that women who go through menopause later in life may have important benefits to cardiovascular risk. According to Sanna Darvish, a PhD candidate involved in the research, “Our paper identifies that there’s actually a physiological benefit to later-onset menopause and is one of the first to identify the specific mechanisms driving these benefits.”
The health implications go far beyond vascular health. Women who experience menopause later are more likely to have improved cardiac health. As one physician researcher pointed out, “The more time you spend before menopause, where you’re still producing estrogen, the more cardiac protection you have. This statement recognizes that timing is everything with menopause and heart health.
The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association have recognized the age at which menopause occurs as a risk-modifying factor for cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal individuals. As such, understanding how and when menopause occurs can be essential for developing strategies aimed at reducing heart disease risk among women.
Lifestyle Changes to Support Heart Health
Late-onset menopause can still provide protective benefits. The answer is, it’s important for all women, regardless of when they go through menopause, to adopt healthy habits. Diet is instrumental in maintaining heart health in this important phase. Health authorities urge you to increase consumption of fruits and veggies. Consider, at the same time, reducing your meat and cheese consumption in order to reduce cardiovascular risk.
Regular physical activity is equally important. Owen, an internationally recognized expert in women’s health, highlights the need to stay active. She advises getting at least 30 minutes of movement on most days of the week, mixing up cardio and weight training to keep cardiovascular systems functioning optimally, whether you’re menopausal or not.
Getting enough sleep and practicing good sleep hygiene are key foundations of health when it comes to mitigating menopausal symptoms, too. By taking a proactive approach to these lifestyle factors, women will be more equipped to manage the shifts that come with menopause and safeguard their heart health in the process.
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