Menopause is a time when your monthly menstruation or periods stop. It happens due to the loss of ovarian follicular function. At this point, the ovaries stop releasing eggs for fertilisation. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that the regularity and length of the menstrual cycle varies across a woman’s reproductive life span, but the age at which natural menopause occurs is generally between 45 and 55 years for women worldwide.

Menopause is usually diagnosed when you go without a menstrual period, vaginal bleeding or spotting for 12 months. While menopause is natural, one might have several physical symptoms such as hot flashes, poor sleep quality, low energy and bad mood among others. There are several treatments for addressing the symptoms of menopause and these include hormone therapy and lifestyle changes.

Menopause significantly impacts several aspects of an individual’s health such as bone health, weight gain, urinary incontinence and heart health.

Menopause can increase the risk of heart disease for women due to the changes in the body. Heart disease is a condition wherein the heart and blood vessels don’t work properly. After menopause, the chances of women developing heart disease increase significantly. Here, take a look at the reasons.

Prior to menopause, a woman’s body makes more of a hormone called oestrogen. This hormone helps to protect the heart by keeping blood vessels flexible, thereby, allowing them to expand and contract easily. It also helps to maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

However, when a woman undergoes menopause, oestrogen levels tend to drop. Without oestrogen, the blood vessels can become stiff, thereby, making it difficult for blood to flow. This can also lead to high blood pressure which is a major risk factor for heart disease.

A lot of women tend to gain weight during menopause which increases the risk of heart disease. As women age and their metabolism slows, they tend to gain more fat, especially around the abdomen. This fat, also known as visceral fat is linked to higher risks of heart problems.

Along with this, there is also an increase in cholesterol levels. LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol tends to increase while HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol tends to decrease. When you have higher LDL, it can lead to the build of plaque in the arteries, thereby, narrowing them and making it difficult for blood to pass through. The build-up of plaque is called atherosclerosis which is also a major cause of heart attack and stroke.

Other menopause symptoms like stress, sleep problems and mood changes can also indirectly cause heart disease. Lack of sleep and chronic stress cause inflammation in the body which can damage blood vessels over time.

Therefore, to reduce the risk of heart disease after menopause, it is important that you maintain a healthy lifestyle. This also includes eating a heart-healthy diet, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking, managing stress and keeping a check on cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

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