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The menopause link to 40% of deaths in women
Menopause is a time of hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, bloating, fatigue, thinning hair and other uncomfortable and downright irritating symptoms.
But even worse, for some women, the transition can also mean that higher risks for heart attack and stroke are just around the corner.
Now, researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have discovered just how menopause is linked to the number one killer of women.
The good news is that, by understanding the risks, women everywhere can have a better shot at a long, heart-healthy life.
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Your heart on menopause
Many people still think of cardiovascular disease as “a man’s disease.” But in truth, it’s the biggest killer of women, responsible for approximately 40 percent of all deaths.
Research has already shown that the risk of heart disease in women rises sharply after menopause. Though it’s not been clearly understood why. However, we do know that negative changes in blood fats (or lipids) may play a role since they tend to occur during the perimenopause period.
Sadly, scientists had only looked into the most basic lipid tests in women (think LDL, known as bad cholesterol, HDL or good cholesterol and triglycerides), so we haven’t had all the facts.
Luckily, that’s changed thanks to a Texas research team that delved into advanced lipid problems in menopausal women, including what are known as lipid subfractions and particle numbers, which have shown to be far better at predicting cardiovascular disease.
Advanced tests reveal threat to menopausal hearts
The researchers performed these top-tier blood tests on over 1,240 pre-, peri- and post-menopausal women and another 1,340 plus men for comparison. They then followed up for approximately seven years.
What they discovered was this:
- A big increase in “bad cholesterol.” All three female groups had an increase in LDL-P (the number of bad cholesterol particles) compared to men but the greatest percent change was found to be between peri and post groups at 8.3 percent. LDL-P is a hidden risk for cardiovascular disease.
- A loss of “good cholesterol.” Compared to men, post-menopausal women had the greatest percent change of HDL-P (the number of good cholesterol particles) with a negative change of 4.8%. When HDL-P count is low, you are trending towards insulin resistance and a greater risk of heart attack and stroke.
- Negative changes for blood vessels. Small-dense LDL had a greater percent change in the peri-menopausal group when compared to men with a change of 213%. This percent change is ~15% higher than both pre- and post-menopause groups. Smaller LDL-P size can more easily enter the blood vessel wall and cause heart disease. Worse, small dense LDL can more easily get into the artery wall, leading to arteriosclerosis.
“We found that menopause is associated with adverse changes in lipoprotein profiles, with the most pronounced changes found to be in increases in ‘bad’ LDL-particles and subfractions observed for peri-menopausal women,” said study author Dr. Stephanie Moreno. “When looked at together, these changes could help explain the increase of cardiovascular disease in post-menopausal women and help determine if earlier interventions are warranted.”
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Be proactive about your heart risks
One out of three U.S. adults has some form of heart disease. Yet, approximately 50% of people who experience a heart attack have “normal” cholesterol results.
So if you’ve made the transition to menopause or soon will, ask your doctor about these advanced blood tests. It makes sense to use the most accurate and predictive testing for risk assessment — especially now that we know the transition to menopause can drive your lipid values into the danger zone.
It also makes sense to stay on top of the latest developments about women’s heart health. For example, scientists have found that beets can give back some of the heart protection that menopause steals…
In experiments with postmenopausal women who drank beetroot juice, researchers saw such improvements in blood flow, they determined if the level of improved blood-vessel function could be maintained over the postmenopausal years — it could significantly reduce the risk to women’s heart health.
Why beetroot juice?
When a woman’s estrogen production tanks, so does the level of nitric oxide (NO) normally produced by her body. Beets help ramp it back up. NO is a signaling molecule in the endothelial cells that line the walls of our arteries. NO functions as a powerful vasodilator and an important regulator of the cardiovascular system.
Editor’s note: There are perfectly safe and natural ways to decrease your risk of blood clots including the 25-cent vitamin, the nutrient that acts as a natural blood thinner and the powerful herb that helps clear plaque. To discover these and other secrets of long-lived hearts, click here for Hushed Up Natural Heart Cures and Common Misconceptions of Popular Heart Treatments!
Sources:
Menopause potentially linked to adverse cardiovascular health through blood fat profile changes — EurekAlert!
By Dr. Adria Schmedthorst
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