The Elevated Risk Of Heart Disease During Menopause
The leading cause of death globally, coronary heart disease (CHD), is typically thought to affect men more often than women. However, it would be incorrect to assume that women are immune to CHD, particularly if they are going through or soon to go through menopause.
CHD is still the leading cause of death for women globally, despite the fact that it typically strikes women later than it does men. As with any disease, awareness of your own susceptibility is your first layer of protection.
As a gynecologist who treats women of all ages, I am especially intrigued by a growing body of research showing that women are more likely to develop coronary heart disease (CHD) after menopause. Age does play a role in the likelihood of developing coronary heart disease (CHD), but a number of studies have identified menopausal characteristics that are all connected to other established risk factors for CHD, like blood pressure and cholesterol.
According to a study conducted in Dubai with 238 premenopausal and postmenopausal women (and 265 men), women who had undergone menopause had higher blood pressure, heart rates, and cholesterol levels than either men or women who had not yet undergone menopause. The implication is that the risk is raised by the hormonal changes brought on by menopause.
If this stage of life is rapidly approaching for you, this may sound frightening, but you shouldn’t freak out. My focus is on assisting women in lowering their risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), which can be achieved by adopting a few easy lifestyle changes. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to maintain heart health prior to, during, and following menopause.
Menopause In Dubai
Menopause in Dubai is increasingly being discussed as women seek more awareness and support for this important stage of life. With the city’s growing focus on health and wellness, many clinics and specialists now offer tailored menopause care, including hormone therapy, nutrition advice, and holistic treatments. Cultural openness around women’s health is also improving, allowing more women to talk about symptoms like hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and mood changes without stigma. Additionally, Dubai’s modern lifestyle and access to international medical expertise make it an excellent place for women to manage menopause with comfort and confidence.
The Links Between Menopause And Heart Disease
Menopause should not be viewed as a disease. Every woman experiences this natural stage of life when her ovarian follicles, from which an egg is released every month, run out. It usually happens between the ages of fifty and fifty two. Similar to puberty, it is accompanied by a number of hormonal changes, most notably a decrease in oestrogen, the “sex hormone” that controls egg release. Let’s take a closer look at these different changes.
Levels of oestrogen: Oestrogen plays a different role than reproduction. Researchers have discovered that estrogen relaxes the endothelium, the inner layer of artery walls, maintaining blood vessel flexibility. This is important because a number of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), such as heart attacks and coronary artery disease (CAD), are linked to thickened and stiff blood vessels. One study found that women with low oestrogen levels had a seven-fold higher risk of CAD than women with normal oestrogen levels.
Researchers have discovered that estrogen relaxes the endothelium, the inner layer of artery walls, maintaining blood vessel flexibility.
Body fat: The redistribution of body fat is another effect of the decline in estrogen. The typical female body fat profile, which is found around the hips and thighs, changes to the abdomen during menopause. Because abdominal fat sits inside the body and prevents vital organs from functioning properly, this type of fat distribution is known to increase a person’s risk of developing all types of CVDs. Research specifically evaluating Middle Eastern populations has demonstrated that abdominal fat can raise the risk of CVD by 17% to 22%.
Cholesterol: Hormonal changes during menopause have also been demonstrated to affect blood cholesterol levels, another well-established risk factor for CVD. High levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol can cause plaque build-up in your arteries, resulting in the dangerous thickening of blood vessel walls. On the other hand, high levels of “good” cholesterol can lower your risk of CHD and stroke because “good” cholesterol aids in the removal of “bad” cholesterol from the body. Menopause lowers “good” cholesterol and raises “bad” cholesterol, according to studies that date back to the nineteen eighties.
Glucose tolerance: Oestrogen also affects the pancreatic cells that release insulin in reaction to blood glucose levels. Another established risk factor for CVD, declining insulin and glucose tolerance, are caused by declining estrogen levels.
Blood pressure: Similarly, it has been discovered that menopausal women’s elevated sympathetic tone causes their blood pressure levels to rise. Such blood pressure increases can increase women’s risk of CVD by 2.6 times, according to a seminal study with nearly seven thousand participants. According to Dutch scientists, blood pressure rises steeply after menopause because the drop in oestrogen level triggers an increase in the activity of the blood enzyme renin, which helps to control blood pressure.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT TODAY
How To Build Up Your Resistance To Heart Disease
These are only a few instances of established risk factors for CHD that have been demonstrated to be impacted by the oestrogen decline that occurs during menopause. Your risk of deteriorating heart health is also influenced by other long-term factors, such as poor diet and lifestyle choices. I understand that this might give the impression that there are multiple threats to your life. As if experiencing menopause wasn’t enough.
Your risk of deteriorating heart health is also influenced by other long-term factors, such as poor diet and lifestyle choices.
However, there is much you can do to defend yourself, so let’s begin.
Top up your oestrogen levels: First, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help you increase your oestrogen levels and reduce the hormonal changes. HRT comes in two varieties: oestrogen-only and combined, which combines oestrogen with progestogen. As highlighted in one report, combined HRT is recommended for most women because taking oestrogen on its own can increase the risk of developing womb cancer. This risk is reduced by combining progestogen with estrogen.
Breast cancer and leg blood clots are among the risks associated with combined hormone replacement therapy. However, the risk of these events is usually very small. But before beginning hormone replacement therapy, it’s best to talk to your primary care physician about bioidenticals, a new type of hormone replacement that is made with the exact same chemical composition as natural hormones and is, theoretically, more predictable and has fewer side effects than traditional HRT.
The assessment of oestrogen metabolism is a crucial component in making oestrogen replacement safer. Before choosing a treatment plan, a series of tests will determine your complete hormone panel and ensure your liver can safely handle the additional oestrogen. About 12% of patients should not take these oestrogens because their bodies convert them into carcinogenic hormones.
Eat a heart-healthy diet: Menopause causes a decrease in “good” cholesterol and an increase in “bad” cholesterol. By making dietary changes, you can turn the tide back in your favor. Cholesterol friendly chemicals called plant sterols and stanols are naturally found in many foods, including nuts, seeds, oily fish, fruits, and vegetables.
One side of the deal is to include more heart-healthy foods in your diet; the other is to cut out foods that promote weight gain or elevated cholesterol, particularly processed foods high in calories and saturated fats. Reduce your alcohol consumption and give up smoking as part of your heart-healthy lifestyle because these two behaviors have been shown to increase the risk of developing CVD.
One side of the deal is to include more heart-healthy foods in your diet; the other is to cut out foods that promote weight gain or elevated cholesterol, particularly processed foods high in calories and saturated fats.
Get moving: One of the best ways to lower your risk of heart disease at any age is to engage in regular physical activity. Menopausal women can burn off abdominal fat and lower their blood pressure by exercising regularly. The American Heart Association recommends “Forty minutes of aerobic exercise of moderate to vigorous intensity three to four times a week” as a standard exercise regimen.
Add supplements to your diet: The body needs a lot of vitamins and minerals to make up for menopausal changes, but vitamin D and omega-three oils are the two most important supplements for heart health. Vitamin D deficiency has also been connected to other cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as diabetes, and cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes. Research has shown that taking vitamin D supplements can lower high blood pressure. This implies that you should take supplements if you are vitamin D deficient, which you may be because recent studies have shown that over fifty percent of UAE citizens have low vitamin D levels due to cultural clothing customs and sun avoidance, which prevents the body from producing the vitamin. Based on your nutrigenomics profile the way your genes interact with nutrition your doctor can suggest the best option for your particular needs.
In contrast, many studies including a large review with 40000 patients have found that omega three supplements significantly lower cardiovascular events and deaths. However, before beginning any supplement regimen, don’t forget to consult your primary care physician.
Take Charge Of Your Own Menopausal Health
Although the effects of declining estrogen make the connection between menopause and heart disease evident, it is not inescapable. Not at all. Maintain a healthy weight, engage in regular exercise, eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and unsaturated fats, and abstain from bad habits like smoking and junk food consumption.
Most importantly, don’t worry! Consider stress reduction techniques like acupuncture, yoga and meditation and use this knowledge as an opportunity to make the lifestyle changes needed to keep heart disease at bay. In this manner, you ought to come out of menopause in better shape than when you started.
MEET THE EXPERT DOCTOR
Best Aesthetic Clinic In Dubai For Menopause
Best Aesthetic Clinic in Dubai for menopause is Perfect Doctors Clinic, renowned for its comprehensive and personalized approach to women’s health. The clinic provides top-tier menopause management programs designed to address each woman’s unique hormonal and lifestyle needs. With a team of highly qualified specialists, Perfect Doctors Clinic focuses on patient safety, comfort, and long-term well-being. Using advanced diagnostic tools and evidence-based treatments including hormone therapy, nutrition counseling, and holistic wellness plans the clinic ensures every patient receives balanced, effective care.