US EditionEarly Menopause Linked to Higher Lifetime Heart Disease Risk
Women experiencing menopause before 40 have a 40% higher lifetime risk of coronary heart disease, with Black women three times more likely to face premature menopause, researchers say.
- On Wednesday, a study published in JAMA Cardiology found that premature menopause increases lifetime coronary heart disease risk by 40%, based on data from 10,036 women analyzed by Northwestern University researchers.
- Premature menopause was three times more common among Black women than white women , with study authors suggesting the disparity stems from genetic, biological, and environmental factors rather than inherent biological differences alone.
- Dr. Priya Freaney, a cardiologist at Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, explained that declining estrogen triggers cholesterol and blood pressure increases, causing arteries to stiffen and accelerate blockages.
- Clinicians should routinely assess menopause history to identify high-risk individuals early, with Freaney stating, "The vast majority of heart disease is preventable, but people need to know that they're at risk early."
- Experts emphasize that menopause is "not just a reproductive issue; it's also a heart health issue," and lifestyle changes like exercise and smoking cessation can help mitigate risks, though researchers note further study is needed to understand underlying mechanisms.
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The causes of premature menopause are not fully understood and are likely related to genetic, biological and environmental factors.
Early menopause linked to higher lifetime heart disease risk
Women who enter natural menopause before age 40 face about a 40% higher lifetime risk of developing coronary heart disease than women who experience menopause later, according to a large Northwestern Medicine study that is the first to calculate lifetime heart risk associated with premature menopause.
Menopause Before Age 40 May Raise Your Lifetime Risk of Heart Disease
Heart disease risk may increase when a woman goes through premature menopause.Credit: Kinga Krzeminska / Getty ImagesNew research links premature menopause to a higher lifetime risk of heart disease.Premature menopause means going into menopause before age 40.The findings suggest reproductive history should factor in heart health assessments, experts said.Starting menopause earlier than age 40 puts women at a higher lifetime risk of heart diseas…
Women Hitting Menopause Before 40 May Face a Long Window of Cardiac Risk
(MedPage Today) -- Premature onset of menopause was associated with a higher lifetime risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), according to an observational study. Across six U.S. cohorts, Black and white women who reached menopause before age 40...
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