Things You Should Know About Menopause

Menopause and Heart Disease

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The risk of heart disease increases for everyone as they age, but this is especially true for women in menopause or postmenopause. Menopause doesn’t directly cause heart disease, but certain risk factors increase during this time in a woman’s life.

During menopause, women experience a decline in estrogen. Estrogen is believed to have a positive effect on the artery wall of the heart by keeping blood vessels flexible. Other changes in the body associated with menopause (such as increased blood pressure and cholesterol) can also increase your risk of developing heart disease.