Estrogens are to blame: How early menopause ruins the heart

Early menopause is associated with an increased risk of developing serious heart problems. solve Experts from Korea University School of Medicine in Seoul. They talked about it in the European Heart Journal.

Researchers analyzed the medical records of nearly 1.5 million women, 28,000 of whom entered premature menopause before age 40. Apparently, for them the risk of developing heart failure increased by 33%, and the risk of atrial fibrillation by 9% compared to those who entered menopause at the time. The difference persisted even after adjusting to chronic diseases, bad habits, and lifestyle habits.

The reason for the increase in risks can be factors that simultaneously affect both the development of cardiovascular diseases and early menopause, as well as direct changes in the female body: menopause leads to a decrease in estrogen levels, which in turn affects the functioning of the body. cardiovascular system.

“Estrogen deficiency – hypoestrogenism – adversely affects blood vessels, contributing to the development of atherosclerosis: with sufficient estrogen production, the optimal ratio between different groups of lipoproteins is maintained, with a decrease in estrogen levels, their protective function is lost. Estrogens also affect the tone of arterial vessels and the blood coagulation system, age-related hypercoagulation occurs due to blood coagulation.

In addition, the vessels lose their elasticity, as a result of which the heart and other organs cannot receive the necessary blood volume, which leads to disturbances in their work. It is believed that seven years after the onset of menopause, women suffer from cardiovascular diseases five times more than before.

– Victoria Fisyuk, obstetrician-gynecologist at the SM-Clinic Center for Reproductive Health, told socialbites.ca.

The risk of cardiovascular disease increases with age for everyone, but in women, symptoms may become more pronounced after menopause, Alena Khripkova, a therapist at the SberHealth online medical service, told socialbites.ca.

“Menopause itself does not cause cardiovascular disease. However, some factors start to affect health more strongly during this period, and high-fat diet, smoking or other unhealthy habits that start at an earlier age have negative consequences. One in three women has some type of cardiovascular disease, and they are the main cause of death.

In women with early menopause, the risks of a number of other conditions are increased: mood disorders, Parkinson’s disease, dementia,” she says.

Fisyuk adds that in early menopause, as in menopause in general, dementia is associated with a disruption in the functioning of blood vessels: insufficient blood flow causes disturbances in the brain, Fisyuk adds.

Doctors emphasize that regardless of the age of menopause, a woman should more carefully monitor her health. Proper nutrition, adequate physical activity, and regular checkups by a cardiologist can reduce the risk of co-morbidities.

“If a woman maintains a healthy lifestyle and continues to lead a healthy lifestyle during menopause, her risk of heart disease and stroke is reduced. Prevention includes regular exercise (about 150 minutes a week), eating right, and avoiding unhealthy habits like smoking, which can contribute to early menopause and increase the risk of blood clots. The American Heart Association recommends a diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, poultry, fish, and nuts. Consumption of red meat and sugary foods and beverages should be limited.” Khripkova explains.

Fisyuk added that it is necessary to take the exam at least once a year. Women after menopause are recommended ECG, ultrasound of the vessels, ultrasound of the pelvic organs and mammary glands, mammography, complete blood count and C-reactive protein level analysis, a biochemical blood test with a lipid spectrum, in some cases a biochemical blood test. MRI may be required.

During menopause, hormone replacement therapy can be used to compensate for the estrogen deficiency.

In particular, the indication for its appointment is the prevention of coronary heart disease and hypertension, as well as the prevention of metabolic disorders of lipoproteins and substances in bone tissue.

However, you should not take hormone medications without a doctor’s advice.

“Therapy is prescribed when all the risks associated with the appointment of hormone therapy have been taken into account and calculated,” explains Fisyuk. – It should be noted that hormone therapy is contraindicated in deep vein thrombosis, thromboembolism, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, untreated hypertension. Estrogens are the main hormones in a woman’s life, sometimes their decrease can be different from the natural decrease – for example, after removal of the ovaries. If the cause is not cancer, then estrogen therapy will be justified in the absence of other contraindications.

Menopause is a natural physiological period in the life of every woman. Early symptoms include chills, sweating, hot flashes, headache, high or low blood pressure, increased heart rate, and insomnia. When proper attention is not paid to health, menopause can cause osteoporosis, arthrosis and arthritis in addition to heart problems and dementia.