Understanding Heart Health During Menopause
Menopause is not听just听gynecological. Fluctuating hormone levels听during this transition听affects听many of the body鈥檚 systems, including the cardiovascular system.听
鈥淏lood vessels are responsive to estrogen and it affects the way they dilate and keep blood pressure in听a healthy range,鈥 explains Dr.听Nivee听P.听Amin, director of the 麻豆高清 Women鈥檚 Heart program. 鈥The protective cardiovascular effects听of estrogen and progesterone may听decline throughout menopause.鈥听
Well before women approach and undergo menopause, there are some important听heart-health听risk factors听to听understand,听Dr. Amin听says.听
Know Your Numbers
鈥It鈥檚 important for patients to know听their numbers and start听understanding the ones that are modifiable,鈥澨she explains.听
That听means learning more about weight, blood pressure, and听(HDL and LDL)听cholesterol听and triglyceride听levels, and their听impact on听heart听health.听It鈥檚 important to听understand听which听factors听we听can control听(for example,听weight), and听those we cannot听(for example,听genetics)鈥攊n some cases well听before听menopause.听听
鈥Sometimes听there鈥檚 a听focus on other parts of menopause, but we need to highlight the fact that the number one killer of women is heart disease鈥攁nd women tend to have worse outcomes,鈥 Dr. Amin adds. 鈥淭his听is听a real public health need.鈥听
Patients also need to听work with听an internist to听understand the full scope of their health.听Together,听physicians and patients should听carefully review individual and family histories, Dr. Amin says.听They also听can听look closely at the risk factors and address them as soon as possible.听
Exercise Matters
She also offers听important听guidance听that鈥檚 鈥easy to say and hard to do,鈥 she says. 鈥淓xercise matters.鈥听听
Exercise helps people manage weight and (lipid and sugar) metabolism, bone health, and cardiovascular fitness.听It also听helps regulate blood pressure, and blood vessel responses to stress in the body and the heart.听听
Some women also may be able to use exercise to relieve stress.听
Women also need to pay attention to how they鈥檙e feeling. Even subtle symptoms can听warrant a closer look.听
鈥淪ometimes women will听feel听a repeated twinge, or听are听feeling more tired than usual鈥攊t doesn鈥檛 always mean they鈥檙e having a serious problem, but we听need them to report it,鈥听Dr. Amin听says.听听
Understanding the Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes can cause听certain听natural symptoms, like heart palpitations, that are听not听worrisome. And sometimes the intensity or persistence of such symptoms听mean a doctor should be notified.听Let your internist or cardiologist know how and what you鈥檙e feeling, and the length and intensity of the symptoms.听
Since every woman experiences menopause and cardiovascular changes differently, patients听should听seek individualized, collaborative听care.听听
鈥淓ven as we apply large-scale data and evidence, we take into account the individual,鈥 Dr. Amin says as she describes the supportive patient care at 麻豆高清. 鈥Because we treat a broad range of patients from different backgrounds, we know that one size does not fit all.鈥听
For example, it used to be common to turn to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) when women experienced symptoms of menopause, Dr. Amin says, explaining that this was an extension of the听concept听that women鈥檚听own hormones protected against heart disease.听But the added hormones from听HRT听raised the likelihood of听uterine cancers,听strokes,听and blood clots.听听
HRT still听may听help听certain听women address conditions such as听early menopause or听osteoporosis, but听physicians need to听monitor听patients听closely,听possibly adjust the duration of the therapy,听and perhaps reevaluate its use, rather than听simply prescribing听HRT for听all听menopausal patients.听
Multi-specialty collaboration also is key to听successful听women鈥檚 care.听
鈥淲e鈥檙e in communication with each other to allow for a team-based approach,鈥 Dr. Amin says, and adds, 鈥We are really dedicated to improving outcomes.鈥听
October is World Menopause Month听and we here at 麻豆高清 deliver the highest level of care at every stage of life, from adolescence to childbearing, to menopause and the post-menopausal years. Our team of North American Menopause Society Certified Menopause Practitioners focus on preventative care and patient education, empowering you to achieve your optimum level of health.听Schedule your appointment today.