Menopause is a stage in every woman’s life that is inevitable. It is that period that a woman stops having her monthly period.
Usually, menopause is a part of ageing and it ends a woman’s reproductive years.
It occurs in a woman’s late 40s to early 50s.
Unfortunately, if you don’t prepare for this stage in your life it comes upon you and throws you off guard.
There are different things that go with menopause and one of them is the deprivation of some hormones. It is a stage that could trigger heart issues.
This is one of the reasons we are writing to you. We want you to know this possibility so that you can guard against it.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for both sexes.
For instance, it accounts for 1 in every 3 deaths in the United States (US) (1).
A study says since the mid-1980s, CVD has killed more women than men each year.
“In 2011 alone, CVD caused about 10,000 more deaths in women than men (2).
Basically, the study says CVD in women is a disease of aging, rarely occurring before the 6th decade of life (3).
As you get closer to menopause, there are things that happen to you. Knowing these things will help you a lot.
Categorically, there is often a deprivation of ovarian hormones.
One of these hormones, estrogen, is causally related to increased risk of heart issues in ageing women.
Functions Of Estrogen Hormone
This hormone is present in both male and female.
For our male readers who may not know, we will state what it does in a man’s body.
Estrogen is a hormone that helps in maturation of the sperm and maintenance of a healthy libido.
Men with a great estrogen hormone-makeup in late age are sexually active.
In women, the primary function of estrogen is the development of female secondary sexual characteristics.
Some of these are; the increase and formation of the breasts, the lining of the womb (endometrium), regulation of the menstrual cycle and more.
This regulation of menstrual cycle is closely related to why women could have heart issues when they reach menopause.
Estrogen And Cardiovascular Disease
As a woman approaches menopause, the ovaries make less of estrogen.
With this decrease comes irregular menstrual cycle (period). It can even stop for some months and then come again.
This is one reason, women who are approaching menopause would need to do some things to ensure this deprivation of estrogen does not have a negative effect like heart disease.
Indeed, a study of 12,115 women between ages 50 and 65, found that the risk of cardiovascular mortality was higher for women with early menopauses than for those with late menopauses (4).
This means that if a woman’s estrogen deprivation occurs earlier the risk of heart disease is higher.
Also Read: Menstruation Without Ovulation: How Possible? Causes, Treatment
Another study, also found that there is a relationship between estrogen deprivation and cardiovascular disease in women in menopausal state (5).
It says, there is a “timing hypothesis” which proposes that Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) started in the perimenopausal or early postmenopausal period is cardioprotective.
However, the study also says that MHT started late after menopause increases the risk of CVD.
This recommends that a woman near menopause or in the early stage of menopause should consider MHT that would support the level of estrogen hormone.
On the other hand, women who are well into their menopause may not need MHT, as it could trigger heart issues.
In all, as you approach menopause, it is important that you include in your diet, foods that boost estrogen.
They will help slow down the deprivation of this hormone at that stage in your life.
Some of the foods that help boost estrogen are garlic, soybeans, sesame seeds, flax seeds, dried fruits, dong quai, B vitamins, vitamin D.