The risk of women having heart attacks post-menopause is 5 times more likely than those who are pre-menopausal. Why is this? This is because oestrogen protects the arteries of a woman’s heart and when a woman goes through menopause her oestrogen levels decline.
Low oestrogen also means a change to a woman's cholesterol levels, with an increase in bad cholesterol {LDL} and a decrease in good cholesterol {HDL} as well as changes in blood pressure levels.
While heart disease is a concern post-menopause, during menopause itself women are known to experience heart palpitations. These are known to be harmless however if they are accompanied by a shortness of breath and or last longer than several minutes it is essential to consult a health care professional.
All women will experience menopause differently, with some only having symptoms for 3 months and others having them for up to 10 years, so it is essential we talk about this and help as many women understand or prepare for the change their body will go through.
How can a woman support her heart health?
Whether you are going through the change and or post-menopause nutrition is queen. Incorporating foods that are known to reduce inflammation and blood pressure such as berries, vegetables especially dark leafy veg, and healthy fats can have a positive impact on our heart health. You may also want to try herbs such as ginger, oregano, thyme and basil which are also good for reducing inflammation. You can drink these in tea form as well as add them to your food.
Lifestyle is always important, in particular the management of your stress levels. I did a whole series last month to support the promotion of stress awareness month and its impact on our health. However, you cannot go wrong with gentle stress-reducing exercises such as walking, yoga, thai chi, pilates and swimming all of which help the body stay in a relaxed state.
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