Heart Health & Menopause Do You Know The Facts?

As estrogen declines during menopause, several key changes occur:

• Arteries become stiffer, leading to increased blood pressure.

• Cholesterol levels shift—HDL (good cholesterol) declines, while LDL (bad cholesterol) increases.

• Visceral fat storage increases, contributing to insulin resistance.

• Overall cardiovascular risk rises.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): A Heart Health Tool?

The "timing hypothesis" suggests that starting HRT early in menopause may have cardiovascular benefits. Some research indicates that women who begin HRT within 10 years of menopause experience reduced mortality and heart disease risk.

Additionally, transdermal bioidentical estrogen (patch or gel) appears to have fewer risks than oral estrogen, with potential benefits for arterial health and metabolism. However, more research is needed to confirm long-term safety and effectiveness.

Statins vs. Estrogen: Which is Better for Heart Disease Prevention?

• Statins reduce heart disease risk by 30%.

• Estrogen therapy shows similar 30% risk reduction in some studies.

• A personalized, precision-based approach is key—there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Rather than choosing one treatment over another, a comprehensive strategy—including lifestyle, medication, and possibly hormone therapy—offers the best protection.

Lifestyle is the Ultimate Medicine

Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum puts it simply:
“The most potent medication is exercise.”

No matter what medications you take, lifestyle choices will always be the foundation of heart health. Medication is a ‘supplement’ for how you live your life. Deciding how much you will invest in yourself including how physically active you are, what foods you eat, your sleep, what risky behaviors you indulge in like alcohol or smoking, and how you protect your mental health impact your overall health, and the health of your heart. Your heart holds your life story.

How to Take Control of Your Heart Health

1️⃣ Educate yourself about women’s unique heart disease risks.
2️⃣ Empower yourself with heart-healthy lifestyle changes.
3️⃣ Advocate for better care—demand testing and treatment that takes women’s health into account.

How Much Do You Love Yourself? ❤️

Your heart is your responsibility. Are you willing to care for it? Are you willing to protect it?

80% of heart disease is preventable—how much do you love yourself enough to make the changes that will keep you living a long, vibrant life?

Check Out Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum’s resources including:

Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum’s book: Every Woman’s Guide to a Heart-Healthy Life

Adesso- Heart Health program 

Watch our video interview with Dr. Steinbaum

Resources

Babič, F., Olejár, J., Vantová, Z., & Paralič, J. (2017). Predictive and descriptive analysis for heart disease diagnosis. 2017 Federated Conference on Computer Science and Information Systems (FedCSIS), 155-163. https://doi.org/10.15439/2017F219.

Bird CE, Fremont AM, Bierman AS, Wickstrom S, Shah M, Rector T, Horstman T, Escarce JJ. Does quality of care for cardiovascular disease and diabetes differ by gender for enrollees in managed care plans? Womens Health Issues. 2007;17:131–138. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2007.03.001.

Chou AF, Scholle SH, Weisman CS, Bierman AS, Correa-de-Araujo R, Mosca L. Gender disparities in the quality of cardiovascular disease care in private managed care plans. Womens Health Issues. 2007;17:120–130. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2007.03.002.

Coke, Lola A. PhD, ACNS-BC, FAHA, FPCNA, FAAN; Hayman, Laura L. PhD, MSN, FAAN, FAHA, FPCNA. Women’s Awareness of Heart Disease and Risk: Two Steps Forward and One Step Back. The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing 36(1):p 6-7, 1/2 2021. | DOI: 10.1097/JCN.0000000000000772

Daly C, Clemens F, Lopez Sendon JL, Tavazzi L, Boersma E, Danchin N, Delahaye F, Gitt A, Julian D, Mulcahy D, Ruzyllo W, Thygesen K, Verheugt F, Fox KM; Euro Heart Survey Investigators. Gender differences in the management and clinical outcome of stable angina. Circulation. 2006 Jan 31;113(4):490-8. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.561647. PMID: 16449728.

Hodis, H., & Mack, W. (2015). Hormone therapy and risk of all-cause mortality in women treated with statins.. Menopause, 22 4, 363-4 . https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000000458.

Garcia, M., Mulvagh, S., Merz, C., Julie, E., , B., & Manson, J. (2016). Cardiovascular Disease in Women: Clinical Perspectives.. Circulation research, 118 8, 1273-93 . https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.307547.

Lobo, R. (2017). Hormone-replacement therapy: current thinking. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 13, 220-231. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2016.164.

Mcmahan, C., Gidding, S., Malcom, G., Schreiner, P., Strong, J., Tracy, R., Williams, O., & Mcgill, H. (2007). Comparison of coronary heart disease risk factors in autopsied young adults from the PDAY Study with living young adults from the CARDIA study.. Cardiovascular pathology : the official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Pathology, 16 3, 151-8 . https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CARPATH.2006.12.003.

Mueck, A., Seeger, H., & Wallwiener, D. (2004). Estrogen/Statin-Kombination: Wirkung auf Marker für die Plaquestabilität. Geburtshilfe Und Frauenheilkunde, 64, 59-62. https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2003-44699.

Stevenson, J. (2002). Hormone therapy and heart disease. The Lancet, 359. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(02)07849-2.

Suaya JA, Shepard DS, Normand SL, Ades PA, Prottas J, Stason WB. Use of cardiac rehabilitation by Medicare beneficiaries after myocardial infarction or coronary bypass surgery. Circulation. 2007;116:1653–1662. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.701466.

Vaideeswar, P., Tyagi, S., & Singaravel, S. (2019). Pathology of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease in the young Indian population. Forensic Sciences Research, 4, 241 - 246. https://doi.org/10.1080/20961790.2019.1592315.

Witt BJ, Jacobsen SJ, Weston SA, Killian JM, Meverden RA, Allison TG, Reeder GS, Roger VL. Cardiac rehabilitation after myocardial infarction in the community. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2004;44:988–996. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2004.05.062.

https://www.heart.org/en/news/2023/02/20/the-connection-between-menopause-and-cardiovascular-disease-risks