Hot Flashes and Heart Disease: Are they connected?

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

By 

The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics recently reported on a study which is researching if hot flashes could be a sign of emerging vascular dysfunction.  They examined 272 women between the ages of 40 and 60 who reported having hot flashes either daily or not at all. The women did not smoke and had no history of CVD (cardiovascular disease).

I know the study was small, but since cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women (no, it is not breast cancer), I am happy to see that we are having more studies on how menopause affects our heart health.

Hot flashes are one of the most common symptoms of menopause. They say that 70 per cent of women experiences them, and around 1/3 of these women say they are severe.  As many of us know, hot flashes can interfere with a woman’s overall quality of life.

The study shows younger midlife women (age 40-53 years) frequent hot flashes may also signal emerging vascular dysfunction that can lead to heart disease. Because these hot flashes had an impact on the ability of blood vessels to dilate among younger women.

Bloomingdale's

Women aged between 54 and 60 do not seem to have this issue.  So, they are thinking that when hot flashes occur earlier they could have an effect on a women’s heart disease risk.

The study looks at the association between hot flashes and endothelial function. The endothelium is a layer of cells that line the inside of the blood vessels. The assessment of endothelial function is considered a key factor in predicting atherosclerosis -a form of CVD that affects the blood vessels’ ability to dilate and contract.  If left untreated, atherosclerosis can lead to more serious cardiovascular problems, such as heart attack, stroke, or heart failure.

I am hoping that this study will help health-care providers assess heart disease risk in menopausal patients earlier rather than later.

So, if you are between the ages of 40 and 53 and are experiencing hot flashes, speak to your healthcare provider about doing more cardiovascular disease screening.

The Amercian Heart Association recommends that you have and open and honest discussion of your current physical activity and eating style.  If you do smoke, be sure to let your doctor know this.  A few simple tests can help you detect cardiovascular risk factors in their early stages. The screening tests generally recommended are:

Fasting Lipoprotein Profile (Cholesterol, Triglycerides, HDL, & LDL)

Blood Pressure

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Blood Glucose

If the results are not where you want them to be, do not panic!  The test will enable you to make changes to reduce your cardiovascular risk in a positive way.

Remember, be proactive about your health rather than reactive.

The study outcomes are published online in Menopause, in the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).

My Motto:  Suffering in silence is OUT!  Reaching out is IN!

For more helpful information download my free eBook: MENOPAUSE MONDAYS The Girlfriends Guide to Surviving and Thriving during Perimenopause and Menopause.

Be sure to sign up for my fun YouTube Videos!

For health advocate and menopause expert Ellen Dolgen, menopause education is a mission. Spurred by her own experience struggling with the symptoms of menopause, Dolgen has devoted the last ten years of her life to helping other women during this often difficult time.

As a result of the overwhelming response from her burgeoning audiences and followers’ requests for empowering information they could trust, EllenDolgen.com and her Menopause MondaysTM Blog was born.

Together with her son, Jack, she created a FREE eBook, MENOPAUSE MONDAYS The Girlfriend’s Guide to Surviving and Thriving During Perimenopause and Menopause, a comprehensive guide to all things menopause—the symptoms, the treatments, and the long-range effects on a woman’s health. Dolgen shares the expertise of numerous specialists to replace confusion and embarrassment with medically sound solutions, presented in an entertaining and informative way. There you will find detailed descriptions and treatments for the symptoms you or your loved one may experience, from hot flashes and mood swings to mental fogginess and loss of libido, and lots more in between.

Visit Ellen at: www.ellendolgen.com/
Get her free e-Book: www.ellendolgen.com/menopause-book

Ellen Sarver-Dolgen

For health advocate and menopause expert Ellen Dolgen, menopause education is a mission. Spurred by her own experience struggling with the symptoms of menopause, Dolgen has devoted the last ten years of her life to helping other women during this often difficult time. As a result of the overwhelming response from her burgeoning audiences and followers’ requests for empowering information they could trust, EllenDolgen.com and her Menopause MondaysTM Blog was born. Together with her son, Jack, she created a FREE eBook, MENOPAUSE MONDAYS The Girlfriend’s Guide to Surviving and Thriving During Perimenopause and Menopause, a comprehensive guide to all things menopause—the symptoms, the treatments, and the long-range effects on a woman’s health. Dolgen shares the expertise of numerous specialists to replace confusion and embarrassment with medically sound solutions, presented in an entertaining and informative way. There you will find detailed descriptions and treatments for the symptoms you or your loved one may experience, from hot flashes and mood swings to mental fogginess and loss of libido, and lots more in between. Visit Ellen at: www.ellendolgen.com/ Get her free e-Book: www.ellendolgen.com/menopause-book

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.