Menopause and Heart Disease
While I’m on a roll talking about menopause and the issues we face as women experiencing menopause, I thought I should also discuss menopause and heart disease.
I have always enjoyed the benefits of exercise and workout 3-4 times a week, but I learned from my cardiologist that exercise wasn’t enough to protect my heart against heart disease. I need to exercise, eat heart-healthy, and because of my family history of heart disease, I need to take medicine to protect against heart disease.
Did you know that heart attacks increase among women about 10 years after experiencing menopause? It is also our number one killer!
The Effect of Menopause on our Heart
Blood pressure and cholesterol levels go up when estrogen goes down.
In addition to a drop in estrogen, a woman’s body goes through other changes when in menopause. For starters, blood pressure levels start to go up. In addition, bad cholesterol, or LDL cholesterol, levels may increase and good cholesterol, or HDL, may decline or stay the same.
Triglycerides, or groups of fatty cells contained within blood vessels, also go up during and after menopause.
I used to have great blood pressure and low cholesterol before menopause and now I have to take a statin to lower my cholesterol ( I had borderline high cholesterol of 223 before taking a statin) but my doctor wants it to be below 150 due to my family history. It is now 140 because of the little white pill.
I researched about taking statins and wonder if the risks outweigh the benefits? So many doctors have different views on statins, some are against them and some are all for taking them.
As with any medication, the final decision comes down to me. Do I want to chance to have a heart attack or stroke because I worry about the side effects?
I discussed this medicine with my girlfriends over lunch and a few of my friends are taking statins. They are aware of the side effects but haven’t experienced them.
The things we all have in common is that we exercise a lot, play lots of golf, and we are postmenopausal women. I am amazed at how estrogen protects women from many things and once we enter menopause we are at risk of heart attacks and strokes just like men.
My blood pressure went up after menopause and is still higher in the morning after I wake up and lower in the afternoon. Today’s blood pressure readings are: Morning is 135/84 and at 3:00 pm it is 121/78) I have discussed this with my cardiologist about the restless sleep I have which may be the cause of my morning high blood pressure.
What You can do to prevent Heart Disease
Exercise
The bottom line is that I am exercising more than I did in my youth …..
The American Heart Association suggests exercising 150 minutes every week.
Exercises to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels:
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Run or take a brisk walk
I don’t run anymore but I walk a lot. I walk Bruno over 3 miles a day when I’m in Hilton Head and need to do it at home too. 
I also play golf which requires me to get up out of the golf cart and hit a ball many times in an attempt to put it in a hole far far away.
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Lift Weights
I love lifting weights and it’s very good for my heart and my muscles.
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Biking and swimming are also good for you and easier on your joints
Floating in a pool doesn’t count as exercise.
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Yoga for your heart
After all this talk about aerobic exercise and lifting weights, it may seem odd that yoga would show up here. Studies show, however, that yoga may reduce the risk of heart disease. In some cases, it may directly affect cholesterol levels.
Diet
I do eat mostly heart-healthy foods, but I should cut down on red meats, dairy, and carbs.
Did you notice Red Wine is on this list below?
Do any of you take medicines for cholesterol or blood pressure?
I would love to hear from you!
Be Fierce today and every day!
Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs,
I am 69 years young. I am well aware that women’s risk of heart disease sky rockets after menopause. I am on HRT and am grateful that the estrogen I take has benefits for my heart. I recommend that any woman near the age of menopause or after read “Estrogen Matters” by Avrum Bluming, M.D. and Carol Tavris, PhD. It will alleviate the fears that so many women have surrounding HRT. The fears were engendered by the infamous Women’s Health Initiative study whose results were published in 2002.
I had my last period in 2008 when the fears about HRT were at their height. I was put on HRT for two years between 2012 and 2014. In 2014, unfortunately, my insurance company stopped paying for my patches and my OB-Gyn retired. I was encouraged to wean off the HRT. When I did, I was slammed with severe symptoms that I was told I’d just have to suffer through. I was informed that I should be back to baseline at the 3 year mark. At the 5 year mark, my symptoms had improved, but were still pretty bad. I finally had access to some newly published literature including “Estrogen Matters” and I concluded that the worst health decision of my life had been going off of HRT. I found a new doctor in the fall of 2019. Sadly, she is one who believes in the old mantra, “lowest dose possible for the shortest period of time.” She inched my dose of estrogen up very slowly while I continued to have severe symptoms. This December I switched doctors and am finally on a dose close to completely alleviating my hot flashes and night sweats.
In short, I have been menopausal for 15 1/2 years and am just now getting an appropriate dose of estrogen! I think that is a travesty. I know I am not the only woman who has been undermedicated because of fear. Thankfully, well documented information is now available. We need to do our homework and carefully seek doctors who are up to date and who do not operate under the spectre of fear.
Thank you for sharing your journey with menopause Kathy.
I have high cholestrol but one doctor thinks I should take statins and another says that it will only reduce my chances of stroke or heart attack by 2%…. so much conflicting evidence out there. I have low blood pressure. I don’t take them at the moment.
I agree with you Hilda but do you have a family history of heart disease like me?
If you don’t see if switching to red wine will help lower your cholestrol! Wink wink…
I was very resistant to taking the statin but my father’s family have issues with heart disease.
Hugs,
Robin
Hi Robin! You nailed it again with this great information on dealing with menopause and having a healthy heart. I also have borderline high cholesterol but am trying to lower it via smarter eating. I have also cleaned up my diet considerably to see how that affects my blood work. My biggest thing I need to implement? More exercise. Cindy@
Cindy,
So happy to see you again!
I tried to lower my cholestrol eating heart healthy meals but I was gaining weight eating nuts and avocados!
Oatmeal gave me gas and as much as I love oatmeal and fresh vegetables, I prefer to take a statin so I can sleep in the same BED.( If you catch my drift…)
You will do what you need to do to live a happy and healthy life!
Hugs,
Robin
Robin, thanks so much for sharing your tips to a healthier lifestyle. I am just entering the premenopausal stage where everything in my body seems to be completely out of whack. And it is kind of miserable! I just added long walks into my weekly routine, but definitely need to change my eating habits. Yoga has been in the back of my mind for a while now as something I might want to try…but man, floating in a pool sounds really nice! (I know, it doesn’t count as exercise, but it is good for the soul!) Another wonderful and valuable post!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Shelbee,
I am so happy you keep commenting on my blog post because it’s important to have younger women understand that we all go through menopause but can share our experiences together!
Yoga and floating both soothe the soul but I think yoga keeps us limber a whole lot better!
Happy to see you always!
Robin
So informative Robin! I just love that you are addressing such important issues. Honestly I think most of us are more comfortable learning this way than talking to our doctors. There’s nothing like hearing it from girlfriends! My sweet husband fought with his cholesterol for years and finally went on a statin. It has helped. He has a family history of high cholesterol and blood pressure. I monitor mine yearly and so far so good but boy it is a lot of work taking care of our aging bodies! I’m so glad to see the focus on health rather than weight loss. I just adore all of your beautiful, floral print leggings – you look fabulous!
xo,
Kellyann
Thank you Kellyann!
I do believe this discussion about the impact of menopause on our bodies should be discussed and the more we know the better we make decisions about our health.
Yes, the statin really does work and so does the blood pressure pill.
I tried to do it with eating healthy for a year before I went on a statin.
I was gaining weight from eating nuts and avocados which are high in fat but healthy for us!
You’re the best my friend!
Hugs,
Robin
Hi Robin,
I did not know that lower estrogen levels can cause high blood pressue and cholesterol. I have my cholesterol levels checked each year by my doc and they are good so far. My BP is low, but that is how it always has been, I know it could change as I get older. I lift weights, use kettlebells and medicine balls, and walk.. I am going to hit the pool more.
My dad, sis and bro had/have A-Fib, so I had to get a test done to see if I too , had it. I don’t thank goodness,, as that would be something else to take care of.
Thank you for the info in this post. I do have a very healthy diet, and that is one thing I love about the summer, all the great fruits and veggies!
Have a great day!
Jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
Jess,
Yes estrogen protects our heart and it’s amazing that our blood pressure and cholestrol do go up with menopause!
Good for you about being proactive with your health!
Hugs,
Robin
I learned so much from this post! Thank you for sharing this information and taking the time to research the subject. Menopause was rough for me, and things have changed a little over this, my first year through. Diet and exercise play such an important role in our health at this age.
Nina,
Thank you my friend.
Yes I began researching a lot about menopause when I was wondering why I had so many problems.
Just like you we need to be our own advocate when it comes to our health!
Hugs,
Robin
Well done with the exercise, you put me to shame! I’ve been on statins for five years and it has been well under control…..no side effects. You must do what you feel is right. Interesting what you said about the lack of oestrogen leaving menopausal women at risk of heart disease and strokes. We really do have a rough time of it! I’m 51 by the way. Lou xx
Lou,
I’m so happy to hear you haven’t experienced any side effects!
I have done so much research on the aging process for women and have come to realize once our estrogen shield went down, we’re exposed to so many new problems as 50ish women.
I was shocked to learn that in 2017 it’s been recommended for people over 40 with high cholesterol to take statins.
The medical community seems to think statins are worth taking even with the risks!
Thanks for stopping by!
Robin
I know it’s so hard to know what to do. I’m having a bad time with the menopause but so far resisted hrt because of the risks. It’s hard being a woman these days.
Take care
Lou x