Private MD News

Women who experience early menopause are at risk for heart disease

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Women who experience menopause at a young age may want to consider cholesterol testing to determine their risk for heart disease due to recent findings suggesting that they are more likely to suffer a cardiovascular event if they experience menopause early in life.

Researchers from the University of Alabama recruited more than 2,500 women for the study, 28 percent of whom reported early menopause. They then tracked the medical records of these women.

It was found that those who reported early menopause were significantly more likely to experience a cardiovascular event including heart attack and stroke.

Melissa Wellons, who led the research, said that the new information could be important in determining a woman's risk of heart disease. This could help many avoid heart complications altogether.

"It is important for women to know that early menopause is a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease - the number one killer of American women," she said. "They can then work harder to improve their modifiable risk factors, such as high cholesterol and blood pressure, by exercising and following a healthy diet."