Menopause Awareness: Here’s What You Should Know

Menopause is not often something that women talk about with each other or learn about in school. Only coming into effect last year, World Menopause Awareness Month (October) and World Menopause Day (October 18th) will help bring this period in many women’s lives into greater focus. 

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Menopause Mandate, a collective of motivated women interested in menopause and perimenopause (aka the time before menopause officially commences when a woman’s body starts transitioning toward menopause), want to change the support and advice women receive during this portion of their lives. Our Founder and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum has joined this movement to empower women at this critical juncture. 

Among Menopause Mandate’s efforts is an annual survey of American women to understand what kind of education and support is most appropriate to advocate for. To take the survey, click here. 

What To Know 

Not only does menopause bring hot flashes and night sweats, which are depicted in some movies or women swap stories about, but menopause can also be a time of increased risk for heart disease. 

Estrogen is a hormone that is protective of the heart, so as a woman’s estrogen declines, it can raise her risk of LDL, aka the bad cholesterol, weight gain, and diabetes, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. 

Also, as women go through menopause, their arteries can get stiffer and thicker, which also increases their risk for heart disease. 

What You Can Do To Decrease Heart Disease Risk

Some women can consider hormone-replacement therapy to replenish their heart-protective estrogen. 

The Mediterranean diet can help reduce the visceral adipose tissue – the fat some women acquire in their abdominal area- that often comes with menopause. 

Strength training, also known as resistance training, can help some women lower their blood pressure and get their cholesterol back on track. 

Always remember to consult your physician before engaging in any of the above.