Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Problems in Women after Menopause

Abstract

Menopause is a very important event that occurs in women’s life . This transition usually occurs in the women aged between 45 to 55 and may last for many years. This comes with increased risk of problems like urinary tract infection, Bone health and osteoporosis, Obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes. The most concerning risk is cardiovascular disease. According to a study by Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA) , every 1 in 4 women develops irregular heart rhythms. Around 31.7% of women in the world develop hypertension. In Uzbekistan around 237.4 deaths per 100000 women happens due to ischemic heart disease. Cardiovascular problems like heart disease, hypertension, and stroke, become more common in post menopause due to hormonal changes, lifestyle factors, and aging-related risks.Although cardiovascular problems are more common in elderly males but is most common in older females due to decrease in amount of estrogen after menopause. Estrogen basically protects the heart of a women by maintaining blood pressure, regulating cholesterol levels by increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and decreasing low-density lipoprotein (LDL). It also has a role in reducing inflammation occurring in the blood vessels.After menopause , the risk of CVS problems increase due to decrease in estrogen level which leads to arterial stiffness, changes in cholesterol level, increase in blood pressure, the women gains weight which may lead to insulin resistance causing type 2 diabetes and many metabolic changes occurs . These factors lead to increased risk of atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes in women . Diet also plays an important role and in Uzbekistan , traditional diets are rich in calories which contribute immensely in obesity and metabolic disorders .Recent studies reveals that women under the age of 65 are usually suffers from Myocardial infarction type 1 whereas women above 65 are diagnosed with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). These women experience symptoms like Chest pain or discomfort ,dyspnea, Fatigue, Dizziness or light headedness, Nausea and cold sweats ,Pain in the neck, jaw, or upper back.