Oestrogen is protective, so during and after menopause the risk of heart disease increases.
Did you know the following are heart disease risk factors in young women;
❤️pre-eclampsia
❤️gestational diabetes
❤️PCOS
❤️endometriosis
❤️the Oral Contraceptive Pill
❤️autoimmune conditions
❤️breast cancer therapy
❤️recurrent miscarriages
Why did we not know this???
Risk factors in middle age women;
❤️early menopause
❤️hot flushes/night sweats
Women are 50% more likely than men to receive the wrong initial diagnosis of a heart attack.
Women experience heart spasms, men experience stenosis (narrowing). The tests AND the treatment used for men SHOULD BE different for women.
Women may experience symptoms during exertion AND at rest. They may fluctuate over time (days/weeks/months) not all of the time.
We need more awareness, and it starts with each one of us.
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is the most deadly risk factor. Get your blood pressure checked. There are often no symptoms…..
Many menopausal symptoms are resolved when high blood pressure is treated. Hypertension may have been the trigger.
I want to thank Angela Maas #cardiofemanist for the fascinating presentation at the British Menopause Society annual conference.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, yet many fear breast cancer more.
We need to do more.
We need employers to do more.
Help create awareness. #KnowYourNumbers week is 4-10 September. Get in touch for information about Healthy Heart webinar for your workplace.
