New research finds that women in perimenopause have nearly twice the risk of poor cardiovascular health compared to premenopausal women, with significant declines in lipid and glucose scores.
Perimenopause, the stage leading up to menopause, is now being linked to a much higher risk of heart problems than many experts realized. Recent research based on a large national health survey highlights that women in perimenopause are especially at risk for changes in heart health, particularly when it comes to cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
What Happens to Your Heart During This Overlooked Phase
Perimenopause is the natural transition before menopause, commonly marked by irregular periods and shifts in hormone levels. Estrogen, a key hormone, helps regulate blood pressure and cholesterol,both of which play a major role in heart health.
Despite its importance, the effects of perimenopause on heart health haven’t been thoroughly explored. To gain more insight, researchers examined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which included more than 9,200 women aged 18 to 80.
The study used the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) score, which was updated in 2022 to include sleep duration along with physical activity, diet, smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and body mass index (BMI). Sleep is now recognized as a crucial part of heart health, since poor sleep is linked to worse heart outcomes.
The results showed that heart health scores dropped from premenopause to postmenopause, with the sharpest declines seen in women going through perimenopause.
The Numbers Reveal More Than Meets the Eye
After adjusting for age, the researchers found that women in perimenopause had almost double the odds of having a poor overall heart health score compared to women who hadn’t entered perimenopause yet. The chances of having poor cholesterol (lipid) scores were 76 percent higher for women in perimenopause.
Blood sugar (glucose) scores also raised concern. Perimenopausal women were 83 percent more likely to have poor blood sugar scores than premenopausal women, meaning their bodies had a harder time managing blood sugar during this stage.
Across all groups, diet scores were the lowest, while sleep duration scores were the highest. However, it’s important to remember that the LE8 only measures how long people sleep, not the quality of their sleep. Many women have sleep issues during perimenopause, which may not be reflected in the score.
Body mass index scores also worsened over time, and diet scores steadily declined for women at every stage of menopause.
“The menopausal transition may be a critical window for detecting hidden cardiovascular risks, with perimenopausal women showing significantly worse lipid and glucose health scores than expected for age alone.”
Inside the Body’s Shifting Balance
Experts believe that changes in estrogen levels are a main reason for these shifts in heart health. Estrogen helps control many body functions, and its unpredictable changes during perimenopause can affect both the heart and how the body processes food.
How Body Weight Changes the Story
The drop in estrogen can vary based on body weight. For women with obesity, the decrease in estrogen is less dramatic because fat tissue can make some estrogen. This may help explain why women with higher body weight often have fewer hot flashes than those with lower body weight.
Still, changes in body weight and body composition during perimenopause can increase health risks. Many women gain fat and lose muscle mass about two years before their final period, which can raise the risk of developing metabolic syndrome,a group of conditions that put extra stress on the heart.
Common symptoms like hot flashes, mood changes, and sleep problems can also increase blood pressure and add strain to the heart during this transition.
What Healthcare Teams Are Watching For
The study’s findings suggest that healthcare providers should pay close attention to heart health in women during perimenopause. Early screenings and preventive steps, such as regular checks of cholesterol and blood sugar, could help catch problems sooner.
Lifestyle changes, especially around diet and exercise, can make a difference for women in this stage. Since perimenopause may be a key time for heart health, focusing on healthy habits could help lower risks in the long run.
There are some limits to the study. Menopausal stage was based on women’s self-reported menstrual history, which can sometimes be inaccurate. Some health data, like physical activity and smoking, were also self-reported and might be affected by memory errors.
Researchers recommend more long-term studies with larger groups to better understand how perimenopause affects heart health over time and to confirm these results.
Looking Ahead for Women’s Health
Perimenopause is more than just a change in reproductive health. It’s a key time to keep an eye on heart health. Recognizing the risks during this stage can help women and their healthcare providers take steps to prevent future health problems and improve quality of life.
Source: news-medical.net