New research reveals that women who experience severe and long-lasting hot flushes during menopause may be at a higher risk of heart disease.
The study, conducted by scientists from Karolinska Institutet and Linköping University in Sweden, shows a connection between severe hot flushes and a condition called atherosclerosis, where plaque builds up in the arteries. This condition increases the risk of heart attacks.
Published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the study found that 40% of women who reported severe hot flushes also had atherosclerosis in their coronary arteries.
In comparison, only about 30% of women who experienced mild or no hot flushes had this condition.
Atherosclerosis is a major risk factor for heart disease, which makes these findings important for women’s health during and after menopause.
The research was part of a larger study called SCAPIS, which involved 3,000 women between the ages of 50 and 65.
The women filled out surveys about their hot flushes, and the results were matched with detailed scans of their coronary arteries using a special imaging technique called coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).
One in six women in the study reported having severe hot flushes, either currently or in the past.
Karin Leander, an epidemiologist at Karolinska Institutet, explained that these findings support earlier research from the United States, which also found a link between hot flushes and heart disease risk.
“We hope that healthcare providers pay attention to the cardiovascular risk in women who suffer from severe hot flushes,” she said. “It’s important for this group to have access to preventative care.”
The researchers plan to continue their work by exploring the possible link between estrogen supplements, commonly used to treat menopause symptoms, and the future risk of heart disease and dementia.
This study highlights the importance of taking menopausal symptoms seriously, as they may be a sign of other health risks, particularly for the heart.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and scientists find how COVID-19 damages the heart.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about Aspirin linked to higher risk of heart failure, and results showing Blackcurrants could improve artery functions, blood pressure in older people.
