In a new study, researchers found that older women may need to start estrogen replacement therapy sooner to reduce their heart disease risk.
The research was conducted by a team from the University of Guelph.
Before menopause, women have lower rates of heart disease compared to age-matched men.
But after menopause, the heart risk in women rises due to the decrease of estrogens.
Estrogen replacement therapy can re-introduce estrogens after menopause.
Previous studies have shown that regular estrogen supplementation could decrease the risk of heart disease in older women.
In the new study, the team examined how the heart changes during the transition into menopause.
They found that it might just be a matter of time before estrogen therapy makes a comeback.
During peri-menopause, the heart appears to function normally, but in fact, stress molecules called cytokines can increase and heart muscle relies more on calcium to have contractions.
Over time, the stress molecules and increased level of calcium could damage the heart.
The researchers found that peri-menopause could alter the response of the heart to estrogens. The heart treated after menopause can be very different from the heart before menopause.
This means estrogen replacement therapy should start earlier than that has been considered.
The finding is in line with recent clinical results, which showed that estrogen therapy started early after menopause maximizes the benefits.
The team says that the timing of estrogen treatment is very important and that the heart is affected very early in the transition to menopause.
If the treatment can start soon after menopause, or perhaps even during peri-menopause, it has the biggest chance of reducing heart disease risk.
The leader of the study is Glen Pyle, Professor at the University of Guelph.
The study is published in Acta Physiologica.
Copyright © 2019 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
