Early Menopause Could Predict Heart Disease in White Women

Early menopause can occur for a number of reasons, although the resulting health effects are often the same. But recent studies have shown that white women who complete "the change" earlier than usual could see one significant impact, though additional factors might be at play. The key is knowing as early intervention might make a difference in many cases. We have the full breakdown as well as tips for women who may be at risk.

Effects of Early Menopause

Early menopause, or the ending of a woman’s reproductive cycle occurring before the age of 40, can mark the beginning of cardiovascular decline regardless of the woman’s race. The issue results from reduced estrogen levels, which can affect more than a woman’s reproductive cycle.

The American Heart Association explains that women also need this hormone to keep the heart and blood vessels young and healthy. Early menopause causes this deprivation to begin years, sometimes even over a decade, earlier than normal, which means affected women have a head start developing related cardiovascular issues. But that's not the whole story.

Race and Heart Disease

The risks might be universal, but race may also be a factor with white women being the hardest hit by this particular one. According to a recent study, early menopause triples the risks of suffering from coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease, stroke and heart attacks if you're white.

The study tracked the cardiovascular health of 2136 women, white and Black, for an average of 14 years after menopause. According to the results, many related cardiovascular events occurred before the women reached 65, meaning earlier menopause for white women may also result in a younger age of death.

Although the researchers didn’t see the same increased risks in Black women, they did find that all Black participants, regardless of menopausal age, had higher overall cardiovascular risks than their white counterparts. In fact, just being Black increases a person’s risk of dying from a cardiovascular event by 20%.

Reducing the Cardiovascular Risks

There’s still ongoing debate over the use of hormonal therapy to reduce cardiovascular risks in menopausal women. Some sources find no real long-term benefits and plenty of added risks. Most experts agree that the best way to lower individual chances of developing these problems, regardless of race or menopausal age, is to adopt a heart-healthy routine: eat a balanced diet, stay active, don’t smoke and practice regular self-care.

Early menopause can have a lasting impact, potentially even slashing lifespan, so women in these risk groups should be proactive, even if they don’t feel any concerning effects. No matter what risk group we might be in, healthy practices now can go a long way toward aging gracefully in the future.

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