More than 1 in 3 women have some form of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in North America (Wellons et al., 2012).
STUDY PARTICULARS
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863 post-menopausal women with no history of heart attack or stroke underwent carotid ultrasound scans at follow-up year 12 or 13 to measure presence and size of carotid plaques.
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Changes in lesion size in relation to changes in lipids around the final menstrual period could not be made because only a single post-menopausal measurement was made.
- An increase in heart attacks and strokes among women is seen about 10 years after menopause (average age of menopause onset is age 54) (Appiah et al.,2016).
- The risk of heart disease and stroke is doubled for women who go into early menopause, regardless of ethnicity.
- The greater and faster the changes in lipid profile experienced by pre-menopausal women, the greater their risk of significant carotid plaque formation (size and number).
- Monitoring lipid profile earlier and more frequently during pre-menopause may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
- Diet and exercise intervention in midlife women led to significant beneficial improvements in risk factors, including lipid profile and LDL cholesterol.
- Early surveillance together with lifestyle changes may slow the progression of carotid plaques amongst pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women.
- Clinical studies have shown that CoQ10, Vitamin C and E, grape seed extract, green tea extract, hawthorn, and omega-3 fatty acids work to help maintain and support a healthy cardiovascular system.
- Together, these natural ingredients help to maintain a healthy lipid profile and may reduce the size of atherogenic and carotid plaques.
Hot Topic Small Talk – Volume 2, Number 1
