A recent study has indicated that achieving better sleep, among various other habits, could play a crucial role in promoting good heart health during menopause. Prior research has highlighted that menopause can heighten the risk of various health issues in women, such as sleep disorders and heart disease. The study revealed that approximately one in five menopausal women attain optimal scores on the American Heart Association’s health-assessment tool, Life’s Essential 8 (LE8). Researchers also identified four key components of the LE8 that significantly influence future cardiovascular health risks. Menopause, which is a hormonal transition marking the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle, affects nearly all cisgender women aged between 45 and 55. It is estimated that over 1 billion women worldwide will be experiencing menopause by 2025. Women undergoing menopause often undergo substantial cardiovascular health changes in their late 40s, including increased visceral fat, heightened metabolic syndrome risk, changes in vascular health, and potential sleep disturbances. Dr. Samar R. El Khoudary, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, emphasized the importance of addressing these changes to safeguard cardiovascular health. The study, led by El Khoudary and published in the journal Menopause, found that only a small proportion of menopausal women meet the criteria for ideal heart health according to the LE8 tool. Key factors such as blood glucose, blood pressure, sleep quality, and nicotine use were identified as vital components driving future cardiovascular health risks. The study analyzed health data from around 3,000 women participating in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) to assess LE8 scores and heart health over time. The LE8 comprises eight specific health behaviors and factors crucial for determining heart health, including being physically active, managing cholesterol, eating well, getting quality sleep, controlling blood pressure and blood sugar, maintaining a healthy weight, and quitting tobacco use. Dr. El Khoudary stressed the significance of addressing these components during midlife to protect cardiovascular health later in life.
Health scores from the study by El Khoudary and her team revealed that managing blood sugar, blood pressure, sleep quality, and nicotine use were the primary factors influencing the future heart disease risk of study participants. El Khoudary emphasized the significance of these findings in identifying key areas for improving women’s heart health, while also acknowledging the need for further research to determine the effectiveness of targeting these factors compared to others. The study showed that only one in five menopausal women had an ideal Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) score, indicating a low prevalence of optimal scores among this demographic. El Khoudary highlighted the challenges faced by women in maintaining ideal heart health during the menopause transition and stressed the importance of addressing barriers and raising awareness to promote healthy habits.
Moving forward, El Khoudary suggested exploring interventions targeting glucose, blood pressure, nicotine use, and sleep to reduce long-term cardiovascular risk, with a particular emphasis on improving sleep quality and helping women adopt and sustain healthy behaviors. Dr. Chen, an interventional cardiologist, echoed the importance of managing risk factors to prevent cardiovascular events, especially for perimenopausal women. He emphasized the need for increased public health awareness and policies to support heart-healthy habits in this demographic.
Dr. Suppogu, a cardiologist specializing in women’s heart health, explained how menopause can negatively impact heart health due to hormonal changes affecting various physiological processes. The decline in estrogen production can lead to vascular changes, inflammation, blood pressure elevation, cholesterol imbalances, weight gain, and emotional stress, all of which contribute to increased cardiovascular risk in women during and after menopause.
“Episodes of hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and other symptoms can impact heart health in women during menopause,” explained Dr. Nissi Suppogu. She emphasized the role of lower estrogen levels in cardiovascular health outcomes during menopause and stressed the importance of exploring interventions to improve these outcomes. Dr. Suppogu highlighted the need for additional treatments beyond hormone replacement therapy, suggesting a focus on addressing sleep issues and other factors contributing to heart health in peri- and postmenopausal women. She suggested that understanding the relationship between LH8 scores, sleep, and heart health could lead to new research on sleep interventions for menopausal women. Dr. Suppogu emphasized the importance of addressing not only sleep problems but also underlying issues such as hot flashes, depression, and decreased physical activity that can affect sleep quality in menopausal women. Read the full article on Medical News Today for more information.
