Hot Flashes and Heart Disease: It's Not In Your Head
Just when you thought menopause was a little bit under control – you learn about heart disease. I mean…really? First it’s the memory starting to give, and then it’s the warm flushes of heat (power surges, if you will), night sweats, vaginal dryness, moodiness, irritation, and insomnia. Finally you hear about heart disease.
Did you know heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States? It’s also responsible for about half of all deaths in women over 50 years old. I know sometimes you might think the hotflashes are trying to kill you, but checking your cardiovascular markers is very important.
During peri-menopause (just before your periods stop) and actual menopause (when your periods stop for at least 12 months), your hormones go semi-crazy. Progesterone dips low and estrogen goes through some wild swings before settling out below normal. This does all sorts of things to your waist (increased) blood sugar (increased), cholesterol (increased), blood pressure (increased), metabolism (decreased), thyroid function (decreased), adrenal function (decreased), and finally, your last nerve (decreased).
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