To prevent the possible factors that may increase cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women becomes a very important job because the lack of estrogen is lost cardioprotective factor.
1. Why increases cardiovascular risk?
The causes of increased cardiovascular risk in women after menopause are many and are related to the loss of the cardioprotective role of estrogens:
Cholesterol, first enemy
Cholesterol is a substance necessary for the proper functioning of our body. However, it must remain within normal limits, since when is high is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Total cholesterol comprises mainly the LDL-cholesterol (acronym in English of the low density lipoprotein) and HDL-cholesterol (high density lipoprotein).
LDL-cholesterol is considered the “bad” cholesterol because it is he that is deposited inside the arteries, forming a cluster located (atherosclerotic plaques) which gradually begin to narrow the caliber or lumen.
However, HDL-cholesterol is considered the “good” cholesterol, the “garbage” because it is responsible for “cleaning” the walls of the arteries carrying the fat to the liver.
After menopause there is an increase in triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and an undesirable decrease of HDL-cholesterol, thus leading to menopause have worse cholesterol therefore be harmful to the arteries.
Increased risk of diabetes
Menopause is also associated with increased insulin resistance, which means there is a greater likelihood that the levels of blood glucose to rise, which is also bad for blood vessels.
There is evidence that diabetes carries an increased risk of coronary heart disease – CHD (coronary arteries are the heart).
The weight and fat
Moreover, this risk also increases because of weight gain and changes in fat distribution from peripheral to central usually occurs after the cessation of ovarian function at menopause, with or without hypertension.
It is a medical term used to designate generically the pathologies resulting from impaired blood flow, heart or brain is. The highest incidence are in the cardiac area, angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease and calls on the brain, stroke, also called cerebral infarction or stroke.
The artery is the anatomical structure responsible for the blood supply, and through it oxygen as an energy source, these vital organs. Therefore, the health of arteries depends on the proper functioning of the irrigation system of the heart and brain.
The most common reason for which “sick” is an artery that is deposited on the walls of certain substances (atherosclerosis), as cholesterol or calcium, and that this progressive reduction in the size or the lumen of the artery.
This decrease in vessel lumen thus reducing the amount of blood and therefore oxygen, to reach a certain area of the heart muscle or brain.
When the amount of blood is not enough to nourish and provide the energy needed to myocardial cells, or brain, they die. As a result, an entire area of these organs stop working, generating a total or partial collapse, depending on the extent of injury caused.
2. Increasing incidence
Before menopause, the same age, cardiovascular disease in women is far less common than in men. From it, the incidence of this disease in women increases progressively to within about 10 years comparable to the man.
The major estrogen deprivation that occurs after menopause is a major cause of increased cardiovascular risk in women, yet this increased risk in cases of early menopause, whether natural or surgical terms.
Today, it’s pretty clear the role of “cardioprotection” of estrogen in women before menopause.
3. Other risk factors
There are other risk factors for cardiovascular disease not associated with estrogen deficiency and that are modifiable:
Smoking: a toxic habit that can be shortened from 10 to 15 years in the life of a sedentary lifestyle practices, regular physical activity can improve cardiovascular function and decrease the risk of pathologies in this area.
Stress: increases heart rate and oxygen demand of cardiac cells.
Drinks: when in excess may increase blood pressure and heart rate change. However, recent news report that the fermented drink in small quantities (350 ml of beer or a glass of wine) a day may reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease.
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Tags: Cardiovascular diseases, cardiovascular risk, Cholesterol, diseases in menopause, LDL-cholesterol, Menopause, risk of diabetes
