Skip to main content
  • English
American Heart Association Go Red for Women
American Heart Association Go Red For Women
  • Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms in Women
  • Volunteer
  • ShopHeart
  • Donate
  • Donate
  • site search Search
    Search
  • Heart Disease in Women
  • Know Your Risk
  • Healthy Living
  • Stages of Life
  • Get Involved
  • About Us
  • In Your Community
  • Warning Signs
  • Volunteer
  • ShopHeart
    • English
    • Español
  1. Home
  2. Know Your Risk for Heart Disease and Stroke
  3. Menopause
  4. The Importance of Good Health Before Menopause

The Importance of Good Health Before Menopause

middle-aged woman carrying grocery bad on bike

Living a healthy lifestyle is important for all women, but recent research highlights the years leading up to menopause as a critical time to prevent cardiovascular disease.

The American Heart Association has defined ideal cardiovascular health based on eight risk factors, Life’s Essential 8™, that people can improve through lifestyle changes: smoking status, physical activity, weight, diet, blood glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure and sleep.

Poor diet, smoking and other unhealthy habits begun earlier in life can also take a toll over the years. Fewer than 10% of women in menopause get the recommended amount of physical activity, and fewer than 20% maintain a healthy diet.

The good news is, it’s never too late to make healthy changes and reduce your risk.

  • Exercise – Women should aim for at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week to help lower their risk of heart disease.

  • Eat healthy – Getting vitamins, minerals, fiber and other essential nutrients from the food you eat is important during and after menopause. You may need fewer calories for energy than you did before menopause. Talk to your health care team about your specific nutritional needs.

  • Quit smoking – Smoking is the most preventable cause of death in the United States and is linked to heart disease, stroke and other chronic diseases. Plus, women who smoke cigarettes are likely to start menopause about a year earlier than nonsmokers.

  • Manage stress – Stress can impact your overall well-being. Be sure you’re managing your stress and getting plenty of sleep.

  • Find support - If you’re looking for support, join the #GoRedGetFit Facebook group. #GoRedGetFit is a community of survivors dedicated to supporting each other while making healthy choices.

Your health care team can guide you on what your body needs, but you can use the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 – eight risk factors that people can improve through lifestyle changes to help achieve ideal cardiovascular health – as a guide.


Last Reviewed: Sep 12, 2024

X formerly known as Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Email Print

Know Your Risk for Heart Disease and Stroke

Know Your Risk for Heart Disease and Stroke
  • Menopause
    • 5 Things About Menopause Every Woman Needs to Know
    • Menopause and Heart Health Infographic
    • What is Menopause?
    • Menopause and Cardiovascular Risk
    • Estrogen and Hormone Therapy
    • The Importance of Good Health Before Menopause
    • Early Menopause
    • Heart Health After Menopause

Related Articles

happy family walking in urban outdoors

The American Heart Association Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations

AHA Physical Activity Recommendations for Adults Infographic

How much physical activity do you need?

Three happy women taking selfie.

Sign up for the Go Red for Women newsletter and connect to the world of women’s health. Put yourself at the top of your to-do list with our resources tailored to women’s unique health and wellness needs.

 

Go Red for health, Go Red for life, Go Red for good, Go Red for Women.

NOTE: All fields required unless indicated as optional.

CVS Health is a proud national sponsor of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement.
Goredforwomen.org/es is made possible through the generous support of the Adriana Gallardo Legacy Fund for Women's Health.

*All health/medical information on this website has been reviewed and approved by the American Heart Association, based on scientific research and American Heart Association guidelines. Find more information on our content editorial process.

American Heart Association

National Center
7272 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75231

Customer Service
1-800-AHA-USA-1
1-800-242-8721

Contact Us

Hours
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. CT 
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. CT
Closed on Sundays

Tax Identification Number
13-5613797

About Us

  • About the AHA/ASA
  • Annual Report
  • AHA Financial Information
  • Careers
  • International Programs
  • Latest Heart and Stroke News
  • AHA/ASA Media Newsroom

Get Involved

  • Donate Now
  • Make a Memorial Gift
  • Advocate
  • Ways to Give
  • Volunteer
  • ShopHeart
  • ShopCPR

Our Sites

  • American Heart Association
  • American Stroke Association
  • CPR & ECC
  • Professional Heart Daily
  • More Sites
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Threads
  • X formerly known as Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Tik Tok
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • National Health Council Standards of Excellence Certification Program page for Standards of Excellence
  • Better Business Bureau page for American Heart Association
  • Charity Navigator Home
  • Secured by Sectigo page for SSL certificates
×
American Heart Association

This link is provided for convenience only and is not an endorsement of either the linked-to entity or any product or service.

Proceed
  • AHA Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Copyright Policy
  • Ethics Policy
  • Conflict of Interest Policy
  • Linking Policy
  • Whistleblower Policy
  • Content Editorial Guidelines
  • Suppliers & Providers
  • State Fundraising Notices


©2025 American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
The American Heart Association is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
*Red Dress ™ DHHS, Go Red ™ AHA ; National Wear Red Day® is a registered trademark.