Midlife, Perimenopause and Women’s Health

It is important to understand your health and your risk for heart disease and stroke as you get older. Perimenopause is the time before menopause when your body starts to change. This time can be a window of opportunity to check your health and make healthy changes.

Using the American Heart Association Life’s Essential 8™ to look at women’s heart health, researchers have found that women in perimenopause were twice as likely to have lower heart health scores than women who still had regular periods. The lower scores were mostly due to higher cholesterol and higher blood sugar levels. During perimenopause, estrogen levels go up and down. These changes can affect your body in ways that may harm your heart. They can impact cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, and weight.

Taking steps in midlife can help protect your health. It is important to know your numbers, like cholesterol and blood pressure. You can also help your heart by moving more, eating healthy foods, getting good sleep, and not smoking or vaping. These steps can help you and your doctor understand your health and lower future risks.