How Can I Keep My Heart Healthy After Menopause?
Maintaining good heart health is important at any age, but it's vital for women who have gone through menopause. After menopause, a woman’s cardiovascular risk is higher than it was in their premenopausal years.
Many women will spend up to 40% of their lives postmenopausal, so it’s important to focus on staying healthy.
Five Things You Can Do to Maintain Heart Health After Menopause
- Get screened. Women should continue to have regular regular heart health screenings with their healthcare professional to maintain a healthy heart.
The American Heart Association recommends getting your:
- Cholesterol checked every five years to monitor heart disease risk.
- Blood Pressure checked at least every two years. High blood pressure often has no symptoms but can be dangerous.
- Blood Glucose checked every three years to screen for diabetes.
- Waist size measured during routine wellness checks. An excess of abdominal fat can signal increased cardiovascular risk.
Talk to your healthcare team about your family history, risk factors and what you can do to prevent heart disease and stroke after menopause.
- Exercise regularly. Women should aim for at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week to help lower their risk of heart disease.
- Eat a healthy diet. Healthy eating is something you can do every day to help your heart and brain function properly and protect your overall well-being. Learn how to eat healthy without dieting.
- Focus on your mental well-being. Menopause may lead to anxiety and depression. If you've been feeling down, depressed or hopeless, or have lost interest or pleasure in things you do, talk to your healthcare team to get help.
- Find support. If you’re looking for support from other women, join the #GoRedGetFit Facebook group. #GoRedGetFit is a community of survivors dedicated to supporting each other while making healthy choices.
