You would spend roughly 30 years of your life — or extra — residing with menopause. That’s why it’s vital to clutch your coronary heart well being, says Shufelt. Right here’s what you are able to do.
See your physician recurrently. “After 50, each girl ought to have an annual checkup,” Shufelt says. Yearly appointments will help you retain observe of well being markers like your ldl cholesterol, weight, blood strain, and blood sugar, and assist preserve these numbers inside a wholesome vary to scale back your coronary heart illness danger.
In the event you’re at excessive danger for coronary heart illness due to excessive ldl cholesterol or weight achieve, or if coronary heart illness runs in your loved ones, your physician might advocate extra screening assessments. “Folks with a household historical past of coronary heart illness are at the next than common danger of coronary heart illness,” Shufelt says. “For these folks, we would use instruments to evaluate their danger, akin to a coronary calcium scan.”
Contemplate hormone alternative remedy. “We don’t use estrogen alternative to stop coronary heart illness, however we do use it in low doses for bothersome menopausal signs, akin to having evening sweats that forestall you from sleeping,” Shufelt says.
“There’s a sure share of ladies who may have troublesome menopausal signs for years — each girl is completely different,” Shufelt says.
In the event you’re in untimely or early menopause and also you’re eligible, Shufelt recommends utilizing a dose of estrogen and progesterone by way of the time of pure menopause, at age 52, to switch what your physique would naturally produce.
Moreover, life-style habits like not smoking, consuming a balanced weight loss plan, shedding pounds if really useful by your physician, and managing your blood strain, ldl cholesterol, and blood sugar will help keep well being throughout menopause.
“Menopause is a chance to know your numbers and have a look at your life-style as a result of train and weight loss plan are the spine and the cornerstone of heart problems prevention,” Shufelt says.
