Hot flashes, one of the most common symptoms of menopause, often hamper the quality of life of women. This new study shows in particular that in young women between the ages of 40 and 53, frequent hot flashes may also signal emerging vascular dysfunction and lead to cardiac disease. The results of the study have been published in the medical journal The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).
Prevent heart disease with the diagnosis of early hot flashes
The study involving 272 non-smoking women aged 40 to 60 is the first to test the relationship between hot flashes and endothelial function (the inner lining of blood vessels). The effect of hot flashes on the ability of blood vessels to dilate was only documented in the youngest women in the sample. No association was observed in older women (54 to 60 years), indicating that hot flashes that occur early may be those most relevant to the risk of heart disease.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women. The results of the study may provide valuable information to healthcare professionals working to assess the risk of heart disease in their postmenopausal patients.
“Hot flashes aren’t just a nuisance. They’ve been linked to cardiovascular, bone, and brain health,” explained Dr. Jo Ann Pinkerton, executive director of NAMS. “In this study, hot flashes appear to be related to cardiovascular changes that occur early in the menopausal transition.”
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-1739366311.jpg "Ellie Bloom: “Seeing the size of the hole in my heart, the cardiologist told me that I had a guardian angel”")
