X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Pregnancy Complications And Early Menopause May Increase Heart Problems For Women: Study

4 min read
Pregnancy Complications And Early Menopause May Increase Heart Problems For Women: Study

Hypertension symptoms are often mistaken as menopause.

Heart disease in women and men can be a serious cause for concern. In fact in some cases, it can go from a serious complication to fatality within a matter of months. That’s why it is important to take every precaution necessary to reduce the risk factors. 

In a new study by the European Society of Cardiology, researchers are raising the importance of early intervention. They are especially voicing concern about women as the study has made a startling discovery.

According to the study, women who experience pregnancy complications and early menopause were at higher risk of developing heart disease.  

Hypertension Symptoms Are Often Mistaken For Menopause

heart disease in women

Image Source: Stock

Research shows that up to 50 percent of women develop high blood pressure before the age of 60. But the symptoms they experience are often mistaken for menopause.

Symptoms such as hot flushes and palpitations in women are often attributed to menopause, instead of factors of hypertension.

While high blood pressure in men is directly called hypertension. High blood pressure in women, on the other hand, is mistakenly labelled as just ‘stress’ or ‘menopausal symptoms’ according to Professor Angela Maas, director of the Women’s Cardiac Health Programme, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

“We know that blood pressure is treated less well in women compared to men, putting them at risk for atrial fibrillation, heart failure and stroke – which could have been avoided,” said first author Professor Maas in a press release on 27 January, 2021. 

Heart Disease In Women Can Be Controlled: Importance of Early Intervention 

heart disease in women

Image courtesy: Pixabay

In light of this, the need for intensifying the detection of hypertension in middle-aged women has been raised. Professor Maas pointed at clues in a woman’s life. She added that these clues show just how much women need to start early with prevention. 

“We have to assess female patients differently to men, and not just ask about high cholesterol. This will enable us to classify middle-aged women as high-risk or lower risk for cardiovascular disease,” she added. 

It was also mentioned that there are several phases in life where it can identify subgroups of high-risk women.

With this, Professor Maas said, “High blood pressure during pregnancy is a warning sign that hypertension may develop when a woman enters menopause and it is associated with dementia many decades later. If blood pressure is not addressed when women are in their 40s or 50s, they will have problems in their 70s when hypertension is more difficult to treat.”

  • Women who experience preeclampsia were also said to be linked with a four-fold increase in heart failure and hypertension as well as a doubled risk of stroke.
  • Women who have early natural menopause before the age of 40 were also likely develop cardiovascular disease. This is associated with a three percent risk increase each year.
  • In comparison to men, autoimmune inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus were more common in women. These also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease around menopause.
Pregnancy Complications And Early Menopause May Increase Heart Problems For Women: Study

Image source: iStock

Heart Disease in Women: How You Can Manage Your Heart Health

Researchers included guidance and advice in the study to inform women how they can start managing their heart. They shared details on risk reduction during menopause, after pregnancy complications ,as well as during other critical conditions including breast cancer and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). 

  • One of the suggested method is the importance of adapting to a healthy lifestyle and diet. This can help optimal management of menopausal health. It also benefits women with PCOS, since they are at a high risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy as well as type-2 diabetes.
  • Researchers also advised an assessment of cardiovascular risk factors first before menopausal hormone therapy. So keep an eye out for any heart-related issues, hypertension, even blot clots.  
  • Cardiologists, gynaecologists and endocrinologists will hopefully also collaborate to provide the best healthcare for women.

“Women can help their doctors prevent heart problems and make earlier diagnoses by mentioning issues like complicated pregnancies and early menopause and monitoring their own blood pressure,” added Professor Maas. 

ALSO READ:

Researchers Have Discovered The Primary Cause Of Preeclampsia

Male Menopause: When Men Go Through Menopause, Too

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): Everything You Need To Know This Disorder 

Pregnancy Complications And Early Menopause May Increase Heart Problems For Women: Study

Partner Stories
4 Good Toilet Hygiene Habits for Kids to Have Early in Life
4 Good Toilet Hygiene Habits for Kids to Have Early in Life
Flu in Singapore: Is Your Family Protected?
Flu in Singapore: Is Your Family Protected?
6 Top Ways to Prevent Diaper Rash
6 Top Ways to Prevent Diaper Rash
Experiencing Mood Swings, Irregular Periods and Weight Gain Among Other Things? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hormonal Imbalance
Experiencing Mood Swings, Irregular Periods and Weight Gain Among Other Things? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hormonal Imbalance

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Ally Villar

  • Home
  • /
  • Health
  • /
  • Pregnancy Complications And Early Menopause May Increase Heart Problems For Women: Study
Share:
  • 8 Things That Can Cause You to Go Into Early Menopause!

    8 Things That Can Cause You to Go Into Early Menopause!

  • Chubby Kids Likely To Become Overweight Adults, Warns Experts

    Chubby Kids Likely To Become Overweight Adults, Warns Experts

  • This Made My Day: Woman Stuck in JB Customs Queue Thanks Students for Helping to Care For Her Young Kids

    This Made My Day: Woman Stuck in JB Customs Queue Thanks Students for Helping to Care For Her Young Kids

  • Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

    Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

  • 8 Things That Can Cause You to Go Into Early Menopause!

    8 Things That Can Cause You to Go Into Early Menopause!

  • Chubby Kids Likely To Become Overweight Adults, Warns Experts

    Chubby Kids Likely To Become Overweight Adults, Warns Experts

  • This Made My Day: Woman Stuck in JB Customs Queue Thanks Students for Helping to Care For Her Young Kids

    This Made My Day: Woman Stuck in JB Customs Queue Thanks Students for Helping to Care For Her Young Kids

  • Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

    Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.