At this stage, the decline in the production of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone can have a significant impact on health.
The body of women undergoes many changes menopause and the years leading up to it, known as perimenopause. This natural step in the process aging marks the end of the reproductive years. During this period, the woman’s ovaries stop producing eggs and there is a decrease in female sex hormones: estrogen and progesterone.
While this change is a perfectly normal part of aging, the loss of these hormones can have a systemic impact on your health, particularly cardiovascular health. Estrogens have a protective benefit for the Heartand its loss can affect some of the specific risk factors such as cholesterol high, hypertension and weight gain.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, and the risk increases with age. Therefore, it is important to be aware of warning signs that may indicate current or future risk of heart attack AND leakage. To reduce the risk of both, you also need to trust your instincts.
“The most important thing, besides the signs, is absolute awareness of your medical problems and daily activities,” says Stacey Rosen, executive director of the Katz Institute for Women’s Health at Northwell. “Know what you can do, so that when something feels different — anywhere in your chest, in your belly, in the movement of your back, in your smile — you act on the problem and don’t ignore it.”
Additionally, it’s important to know your family’s health history, as research suggests that women are at greater risk for heart disease if a close relative, such as a mother or sister, had heart disease before age 65.
Knowledge is power. Here are five symptoms every woman over 40 should take seriously.
1. Chronic fatigue
Life is exhausting, especially for the many women trying to balance raising children, a career and other responsibilities. But there’s a difference between normal exhaustion and what might indicate a more serious health problem.
Research shows that in the weeks before a heart attack, the most common symptom for women is unusual fatigue. In one study, 70% of women who suffered a heart attack reported this symptom.
“It’s significant fatigue that feels really different than just tiredness at the end of a busy day,” Stacey describes.
It is important to take unexplained exhaustion seriously. If your symptoms don’t go away after spending more time sleeping and resting, contact your doctor, who may do additional tests.
2. Hot flashes
Sudden, intense redness and sweating of the upper body, especially the face, neck, and chest, is a normal and frequent experience for women approaching menopause or going through menopause. However, excessive and severe hot flashes can indicate that something is wrong.
Recent research suggests that women who experience moderate to severe hot flashes and night sweats are three times more likely to develop heart disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease than those who experience less severe hot flashes. The study, which involved 106 peri- and postmenopausal women and was presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Endocrinology in May, indicates that women should self-monitor their vasomotor symptoms and consult a doctor if they become frequent and significantly interfere with daily activities.
“The U.S. health agency has a definition that they use for hot flash studies, but I think that definition also makes sense from a clinical standpoint,” says JoAnn Pinkerton, a professor of obstetrics and dentistry. gynecology and director of midlife health at University of Virginia Health. “Moderate hot flashes are associated with sweating, while more severe hot flashes prevent you from functioning well, forcing you to take a break in the middle of a presentation or waking you up in the middle of the night.”
She says clinical trials tend to admit women who experience seven or more hot flashes a day, and that’s a good indicator for knowing when to discuss symptoms with a doctor and think about treatment options.
3. Depression
It is known that our emotional health It is intrinsically linked to our physical health. Therefore, it is not surprising that research has found that women with depression have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease later in life than men.
In a study conducted in Japan, researchers analyzed database records of more than 4 million medical complaints from patients who met the criteria for depression. The average age was 44 years. They found that the rate of heart attack, heart failure, stroke and chest pain was higher in women than men diagnosed with depression.
“If there is depression, it needs to be addressed and treated appropriately, either with therapy or combination therapy with antidepressant medications, with or without hormones, depending on the stage of menopause,” says JoAnn.
Every woman, regardless of age, should talk to a doctor if she experiences significant changes in mood, frequent crying, or suicidal thoughts. JoAnn recommends starting with a basic screening for depression through a primary care doctor, who can then guide the next steps.
4. Chronic shortness of breath
When people imagine a heart attack, they usually think of Hollywood movies, with the actor falling to the ground with his hand on his chest. But in women, heart attacks present differently and, in most cases, do not have this cinematic drama. They also tend to unravel over the course of several weeks.
Women are often unaware of this and often ignore the more subtle signs, especially shortness of breath. It’s easy to confuse shortness of breath with a common viral illness because, as a sign of a heart attack, it often accompanies other symptoms such as nausea and tiredness. Experts say women should see a doctor if the shortness of breath is unexplained or sudden.
“I like to tell people to get a sense of how they feel when they walk up a flight of stairs or walk around the block,” advises Stacey. “Any change in the way you feel breathing can be concerning. If you’ve never had it asthmabut presents several risk factors for heart disease, it is necessary to pay more and more attention to the risk that this symptom is related to the heart.”
After tiredness and problems with sleepShortness of breath is the most common heart attack warning sign in women. In a study of 515 women aged 29 to 97 who suffered heart attacks, shortness of breath occurred in more than 40 percent of cases.
There is no harm in seeing a doctor, it’s just to put your mind at rest.
5. Migraine
Research suggests so migraine They are three times more common in women than in men. They can be disabling, so it’s no surprise that they are the fourth leading cause of disability among women.
Migraines in middle-aged women mostly have to do with hormone levels: Perimenopause causes a drop in estrogen, which triggers these very specific types of migraines. heachache in perimenopause and menopause. Migraines can also be related to factors such as stress, dietanxiety, depression and sleep problems.
One of the challenges is that the symptoms of stroke in women overlap with those of migraine. For example, both severe migraines and strokes can cause vision changes and dizziness. Other overlapping symptoms are disorientation, numbness, and tingling. Additionally, studies reveal that migraines can double the risk of stroke.
If this is the first time you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is always best to seek immediate treatment. These symptoms are an emergency until your doctor tells you otherwise.
Even if your migraines are not linked to a more serious, insidious health problem, there are still treatments available that can prevent and relieve them. If in doubt, it is best to discuss any new neurological symptoms with a doctor. / TRANSLATION BY RENATO PRELORENTZOU
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
