According to a recent study published in the American Journal Heart Association, menopausal women have a lower heart attack risk than men. However, these findings were show to be not as prominent in African American women.
It has often be assumed in the medical community that women going through menopause have a greater risk of heart disease. The purpose of this study was to compare men and women to see how a woman’s menopause type affects their risk of dying from a heart attack.
The study, which included 23,086 African American and white females over the age of 45, revealed some interesting information.
- White women who had gone through natural menopause had a 55% reduced risk of a fatal heart attack or other cardiac issues over white men. Women who had experienced surgically-induced menopause had a 35% lower risk of dying from a heart attack than men.
- African American women in natural menopause had a 31% reduced risk compared to African American men. The reduced risk for those who had surgically-induced menopause was 19 percent.
- The study also determined that those women who experienced surgical menopause did not have an increased risk of suffering from a fatal heart attack.
The lead author of the study, Catherine Kim, M.D, M.P.H., is an Associate Professor of medicine at the University of Michigan in the departments of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology. She states:
Black women should be aware that the belief that women have a lower risk of heart disease than men may not necessarily apply to them. So, it is particularly important for black women to engage in healthy preventive behaviors, such as exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight. But all women should adopt healthy behaviors, since heart disease remains the No. 1 cause of death in women.
Here at All About Women, we care deeply about every aspect of your health, including your heart! Whether you live in Lake City, Gainesville or any surrounding areas in North Florida, contact one of our nearby locations to schedule your women’s wellness exam today.
For more information regarding your heart and general health, visit our blog to learn more about the symptoms and risk factors of cardiovascular disease.
In addition to physical health, it is important to maintain mentally healthy throughout menopause. Read more in our Knowledge Center.