Doctors urged to take into account women's characteristics in the prevention of heart disease

Cardiovascular diseases can develop in women long before menopause. Heart health is affected not only by age and lifestyle, but also by hormonal changes, menstrual cycle patterns, pregnancy, and mental state. Therefore, experts called for building prevention taking into account all stages of a woman's life, starting from adolescence. See the Izvestia article about what factors may indicate an increased risk and why it is important to combine the efforts of different doctors.

The heart has been demanding attention since youth

The American Heart Association, together with the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Society for Maternal and Fetal Medicine, presented three scientific publications in the journal Circulation. In them, the authors proposed a unified approach to the prevention, detection and control of cardiovascular diseases in girls and women throughout their lives.

According to the authors, the first menstruation that occurred before the age of 10 may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in the future. An irregular cycle, especially in combination with severe acne or unusually strong hair growth on the face and body, may indicate endocrine disorders that are also associated with the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

At the same time, the authors emphasize that menstrual irregularity in the first one to three years after the first menstruation may be normal. The sustained nature of violations is important.

Cardiologists urged to include physical activity in the treatment of heart diseases

How pregnancy and Menopause change risks

Pregnancy can reveal health problems that previously went unnoticed. According to Natalie Cameron, an internal medicine specialist at Northwestern University, high blood pressure during pregnancy, gestational diabetes, and premature birth are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.

The postpartum period is also important. Experts call the first year a critical time to monitor a woman's condition and control the identified risk factors. However, many face difficulties in obtaining follow-up medical care.

Another significant stage is the years before menopause. Changes in the hormonal background during this period may be accompanied by an increase in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, an increase in body weight and an increase in blood pressure.

At the same time, the former president of the American Heart Association, Stacy Rosen, noted that it is absolutely impossible to give up and accept the inevitable. According to her, it's never too late to change habits in favor of health.

Scientists have learned about the effect of intestinal inflammation on heart function

How Hormones and Mental State are related to Heart health

The authors of the publications emphasized that hormonal changes can affect the cardiovascular system throughout life. Estrogens and progesterone affect vascular cells, the heart muscle and the brain, and are also associated with changes in cholesterol levels, blood pressure, inflammatory processes and the body's response to stress.

Experts also drew attention to the relationship between cardiovascular and mental health. Anxiety and depression can affect daily habits, including physical activity and nutrition. Eating disorders, which are more common in girls starting around the age of 12, can also have consequences for heart health.

In the publications, the authors called for the assessment of mental health and general well-being to be a regular part of medical monitoring of women.

Scientists talked about the connection of menopause with anxiety

What doctors are calling for

According to the authors, one of the problems of prevention is that at different stages of life women turn to different specialists — pediatricians, internists, gynecologists, cardiologists and psychologists. However, medical data is not always shared between doctors, and information about pregnancy complications or hormonal disorders may not be taken into account when assessing cardiovascular risk years later.

Experts recommend paying attention to the main health indicators: blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, body weight, physical activity, nutrition and sleep quality. They also encouraged women to discuss their family history of illnesses and changes in their well-being with doctors, not limited to issues related to a specific stage of life.