Women who experience more severe hot flashes after menopause are more likely to develop metabolic syndrome and high blood pressure, according to research presented at the 25th European Congress of Endocrinology in Istanbul . The findings of this long-term study highlight the importance of using hormone replacement therapy for menopause in these women.
Metabolic syndrome is a group of three or more conditions that occur together that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. These conditions include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels. After menopause, women are at increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.
In this study, researchers from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens examined 825 healthy women between the ages of 40 and 65, who had recently gone through menopause, at the Aretaieion Athens University Hospital in Greece. They monitored these women over the course of 15 years , between 2006 and 2021, and found that those with moderate to severe hot flashes were more likely to develop hypertension and metabolic syndrome. Additionally, women who developed hypertension or metabolic syndrome were diagnosed earlier when they experienced more severe hot flashes compared to those who had no hot flashes or milder hot flashes.
Previous studies have also shown an association between hot flashes and cardiovascular health risk; Women who experience hot flashes are at higher risk of developing different types of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. However, this association has never been studied in women with varying degrees of symptoms on such a large scale. “Our long-term study is carefully designed, in which we match a carefully selected group of women according to the severity of their hot flashes and their age, and follow them for up to 15 years,” said lead researcher Dr. Elena Armeni.
Symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats can begin around menopause and can last up to 10 years.
However, hormone replacement therapy, a medication that contains hormones that the body can no longer produce after menopause, can be used to treat menopause symptoms and protect long-term health, especially in women who have hot flashes. from moderate to intense. “Our results re-emphasize the role of cardiovascular prevention strategies, such as the use of hormone replacement therapy, which should be implemented soon after menopause,” said Dr. Armeni. “This healthy group of women who are already candidates for hormone replacement therapy should be encouraged to opt for this treatment.”
Researchers are now interested in whether these cumulative health risk factors cause heart conditions. “Our study shows that women who are more symptomatic after menopause have more frequent cardiovascular risk factors, but it is unclear whether they are also more likely to develop heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or suffer a stroke,” Dr. Armeni said. . , women with more worrying symptoms will require appropriate health education to ensure they remain fit and healthy in old age.”
