How Early Menopause Can Increase Risk of Heart Attacks

Women who go through early menopause may be at higher risk of heart attacks.

Experiencing menopause younger than 40 can be referred to as premature menopause, and with it comes a 40 percent higher risk of having a heart attack.

According to Tangela Anderson Tull, M.D., an OB/GYN with Hoffman and Associates OB/GYN, an all-female practice affiliated with The Family Childbirth and Children's Center at Mercy, cholesterol naturally increases with menopause, and that’s the biggest contributing factor to a possible heart attack. Blood pressure may rise too during menopause, which could also cause issues.

The good news is premature menopause is very rare; only about one to four percent of women experience it, Dr. Anderson-Tull said. For those under 40 who start experiencing less frequent periods, that may be a sign.

So, why does it happen?

“We don't really know what causes women to go through menopause early. So, [the] theory is that it’s environmental factors, stress levels. I’ve also heard or seen suggestions that women who go have their periods earlier may enter menopause earlier because they had a period for a total amount of time that’s a little bit longer. [An]other reason that we see… is go[ing] through menopause surgically, like they need a hysterectomy because of something like endometriosis, and they have their ovaries removed,” Dr. Anderson-Tull said.

A woman entering premature menopause means she has more time to develop issues from it. If this happens, doctors do usually recommend hormone replacement therapy to help.

The American Heart Association recommends exercise 30 minutes, five days a week—or 90 minutes, three days a week—to decrease any risk of health issues.

View Mercy OB/GYN Dr. Tangela Anderson-Tull’s interview regarding early age menopause and heart attack risk.