health
Menopause does not increase women's risk of cardiovascular death
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 19, 2011
Contradicting the long-held belief that the risk of cardiovascular death for women increases sharply after menopause, new research shows that heart disease mortality rates in women progress at a constant rate as they age. The findings were published in the Sept. 10 issue of BMJ.
Researchers examined mortality statistics for people born in England, Wales and the United States between 1916 and 1945. They found that at the time of menopause, there were no increases in female mortality rates beyond what is expected due to aging (link).
Study authors encourage physicians to assess cardiovascular health in their female patients from an early age. They also recommend that doctors teach their young female patients about healthy heart habits.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/09/19/hlbf0919.htm.
