🚨 Menopause, LDL, and Heart Disease: What You Need to Know 🚨
I’m sharing a powerful video from Dr. Paddy Barrett discussing menopause, rising LDL levels, and cardiovascular disease risk—a critical issue that’s too often overlooked in women’s health.
💡 Here’s what the research says:
A 2022 study (Hodis & Mack, Cancer J.) reinforces what many experts have been saying for years: Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is not just about symptom relief—it’s a time-sensitive strategy for reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and all-cause mortality.
đź“Š Key Findings:
âś… Timing matters: MHT significantly reduces heart disease and all-cause mortality when started before age 60 or within 10 years of menopause.
✅ Lipid-lowering medications alone aren’t enough—statins may reduce LDL, but they haven’t been shown to reduce all-cause mortality in primary prevention the way MHT does.
✅ Risk concerns are overblown—serious events (stroke, breast cancer, clots) occur in fewer than 10 per 10,000 women, making MHT’s risk profile comparable to other commonly prescribed medications.
✅ MHT supports vascular health—helping to maintain blood vessel function and preventing the cardiovascular decline that accelerates after estrogen loss.
đź’ˇ The Takeaway:
Estrogen directly affects cholesterol metabolism, vascular function, and inflammation—so the rise in LDL after menopause isn’t just a number on a lab report—it’s a warning sign of what’s happening inside blood vessels.
If we truly want to prevent heart disease—the #1 killer of women—MHT should be part of the conversation, not dismissed.
đź“– Reference: Hodis & Mack, Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy and Reduction of All-Cause Mortality and Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer J, 2022. DOI: 10.1097/PPO.0000000000000591
✨ What are your thoughts on MHT for heart health? Drop your questions below!
#MenopauseMatters #HeartHealth #LDL #HormoneThe
