Elevated cholesterol levels in females: Origins, risk factors, and additional insights
Menopause, a significant life stage for women, brings about hormonal changes that can increase the risk of heart disease. This article explores how these changes affect cholesterol levels and vascular function.
Typically, males have lower levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol at any age. However, females generally have higher HDL levels before menopause. This is due to the protective cardiovascular effects of estrogen before menopause, which helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
Estrogen, in its pre-menopausal state, plays a crucial role in keeping arteries flexible, promoting beneficial lipid profiles, facilitating vasodilation, possessing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and improving insulin sensitivity.
However, during menopause, estrogen levels drop sharply, leading to increased LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglycerides, decreased HDL cholesterol, increased vascular stiffness, and higher blood pressure. These changes collectively raise women's risk of heart disease after menopause.
The loss of estrogen during menopause disrupts lipid metabolism and vascular function, leading to atherosclerosis (plaque buildup) in coronary arteries, increasing the risk of coronary artery disease, strokes, and other cardiovascular events. Women who experience early menopause (before age 45) have an even higher risk of earlier heart disease and plaque buildup.
Progesterone decline also contributes but plays a more minor role, as it normally helps reduce blood pressure and improves blood flow.
At the time of ovulation, estrogen and HDL cholesterol levels peak. The variation in cholesterol levels may be related to estrogen levels. Females typically have lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad," cholesterol than males before menopause.
Reproductive health and pregnancy can influence a person's risk of heart disease. A person can take steps to lower their total cholesterol, such as maintaining a moderate weight, limiting alcohol intake, quitting smoking, getting regular physical activity, and eating a healthful diet.
General guidelines for screening cholesterol levels vary by age, with people getting their cholesterol checked every 5 years unless otherwise recommended by a healthcare professional. If steps taken at home do not help lower cholesterol levels, a person should discuss treatment options with a healthcare professional.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in females, accounting for 1 in 5 deaths in 2021. High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for heart disease in females. People with an HDL level lower than 40 mg/dL have a major risk factor for heart disease. On the other hand, an LDL cholesterol level of less than 100 mg/dL is considered optimal.
In summary, managing the risk of heart disease after menopause involves lifestyle measures and medical interventions when appropriate. Awareness and regular screening are key to maintaining heart health throughout life.
[1] Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease [2] Menopause and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease [3] Menopause and Heart Disease Risk [4] Menopause and Cardiovascular Health [5] Menopause and Heart Disease: What Women Need to Know
- The drop in estrogen during menopause can lead to increased levels of "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and decreased levels of "good" cholesterol (HDL), potentially increasing women's risk of heart disease.
- The protective cardiovascular effects of estrogen before menopause help maintain healthy cholesterol levels, but these effects are lost during menopause.
- Females generally have higher HDL levels before menopause due to the cardiovascular benefits of estrogen, but these levels decrease during menopause.
- Living a health-and-wellness focused life, including fitness-and-exercise, mental-health management, and proper nutrition, can help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease in both men and women, even during menopause.
- Managing the risk of heart disease after menopause requires lifestyle changes and medical interventions, as high blood pressure is a leading risk factor for heart disease in women.
- Women who have undergone menopause early (before age 45) have a higher risk of earlier heart disease and plaque buildup, emphasizing the importance of regular screening and prevention.
- Awareness and regular screening for cholesterol levels can help maintain heart health throughout life, as heart disease is the number one cause of death in females.
