Menopausal Hot Flushes May Be a Good Sign for Heart

Nov. 16, 2011 - PRLog -- Nothing is more embarrassing on a night out with friends than the onset of a hot flush – first you feel your cheeks reddening, then a slow sensation of warmth spreads from your chest to your arms and finally you break into a sweat on a cool mid summer evening! You immediately panic thinking that you are broadcasting your menopause to the whole world.  Well there may be an upsiade.

New research published in the leading journal Menopause suggests that women who experience hot flushes and night sweats during the menopause may have a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and death.

"While they are certainly bothersome, hot flashes may not be all bad," said Northwestern Medicine endocrinologist Emily Szmuilowicz, MD, who is lead author of the study. "Our research found that despite previous reports suggesting that menopause symptoms were associated with increased levels of risk markers for heart disease, such as blood pressure and cholesterol, the actual outcomes tell a different story."

The research study examined case histories and medical records for over sixty thousand women that had been part of the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. The purpose of the WHIO study was to identify any relationships between menopause symptoms and heart health.

Women were grouped into a number of categories, those that suffered from hot flushes and night sweats during perimenopause and the early stages of menopause, those that suffered later during menopause, thosethat suffered through out and those who did not suffer at all.

"We found that women who experienced symptoms when they began menopause had fewer cardiovascular events than those who experienced hot flashes late in menopause or not at all," said Szmuilowicz.

The findings of the study are very significant as it was previously suspected that menopause symptoms like hot flushes may put women at risk of cardiovascular and particularly heart health problems.

"It is reassuring that these symptoms, which are experienced by so many women, do not seem to correlate with increased risk of cardiovascular disease," said Szmuilowicz.

Further research is required to identify exactly why the relationship works in the way it does but it will come as a relief to millions of women who are presented with menopause symptoms.

"Hot flashes will never be enjoyable, but perhaps these findings will make them more tolerable," said Szmuilowicz.

Hot flushes are one of the most frequent symptoms associated with the menopause and are experienced to some degree by 70-75% of women. Hot flushes usually begin during peri-menopause, about two years before menstruation ceases.
85% of these women will continue to experience hot flushes for more than 1 year and up to 50% for as long as 5 years.

For more information visit http://www.familyhealthguide.co.uk/menopause/hot-flushes....