Frequent Hot Flashes May Signal Higher Risk of Heart Problems : World Health Informatics Blog.

Research presented at this year’s North American Menopause Society annual meeting says persistent hot flashes could be a sign that you’re at higher risk for a heart attack or stroke.

By Don Rauf

October 13, 2022

Risk for heart disease increases in women as they age — years after menopause.iStock

Most women going through the menopausal transition will experience hot flashes, a type of “vasomotor symptom,” that involves a sudden feeling of intense heat that causes some to breakout in a sweat. Johns Hopkins Medicine estimates that about three-quarters of all women have these sudden and brief episodes, which can affect quality of life, disrupt sleep, heighten irritability, and cause depression. On average, hot flash symptoms last for more than seven years, according to the Mayo Clinic. But in some cases, they may persist for 10 years or longer. 

Reaching menopause means that heart risks increase because your body no longer produces enough estrogen to protect your heart. The American Heart Association notes that more than 1 in 3 women has some form of heart disease, and an overall increase in heart attacks among women is seen about 10 years after menopause.

At the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) Annual Meeting in Atlanta on October 12, Rebecca Thurston, PhD, director of the Women's Biobehavioral Health Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Public Health, presented data on hot flashes and heart disease risk, and provided guidance on what women should consider to help lower the likelihood of having heart problems.

“For years, vasomotor symptoms have been regarded as a midlife symptom with few implications for women’s physical health,” says Dr. Thurston, who is currently conducting work funded by the National Institutes of Health. “But a growing body of literature is beginning to link these vasomotor symptoms to indicators of cardiovascular disease risk.”

She noted that women with frequent or severe hot flashes are more likely to have conditions that raise the risk of having heart problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol, as well as a greater risk of underlying atherosclerosis, fat buildup in the arteries that can block blood flow.

Thurston’s presentation was drawn from two studies. One was the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN), which includes more than 3,300 middle-aged women participating through seven designated research centers across the United States. The other was a University of Pittsburgh study published in 2016 in the journal Stroke, involving 304 women recruited locally. 

In her research of 304 women, Thurston and her collaborators found that participants with more vasomotor symptoms had more carotid atherosclerosis (narrowed blood vessels in the neck that carry blood from the heart to the brain).

She added that observations from the SWAN study and current research from around the world also indicated that reported hot flashes were associated with atherosclerosis, and that about one-third of women appear to have frequent vasomotor symptoms, which especially appears to affect heart health.

Findings from the SWAN study also showed that women with frequent or persistent vasomotor symptoms faced a 50 to 77 percent increased risk of future heart disease. Participants, who were between 42 and 52 years old at study start, were followed for up to 22 years and completed up to 16 follow-up visits. From the start of the study and at each follow-up visit, women were asked (using a standard questionnaire) to report how often they experienced vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats) in the previous two weeks. Responses included six or more days (either or both hot flashes or night sweats), one to five days (either or both hot flashes or night sweats), or no symptoms. 

Thurston has also been involved with research that is looking at the role menopausal symptoms may play in brain health, including small vessel disease in the brain. One study published in 2016 in the journal Menopause indicated a possible link between hot flashes and white matter hyperintensities, areas of the brain that show up as bright, high signal intensities on MRIs, and are thought to result from chronic ischemia (a blood supply deficiency). This insufficient blood flow to the brain could result in a stroke. But study authors noted that further investigation is warranted and mechanisms linking hot flashes to white matter hyperintensities are not yet clear. 

“There’s essentially a coalescing of information from around the globe that points to the importance of these vasomotor symptoms in women’s cardiovascular health,” says Thurston. “I've been struck by how consistently we see this association.”

Although evidence has shown links between frequent and severe flashes and greater heart risk, Thurston and her fellow researchers do not know if treating these menopausal symptoms will improve heart outcomes. Studies along these lines are still needed and scientists are looking at factors such as inflammation, clotting, and hormone changes that may play a role. 

For women who experience frequent hot flashes, Thurston suggests seeking treatment from a gynecologist, primary care provider, or nurse practitioner — ideally one who is trained in menopause care.

 She also urges women to take a hard look at their lifestyle and health habits. “If you're smoking, now is the time to stop,” she says. “If you're having trouble with weight management, get some support for that.”

The American Heart Association recommends getting cholesterol checked every five years, blood pressure checked at least every two years, blood sugar levels checked every three years, and body mass index checked during every regular healthcare visit. Also, women are advised to get at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week to help lower their risk of heart disease and to follow a heart-healthy diet.

“During midlife, many things change dynamically for women,” so make sure you’re keeping those risks under control, notes Thurston. 

But she says women shouldn’t be overly scared of all these potential health threats. 

“It’s stressful enough to be going through menopause and having lots of these vasomotor symptoms,” says Thurston. “So get your basic vasomotor symptoms treated if they’re really causing you suffering, and make sure you’re on top of your cardiovascular health.” 

She also encourages women to prioritize their health as they tend to put the health of others before their own. “While that's a very loving thing to do, prioritizing your own health is critical as well.”

 

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1) This blog is originally published on https://www.everydayhealth.com/menopause/frequent-hot-flashes-may-signal-higher-risk-of-heart-problems/

2) This Blog is for Education purpose only and not a treatment for any diseases