The women who face menopausal symptom- hot flashes and night sweats- much earlier may get strong cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to those with later onset of such symptoms, according to the research.

Professor Rebecca Thurston from the University of Pittsburgh at Pennsylvania in the United States said that up to 80 percent of women experience menopausal symptoms at some point during the menopause transition.

Earlier, it was said that the symptoms of menopause persists for several years around the final menstrual period simply affect the quality of life. According to the new study, early onset of menopausal symptoms is associated with dysfunction of the endothelium-lining of blood vessel.

Thurston said, “Our research also suggests that for women in their midlife, menopausal symptoms might mark adverse changes in blood vessels during the period placing them at increased risk for heart disease.”

The study was conducted on 254 postmenopausal women with signs and symptoms of ischemic heart disease.

“The research could, one day, help us predict those midlife women who might be at increased risk of cardiovascular disease so that we proactively target them for early prevention strategies,” said Thurston.

By Prajakt K