Hot Flashes, Night Sweats & Heart Attacks

Research from the University of Queensland revealed that women who have severe hot flashes and night sweats after menopause are 70 percent more likely to have heart attacks, angina and strokes than women who have no such symptoms. The researchers reported that the risk of cardiovascular events is related to the severity of the hot flashes and night sweats rather than their frequency or duration. This new association came from analysis of 25 studies that included data on more than 500,000 women around the world. The researchers also found that when these symptoms occur before menopause, a woman’s chance of cardiovascular events increases by 40 percent. The findings may help doctors identify women who are at higher risk for the development of cardiovascular events and may need close monitoring, according to the study’s senior author, Professor Gita Mishra, Ph.D.

Source:
Dongshan Zhu et al, “Vasomotor Menopausal Symptoms and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A pooled analysis of six prospective studies.” American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, June 22, 2020; DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.06.039

More current health news from this week’s bulletin:

• Working Out Boosts Survival
• Only Genuine Swear Words Work
• A cool treat on a hot day – Cocoa-Banana Frozen Dessert!

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