Hello ,

October is designated as Menopause Awareness Month, which would explain any sudden increase in the advertising for products and information you may have noticed.

For me every month is great for supporting and empowering as many people as possible in their understanding of Menopause, but I do appreciate the special focus.

You may be wondering who gave October this special status, it’s the International Menopause Society, which is also a thing.

Menopause Awareness Day is an opportunity to educate women about the natural hormonal changes occurring in their bodies and empower them with knowledge and feel supported to make informed decisions regarding their health and wellbeing. 

Each year, there is a theme for the Day. 

This year 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲. (Heart Health)

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁? 
During menopause, the decline in oestrogen levels can affect the heart and blood vessels. Oestrogen acts as a protective shield for arteries, preventing the build up of fatty plaque. As a result, menopausal women may be at risk of developing conditions such as weight gain in their midsection, high blood pressure, and raised cholesterol levels, which increase the likelihood of heart disease. 

We do have to acknowledge that CVD is the biggest killer of women sadly, but there are so many things we can do to support our heart health and feel empowered in our self care. 

Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease 

There are positive steps that you can take to prevent most cardiovascular events—heart attacks, heart failure, and stroke. And, while it’s true that there a few exceptions, in most cases if you can identify the risk factors early on and take proactive steps, you can avoid developing cardiovascular disease

In my Fitness After 40 for women program, I promote making lifestyle changes so that we can make this next stage of our lives the best stage!

Making positive lifestyle choices helps us to maintain good cardiovascular health. The top five most important lifestyle factors are:

Doing regular physical activity

Healthy eating 

Maintaining a healthy weight 

Getting enough sleep

Not smoking

If you incorporate these into your day-to-day life, the potential benefits are enormous.

A step-by-step approach to better cardiovascular health for women 

The first step is to recognise that cardiovascular health is a top priority for women. Talk to your doctor if you want to learn about your individual risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Tell them about your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause history so they can build an accurate picture.

Next, take proactive steps to lower your risk by maing positive lifestyel choices. I recommend: 

Practice mindful eating 

Move your body more 

Maintain or achieve a healthy weight 

Develop good sleep habits 

Give up cigarettes 

If you are concerned about heart health in midlife, start taking some positive lifestyle steps to improving your health and alongside your doctor, take steps to improve:

Blood pressure 

Blood Sugar

Blood Cholesterol

If you have any specific questions about making some lifestyle changes in Midlife please e-mail me back - always happy to help

Nicki x

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