While men and women may die of heart disease in equal numbers -- 500,000 a year in the United States, according to the Harvard Health newsletter -- they display different symptoms and develop the disease differently. Many people understand that various blood lipids, or fats, are connected to heart disease. The best known of these is probably cholesterol. But another form of blood lipid, the triglycerides, can also indicate heart disease risk, particularly in postmenopausal women.
What are Triglycerides?
Triglycerides are a sort of storage unit in the fat cells of the body; when you eat more calories than you need, they are converted into triglycerides. Between meals, the body will use hormones to release those stored triglycerides for energy. Hypertriglyceridemia -- which is a fancy way of saying high triglycerides -- is considered to be a reading over 150 mg/dL. According to the Harvard Health newsletter, high triglycerides may contribute to hardening of the arteries and can be a symptom of other conditions such as diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome. High triglycerides and low HDL -- high density lipoproteins, another blood lipid -- increase the risk of death from heart disease in women over age 65, Harvard Health says.
Research
Research indicates that all of the lipids are affected by menopause. According to a report in the November 1990 issue of "Maturitas," cholesterol, LDLs -- low density lipoproteins -- and triglycerides increased significantly within six months of menstrual period cessation. The researchers found that HDLs, which are a protective factor for heart disease when they are high, declined gradually over the two years preceding menopause.
More Research
Another study, from Britain, included both men and women; women above age 50 were assumed to be post-menopausal, as that was the median age of menopause in Britain. Post-menopausal women had higher triglyceride levels than younger women, as well as higher cholesterol, higher insulin, higher body mass index and higher waist-to-hip ratio. Study author G. Razay noted in the August 1992 "Quarterly Journal of Mathematics" that these changes were more marked than in men of similar age and were independent of other risk factors such as smoking.
Considerations
While changes in triglycerides are clearly connected to menopause, they are only one piece of the puzzle, and there are strategies you can use to help reduce your risk. The Harvard Health newsletter recommends that you not smoke, exercise at least 30 minutes a day, eat a healthy diet and reduce stress or depression. If you are concerned about specific issues related to your triglycerides or your risk of heart disease, you should discuss these issues with a health care professional.
References
- Mayo Clinic Health; Triglycerides; Mayo Clinic Staff; June 2010 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/triglycerides/CL00015
- Harvard Health Publications: Gender Matters: Heart Disease Risk in Women; Harvard Health Staff
- "Maturitas"; Influence of Menopause on Serum Lipids and Lipoproteins; J. Jensen, L. Nilas, C. Christiansen; November 1990
- "Quarterly Journal of Mathematics"; Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors in Relation to the Menopause; G. Razay, K. W. Heaton, C. H. Bolton; August 1992
