What to Know About Midlife Women's Heart Health

Only 40% of women know that heart disease is our number one cause of death. In this article, Dr. Emily Lau, MD, MPH, a cardiologist and Director of the Cardiometabolic Health and Hormones Clinic at Mass General Brigham, discusses how menopausal changes can affect our heart health.

During the transition to menopause, there are three main changes to our bodies which can affect our heart health. During menopause, “bad” cholesterol increases as “good” cholesterol decreases. We gain more visceral fat, which surrounds the organs. While the data on hypertension is more mixed, this can also raise our risk of heart disease.

By assessing our risks of heart disease early on, starting at age 30, we can better prepare for the changes in our bodies that will occur during menopause. Additionally, we can live a lifestyle that supports good heart health, such as doing aerobic exercises regularly and maintaining a heart-healthy diet.

Because markers of heart health change as we go through the menopausal transition — mostly not in good ways — it feels important to be aware of what those changes are, the metrics that can help us keep track of our heart health and what actions we can take to keep our hearts healthy and reduce the risk of heart disease.

SOURCE: Women Living Better • AUTHOR: Dr. Emily Lau • LAST UPDATED: March 11, 2025