February 2^nd 2024 is National Wear Red Day led by the American Heart Association.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in women, claiming one woman every 80 seconds. National Wear Red Day is aimed at spreading awareness on the importance of heart disease prevention.

Did you know hormones and heart health are linked? With the decline in sex hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone with the menopausal transition, women lose the cardioprotective effects of these circulating hormones.

Most women are worried about hot flashes, weight gain, fatigue, mood changes, and insomnia during menopause. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a valuable tool for eliminating the bothersome symptoms of menopause. HRT also has added benefits for heart health.

While the research initially warned against HRT for provoking cardiovascular disease with the Women’s Health Initiative in the early 1990s, follow-up studies have since found that this study was flawed in many aspects and HRT actually protects the cardiovascular system.

Estrogen has a positive impact on lipoprotein levels, increasing HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol) and lowering LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol). Estrogen’s effects on cholesterol levels directly translate to lowering risk of atherosclerosis. Estrogen also helps relax blood vessels, preventing hardening and narrowing of the circulatory system which drives hypertension.

Progesterone encourages the release of nitric oxide, which is a potent vasodilator. This assists in keeping blood pressure levels healthy and low.

Testosterone improves muscle mass, which promotes a more heart-healthy metabolic landscape in the body. Muscle mass increases metabolism, which helps burn fat. Low testosterone levels have been linked in research to poorer cardiovascular outcomes in women.

The form of HRT (bioidentical versus synthetic) and age of the woman when she starts HRT are important factors that the WHI study did not account for, therefore drawing incorrect conclusions about heart risks with HRT.

At Ageless Beauty Rx, we utilize bioidentical hormone replacement therapy only. These are hormones that are identical to the hormones your body produces.

As National Wear Red Day is dedicated to spreading awareness about heart disease, here are several modifiable risk factors to be aware of:

1. Physical inactivity
2. High blood pressure
3. Poor nutrition
4. Overweight body mass
5. Cholesterol problems
6. Smoking

If you or a loved one has any of the risk factors above and are experiencing symptoms of menopause, explore your options at Ageless Beauty Rx with our Naturopathic Physician/ HRT and hormone expert Dr. Laurel Ash. Spread awareness on February 2^nd on heart disease in women by wearing red and please share this article to female friends, family, or coworkers.