Washington: American health experts have
found that cholesterol levels in women increase sharply after
the stoppage of menstruation cycle, providing clue to why they
are at greater risk of heart disease post-menopause.
Earlier doctors knew that risk of heart disease rose in
women after menopause, but they did not know the exact reason
behind this development, now a study by researchers from the
University of Pittsburgh showed that menopause, not the
natural ageing process, is responsible for a sharp increase in
cholesterol levels.
According to the study published in Journal of the
American College of Cardiology, this seems to be true of all
women, regardless of ethnicity.
"As they approach menopause, many women show a very
striking increase in cholesterol levels, which in turn
increases risk for later heart disease," said lead author
Karen A Matthews.
The team, over a 10-year period, studied 1,054 American
women as they went through menopause. Each year the
researchers tested the participants for cholesterol, blood
pressure, and other heart disease risk factors such as blood
glucose and insulin.
As they approached menopause, many women showed a very
striking increase in cholesterol levels, which in turn
increases risk for later heart disease.
PTI