As approximately 6,000 women in the U.S. enter menopause every day, the American Heart Association and The Menopause Society are using Menopause Awareness Month to highlight a critical but often overlooked reality: the years surrounding menopause can significantly influence heart health, yet many women remain unaware of the risks. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, but only 4 in 10 women recognize it as their greatest health threat. This gap in awareness matters because the menopause transition coincides with changes that can accelerate cardiovascular risk, including rising LDL cholesterol, increased body fat around organs, and stiffening blood vessels.
While menopause does not cause cardiovascular disease, it marks a pivotal window for prevention. By the time women reach menopause, approximately 90% have at least one risk factor for heart disease. “Menopause represents an important opportunity for cardiovascular disease prevention,” said Chrisandra L. Shufelt, MD, MS, FACP, MSCP, current board member and past president of The Menopause Society. She emphasized that significant cardiometabolic changes occur during the transition, making it an important window to identify risk factors early and address them proactively.
The transition itself, known as perimenopause, often brings the most noticeable symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, weight gain, palpitations, brain fog, and anxiety. These symptoms can overlap with heart-related changes, and many women enter menopause with no prior history of heart disease. A 2026 American Heart Association scientific statement noted that menopause and aging can accelerate chronic kidney disease, a major contributor to heart disease and stroke risk. Additionally, a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that after menopause, an estimated 1 in 4 women may develop atrial fibrillation during their lifetime, with stressful life events and insomnia as major contributing factors.
The implications are clear: midlife is a critical moment for women to know their heart health numbers—blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and kidney health—and to discuss risk factors with their healthcare team. Women can spend about 40% of their lives in postmenopause, making the decades after menopause equally important for ongoing prevention. Experts recommend staying physically active, eating healthy foods, prioritizing sleep, managing stress, and learning personal risk factors such as family history, pregnancy history, or autoimmune disease.
Resources are available to help women navigate this transition. The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement offers tools and information at goredforwomen.org/menopause, and The Menopause Society provides evidence-based menopause information and a directory of certified practitioners at menopause.org. For a broader look at menopause and heart health, the Go Red for Women menopause resource center includes an infographic and additional multimedia materials. “There is no one-size-fits-all menopause experience,” said Jen Ashton, MD, MS, an American Heart Association volunteer and board member. “Every woman deserves access to information, support and resources that help her make informed decisions and feel her best.”
