The hot flushes get noticed.

The changes affecting your heart may not.

When your periods stop, menopause does not suddenly give you heart disease. But the years around menopause can bring changes in cholesterol, blood vessels and where the body stores fat. Age also continues to influence blood pressure and blood sugar.

This is why menopause should be treated as a heart-health checkpoint.

Ask when you last had your:

– Blood pressure checked

– Cholesterol tested

– Blood sugar tested

– Weight and waist measured

Do not wait until you feel unwell. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes may cause no obvious warning symptoms.

Tell your doctor if your periods stopped before age 45. Earlier menopause is associated with a higher risk of heart disease.

If you are considering hormone treatment for menopausal symptoms, discuss your health history and personal risks with your clinician.

Your periods may have ended. Looking after your heart has not.

World Menopause Day