Menopause is marked by a gradual decline of reproductive hormones in females which leads to the end of ovulation and their ability to conceive. Every woman, above the age of 40 has to go through it sooner or later. As you are heading towards menopause, your estrogen levels tend to go down. While most people think that this hormone is only related to reproduction, it is important to understand that it is also involved in various other important functions and is also responsible for protecting the heart. Experts from the top heart hospitals in Indore suggest that this is the reason why women usually tend to become more susceptible to heart diseases after menopause. Luckily, you can alleviate the risks of the same by following a healthy lifestyle.

Here are a few things that you need to take care of to lower the risks of heart diseases postmenopause:

Keep a track of your cholesterol levels - In the majority of the cases, the levels of bad cholesterol i.e. LDL tend to rise and those of good cholesterol, i.e. HDL tend to drop after you stop ovulating. This puts you at a higher risk of living arterial blockage, which can abstract the flow of blood to various different organs including the brain. It is very important to keep a track of your cholesterol levels and get them assessed on a regular basis to ensure that you are on the safe side. It is important to make sure that your total cholesterol level does not cross 200 mg per dL, with LDL being below 100 mg per dL and HDL being above 60 mg per dL. The best possible way to manage your cholesterol is by making healthy dietary modifications and taking your medication on time. You can consult the best heart doctor in Pune for further assistance and guidance.

Get rid of belly fat - Many women tend to gain extra pounds after menopause, especially in the lower abdomen. This is a result of an increase in visceral fat, which is responsible for a variety of health issues including high blood pressure, cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. Unlike normal fat, visceral fat surrounds the organs, thereby putting an additional strain on them. The same happens with the heart too and this is the reason why it has been linked with an increased incidence of a heart attack.

Manage your blood pressure - Decrease in estrogen levels, as well as ageing, can drastically impact the flexibility of your blood vessels and the time to become a bit more constricted or stiff. As this happens, your risks of developing blood pressure further increase. This has been linked with potentially serious problems like heart failure and stroke. As such it is very important to make sure that your blood pressure does not cross the healthy mark. You can do it with the help of prescribed medication and some healthy amendments to your daily lifestyle practices.

Maintain healthy blood sugar levels - Although menopause does not cause diabetes, it has been found that a decrease in estrogen levels could possibly lead to an increase in sugar levels. Experts specialising in the best heart treatment in Indore suggest that if a woman hits Menopause before 40, her risks of developing type 2 diabetes by the time she reaches 55 years of age are increased by four-folds. Having high blood sugar can damage your blood vessels and affect the overall circulation of blood in the body. You do not necessarily need to be diabetic to have complications like heart attack and stroke, and having high sugar levels is enough to trigger the same.

Fortunately, you can easily manage all these problems with expert guidance and a little determination. Apart from these, make it a point to go for regular health checks to keep a track of your overall health and watch out for any symptoms that could indicate the prevalence of a heart-related problem.