Copyright © 1996 by the European Society of Cardiology.
© 1996 1996 The European Society of Cardiology
Practical aspects of preventing and managing atherosclerotic disease in post-menopausal women
University of Tennessee Memphis, TN, U.S.A.
Correspondence: Jay M. Sullivan, MD, Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee, 951 Court Avenue, Room 353D, Memphis, Tennessee, 38163, U.S.A.
Factors that exacerbate the risk of atherosclerotic plaque formation include cigarette smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, sedentary lifestyle, and oestrogen deficiency. The potentially important role of oestrogen deficiency in this process is evidenced by the significant increase in cardiovascular risk observed in women after menopause, and in the marked reduction in cardiovascular events observed in women who take hormone replacement therapy. Oestrogen replacement therapy, through an effect on the blood vessel wall and on serum lipids, also appears to stabilize existing atherosclerotic plaques. The combination of oestrogen and progesterone reduces risk of endometrial cancer while possibly delivering the same benefits as oestrogen alone. Other measures, such as antithrombotic therapy, exercise, and smoking cessation, also contribute to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease in older women.
Key Words: Thrombus atherosclerosis hormone replacement therapy cardiovascular disease menopause