William Penn Life, 2016 (51. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2016-04-01 / 4. szám
Aging Well with Cathy Graham Menopause and your heart AFTER GOING THROUGH MENOPAUSE, most women never give it a second thought. We are just happy that the hot flashes are over and that the bed sheets are rarely soaked with sweat come morning. What you may not be aware of is that after menopause occurs, women have a higher risk of developing heart disease. Some research points to the decrease in estrogen as the cause for this increased risk. Estrogen promotes cardiovascular health by keeping blood vessels flexible. Blood flow travels along the supple vessels accommodating any changes. After menopause, when estrogen levels drop, the once elastic vessels become stiff. This change may contribute to a rise in blood pressure, which in turn strains the heart. Lack of estrogen can also monkey with your cholesterol and blood fats. The good guys (HDL) may go down and the bad guys (LDL) may go up. Triglycerides also elevate when estrogen levels drop. Your take away from this is short and sweet: after menopause, your risk of heart disease is greater. Being overweight, smoking, not exercising or having a family history of heart disease stacks the deck even higher against you. Start by checking in with your doctor and getting a true picture of where you stand with potential for heart disease. Lifestyle changes can lessen the odds. More women die from heart disease than from all forms of cancer put together. The silver lining here is that a lot of heart disease risk factors can be significantly lowered through improving nutrition, exercising and quitting smoking. Cathy Graham is director of the Graceful Aging Wellness Center at Bethlen Communities in Ligonier, Pa. Show your WPA pride! We received a new shipment of our popular Lands’ End® brand, 100% cotton, short-sleeved polo shirts featuring an embroidered William Penn Association logo. These are the same comfortable shirts worn by volunteers at various WPA events. The men’s shirt features a two-button placket, and the women's shirt features a four-button placket Available in charcoal heather grey only, while supplies last Name:_______________________________________________ Add ress:____________________________________________ City:______________________State:________Zip:________ Email:_______________________________________________ Size (Circle One): Mens S M L XL XXL Womens S M L XL XXL Make check payable to “William Penn Association" Mail form & check to: Shirt Offer, William Penn Association, 709 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15233 William Penn Life 0 April 2016 ° 9 Photo © Can Stock Photo Inc./Photograph33
