Longevity & AgingPerimenopause Doubles Heart Disease Risk Before Menopause Even Begins
A large study of over 9,000 women found that cardiovascular health declines significantly during perimenopause — the transitional phase before menopause — not just after it. Using the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 scoring system, researchers found perimenopausal women had twice the odds of poor heart health compared to premenopausal women, even after adjusting for age. Blood lipid levels and blood sugar showed the steepest drops. Experts say this phase is a "window of opportunity" for women to get baseline checks on blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose, and to prioritize nutrition and lifestyle changes before cardiovascular risk compounds further.
