Research

Hormonal

Natural menopause is associated with a significantly increased risk of coronary heart disease in women, with the risk rising sharply in the years immediately following menopause.

After menopause, your risk of heart disease rises significantly. This is a biological shift, not just aging. Prioritize heart-healthy habits like regular exercise, a balanced diet, and regular check-ups to manage this increased risk proactively.

StrongSupportsHIGH confidence
The risk of CHD increased significantly with natural menopause (hazard ratio, 1.6; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.3 to 1.9)... The risk of CHD increased significantly with natural menopause... The risk of CHD increased significantly with natural menopause (hazard ratio, 1.6; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.3 to 1.9).
Graham A. Colditz et al. · New England Journal of Medicine · 1987

Why this rating

Large prospective cohort study (Nurses' Health Study) with long follow-up and rigorous adjustment for confounders.

Source

Menopause and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Women

Graham A. Colditz et al. · New England Journal of Medicine · 1987

DOI 10.1056/nejm198704303161801

cohortCited 1,154×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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