Britain’s most famous female statues, including Mariela Frostrup, Penny Lancaster and Carol Vorderman have joined forces with us to urge women to protect their hearts this World Menopause Day.

of The theme for this year’s World Menopause Day is cardiovascular disease and celebrities who are behind the campaign group ‘Menopause Mandate’ are working with us here at the BHF to help prevent heart attacks and strokes in menopausal and postmenopausal women. focuses on the increased risk of

when I was young, premenopausal women have a lower risk than men of developing coronary heart disease, the leading cause of heart attacks. However, the risk increases significantly after menopause.

Our research shows that women who have a heart attack are more likely to receive an incorrect diagnosis; Therefore, even if they become infected, they are less likely to receive evidence-based treatments such as stents. We know that misperceptions about women’s risk of heart disease can cost lives.

Alongside menopause obligations, we are also encouraging women to use World Menopause Day to talk about heart risks. Detect the disease and begin taking steps to alleviate it.

To start a conversation, your campaign group can organized a ‘walk in the park’ on World Menopause Day, inviting people to take part in Kensington Gardens, London. Many menopause delegates, including Mariela Frostrup, Carolyn Harris, Joe Willey, Lisa Snowdon, Michelle Griffith Robinson, Cherry Healy, Ravina Mehta, and Emma Kennedy. was in attendance.

It’s not just a male disease

Mariela Frostrup, chair of the Menopause Commission and journalist, said: “It is deeply worrying to learn that twice as many women die from coronary heart disease as from breast cancer.”

“Heart disease is often thought of as a ‘man’s disease,’ but that’s not actually the case. It’s critical that women are aware of their increased risk of heart disease during and after menopause, and take steps to prevent it.” To protect our hearts.

“We hope as many people as possible can join us in Kensington Gardens today to start a conversation and help raise vital awareness about menopause and heart health.”

TV personality and special constable Penny Lancaster said: “I have been a huge supporter of the BHF for many years and as a patron of the Menopause Directive, this is a great opportunity to spread the message about how we can support women in their emotional care. Women’s health is a top priority. It should be one of the.”

Take steps to protect your heart

TV presenter Carol Vorderman said: “As a woman, it’s very important to be aware of your risk for heart disease before and after menopause. I encourage all women to arm themselves with the knowledge of how to protect their hearts and to seek help and support when they need it. We recommend.”

Dr Sonya Babu Narayan, Associate Medical Director and Consultant Cardiologist, said: “Changes in a woman’s body during menopause, such as decreased estrogen levels, are associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. After menopause, a woman’s chances of having a heart attack increase significantly.

“Women often don’t prioritize their health. As we women approach menopause, it’s a great time to reassess your risk for future cardiovascular disease and take steps to protect your heart.

“What we encourage women to do is to know their risks so they can manage them and protect their hearts, such as by not smoking, exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet. , maintaining a healthy weight, and more.

“There are not many life stages that can be clearly identified as being at higher risk for disease. Knowing this is powerful and allows women to protect their bodies and health.”

carolyn’s story

Carolyn Hodge, from Cheshire, suffered a heart attack in November 2015, when she was going through menopause. Her grandmother, who was 56 years old at the time, also cared for her father, and when she visited her doctor three times complaining of chest pains, she was told she had anxiety. .

After her heart attack, Carolyn said she was shocked to learn of the link between menopause and heart disease. The 62-year-old said she wanted to share her story to change her perception that heart disease is a men’s problem and help more women feel confident to advocate for themselves. . Carolyn said:

“I still remember how shocked I was during cardiac rehabilitation when a cardiac nurse told me how many menopausal women suffer from heart disease. I couldn’t believe this wasn’t more widely known, so I contacted the BHF about this story.

“If my story helps others, I’m really happy to keep telling it. It’s sad that women have to speak up to be heard about the symptoms of heart disease. My friends also knew about this link and now I feel a responsibility to tell everyone. ”

Carolyn said her advice to other women is to be aware of your risks and not be afraid to advocate for yourself. “If you are a woman going through something similar to what I was going through, please insist that she be taken seriously when seeking medical advice,” she said.

“If something like this happened to me again, I would order an EKG or have my heart checked for problems. One of the main reasons I wasn’t taken seriously was because I was… I think it meant being a woman “through menopause”.

Read about menopause and the heart