Your Heart Health and Your Hormones: What's the Connection?

Hormones are the unsung heroes of the human body, directing and controlling a vast array of functions that are critical to human life. While menopause marks a natural decline in hormone production, there are changes that can negatively impact your heart health. 

Our team members at Creekside OB/GYN of Folsom view our role as your guide in all aspects of women’s health and wellness. To that end, we’re happy to shed some light on the interconnectivity between hormones and heart health, and what you can do to preserve and enhance your heart health in 2026. 

How are hormones and heart health connected?

You’ve probably heard hormones referred to as “chemical messengers” to prompt your organs and systems to perform a wide range of tasks. Most of us pay little attention to hormone function because these processes occur primarily behind the scenes. 

When hormone levels are optimal, things move along just fine. The absence of symptoms makes it easy to just continue in life without concern over how many hormones your body is producing and how well those hormones are communicating with your cells. 

But when you near and enter menopause, hormone production declines significantly. In particular, estrogen levels plummet during this time of transition. However, there are other hormones that also fluctuate. 

Making matters even more complicated is the fact that many women experience sharp ups and downs in estrogen production as they near menopause, which can really throw their system out of balance. 

Researchers have learned a lot about how menopause affects heart health, and that understanding is constantly evolving based on current research. 

According to the American Heart Association, menopause can cause women to put on extra belly fat, which is linked to issues like high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and hypertension (high blood pressure). 

Research also shows that women experience accelerated changes during menopause, including issues related to high cholesterol. 

That added cholesterol can combine with other substances and stick to the interior walls of your arteries, narrowing the space available for blood to flow and increasing the risk of developing a blood clot that could break free and cause a stroke or heart attack.  

How can I protect my heart during and beyond menopause?

Improving your heart health begins by understanding your personal risk factors. Simple blood testing can reveal information about how well your heart is currently functioning, as well as your current hormone production levels. 

We can also discuss your personal and family health history, as well as issues like stress, sleep disruption, and tobacco use, to determine your risk for heart issues. 

Next, creating a customized heart health plan gives you the tools you need to improve or maintain your heart health. Lifestyle changes are critical, including boosting your nutrition and getting plenty of exercise. 

For many women, hormone replacement therapy is part of an overall heart health plan. 

Supplementing your naturally occurring hormones with synthetic hormones that are bioidentical (chemically the same as your natural hormones) helps restore hormonal balance and reduce many of the symptoms of menopause. 

Ready to take charge of your heart health?

It’s never too early or too late to improve your heart health. Whether you’re years away from menopause or already experiencing symptoms, there are ways to manage your symptoms and keep your heart healthy.

When you’re ready to learn more, the team at Creekside OB/GYN of Folsom is ready to assist. Just contact our office online or by phone to schedule a time to come in and sit down with our team.