Hot flushes, mood swings… and heart health? While everyone’s focused on some of the more classic menopause symptoms, there’s a hidden risk lurking right beneath the surface: increased vulnerability to heart disease (also known as cardiovascular disease). During menopause, the risk of health issues for smokers doubles, making quitting their addiction a top priority for their overall well-being.
The interplay between smoking, menopause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) isn’t at the forefront of our collective knowledge, but it should be. With almost 20 Australian women on average dying per day due to CVD, the statistics speak for themselves. Here are the vital details you need about the way smoking influences your cardiovascular health throughout menopause.
Goodbye to oestrogen’s protective powers
During our childbearing years, natural oestrogen production from our body gives us the valuable effect of offering protection from increased risks of cardiovascular diseases. When menopause hits, this valuable protection can all but disappear, exposing underlying vulnerabilities that can differ from woman to woman.
Cholesterol levels fluctuate, blood pressure levels can change, and inflammation can become a constant companion – all known contributors to plaque build-up in arteries that, unfortunately, can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
When smoking enters the picture
‘Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women globally,’ states the Heart Foundation. ‘Almost every hour of the day, an Australian woman dies of coronary heart disease. For women, the risk of cardiovascular disease changes throughout life’s course. It’s important to be aware of the risk factors that specifically affect women.’
With so much already in flux in our bodies, smoking adds even more variables into the mix. Its direct attack on the circulatory system leads to a weakening of blood vessel walls, placing them even more at risk of that ongoing plaque build-up. Add the increase of blood clotting risks into the mix, and the risk of a stroke or a heart attack continues to rise – not exactly the combination we need to protect our health as menopause continues to make its presence known.
Studies don’t hesitate to demonstrate just what’s at risk here, with research identifying that smoking during menopause can double your risk of a heart attack (when compared to non-smokers). The longer you smoke, the deeper the risks become, with even the occasional cigarette contributing to these risky statistics.
Need support to quit smoking and improve your menopausal experiences? Our friendly team is ready to help in every step of your health journey.
Time for some good news
It’s not all bad news. No matter your age, it’s never too late to quit smoking and gain the benefits of leaving nicotine behind. Whether you’re pre-menopausal, perimenopausal, or have reached menopause, it’s not too late to reduce your risk of cardiovascular health issues and increase your longevity.
The benefits of quitting smoking include:
- Improvements to your quality of life (thanks to the overall health benefits associated with quitting)
- A reduction in the risk of dying earlier, with quitting adding as much as 10 years to your life expectancy
- A reduction in the risk of many health impacts, including a reduction in your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases
- A reduction in your risk of developing cancer
- Benefits to social engagements and experiences (without the need to withdraw to smoke in separate areas)
- Reduction in the financial drain of nicotine products (no more cigarette packets needed in the budget!)
If you find yourself thinking ‘it’s too late for me’, think again. No matter your age, quitting offers ongoing health benefits, with some arriving in less than a year. You’re also doing your part in protecting those around you from the health risks of secondhand smoke, creating even more benefits through the powerful decision to prioritise your own health.
How to quit smoking during menopause
Navigating menopausal symptoms while also deciding to quit smoking takes planning. This combination can bring with it a particular kind of challenge, with the significant changes attached to menopause making it more daunting to begin a journey towards being smoke-free. By strategically planning your approach and drawing on necessary support, you can overcome a smoking addiction and build ongoing benefits for your health and wellbeing.
When you’re planning how to quit smoking, it’s important to:
- Identify your triggers. Are there particular circumstances, locations, activities, or social engagements that lead you to crave a cigarette? By identifying where you’re likely to be triggered, you can plan ahead of time, developing strategies that can help you either minimise your exposure to these triggers or find new coping mechanisms that don’t involve smoking. This planning ahead of time can make a world of difference.
- Proactively build a support network. Whether you’re communicating regularly with trusted family or friends about this, joining a support group, or working with a counsellor, it’s important to have defined spaces where you can share your goals and your challenges.
- Consider whether Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is right for you. NRT is available in a multitude of forms, including patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers, and nasal sprays. These resources can actively cut down on how noticeable withdrawal symptoms are through their delivery of small and controlled amounts of nicotine, all without the harmful side effects smoking brings with it.
- Reduce your stress wherever possible. Menopause in and of itself can be a stressful experience – when you begin down the pathway of quitting smoking, you’re likely adding more stressors into the mix. Now’s the time to embrace as many stress-reducing activities as possible. Yoga, meditation, regular exercise, or time spent in good company can all be powerful lifestyle tools that can help to decrease stress and increase mindfulness throughout the ebbs and flows of menopause and nicotine withdrawals.
Conclusion
Smoking may have been a source of comfort or support in the past. If you’re removing it during menopause, it’s time to replace it with new supportive resources. For expert advice, treatments and insights into every element of your menopause experience, connect with the team at the Australian Menopause Centre.
About The Author - AMC Team
Our team consists of doctors, nurses, program assistants, naturopaths and nutritionists that join their wealth of knowledge to offer our patients and website visitors interesting and insightful articles to assist you understand the symptoms you are experiencing and how to relieve them.