2023-09-24 05:01:49
Study Finds Earlier Menopause Not the Cause of Increased Stroke Risk in Women
A recent study conducted at the Medical University of Innsbruck has revealed that an earlier menopause is not the cause or reason for an increased risk of stroke in women. Lena Tschiderer, an epidemiologist and mathematician, discussed the findings of the study in an interview with APA.
The study analyzed data from over 200,000 post-menopausal women and examined the connection between the age at onset of menopause and the risk of stroke occurrence. Both types of stroke, ischemic and hemorrhagic, were taken into consideration. The research was published in the prestigious “Journal of the American Heart Association” and involved collaboration with the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands.
Tschiderer explained that while an earlier menopause is linked to an increased risk of suffering a stroke, it is not the causal reason for it. The exact reason behind this connection remains unclear for now. Tschiderer drew an illustrative everyday comparison, stating that eating ice cream frequently outdoors in summer, when the sun is shining and temperatures are warm, is also linked to an increased risk of sunburn. However, eating ice cream is not the direct cause of sunburn.
The study further confirmed the statistical connection between premature menopause and a higher risk of stroke, which had been previously assumed. Tschiderer emphasized that the risk of stroke increases by ten percent for every five years of earlier menopause. Women who experienced menopause before the age of 40 had a 42 percent higher risk of stroke compared to those who experienced menopause between the ages of 50 and 55.
Moving forward, it is crucial to determine the actual reason for the increased risk. Tschiderer expressed optimism that the cause will be known sooner or later. Researchers plan to analyze data on different proteins from Great Britain to unravel this mystery. Initially, it was believed that estrogens were responsible, but studies indicate that this may not be the case.
Given these findings, stroke prevention is of utmost importance for women with premature menopause. Tschiderer stressed the need to minimize other risk factors, especially through a healthy lifestyle. While the exact reason behind the increased stroke risk remains unidentified, this study brings us closer to understanding the correlation between menopause and strokes in women.]
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