Women face unique considerations when protecting their heart health, especially when hormones are involved. Estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones influence everything from cholesterol levels to blood vessel function.
Our team at Pflugerville OBGYN in Pflugerville, Texas, is here to help you understand how your hormones impact your heart and help you take proactive steps to protect your long-term health.
Here are three things you should know:
As a woman, your hormones naturally change throughout your life — during your periods, pregnancy, and eventually menopause.
Estrogen, for example, helps keep your heart healthy by supporting good cholesterol and keeping blood vessels flexible. But as your estrogen levels drop during menopause, your risk for heart disease can rise.
Even if you’ve always been healthy, these hormonal shifts can affect your heart, making it important to monitor your heart health at every stage and take proactive steps, such as regular checkups at our practice and a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Heart disease often presents differently in women than in men. While chest pain is common, women may also experience subtle or atypical symptoms like:
Hormonal changes can influence these symptoms, making them harder to recognize. It’s important to know how heart disease can show up differently in women.
Be sure to have an open conversation with our healthcare team about your personal risk factors. These can include things like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, family history, or daily habits, such as smoking and not getting enough exercise.
Hormones are just one piece of the puzzle — how you live your daily life matters, too.
Eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, manage stress, and get adequate sleep to support both hormone balance and heart health. You also need routine checkups and screenings, especially as you approach menopause or experience changes in your menstrual cycle.
Blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar tests, along with discussions about hormone-related changes, can help you catch potential issues early.
When you understand how hormones influence your heart, you become empowered to take charge of your health. Small changes, combined with professional guidance, can have a lasting impact.
If you want a deeper look at your personal heart health and hormone balance, schedule a consultation with our team at Pflugerville OBGYN today. Take action now by calling 512-375-3440 or clicking here to book an appointment online today.
