Menopause

* In addition to producing some potentially uncomfortable symptoms, menopause can have more serious, long-term consequences on a woman's overall health and potential years of life. For example, the drop in estrogen that occurs at menopause is thought to cause adverse changes in levels of cholesterol and other blood lipids (fats), and in levels of fibrinogen (a substance that affects blood clotting). These changes may increase the risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death among American women, and stroke. About 370,000 women in this country die each year from heart disease, and nearly 93,000 die from stroke.

* Osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) is another serious concern of later life whose effects are aggravated by menopause. Menopause speeds up the bone depletion that occurs during normal aging processes. About 25 percent of women gradually experience bone fragility and fractures as their estrogen levels decline. A decrease in bone mass may lead to curvature of the spine, fractures of the vertebrae, loss of height, and pain. Hip fractures are a common injury in women with osteoporosis that usually require a long recovery period; up to one-fourth of those who do recover need to enter a long-term care facility.

menopause