It is well-known that women are protected from cardiovascular (CV) disease during the first few decades of their lives, an effect which is largely due to oestrogen (Novella et al, 2012). However, after menopause, the risk of CV disease rapidly increases, giving women a higher risk than men.
The Studies of Women Across the Nation (SWAN), recently showed that women who transition through menopause into post-menopause had a significantly greater increase in central arterial stiffness (Samargandy et al, 2020), especially in those who were overweight, suggesting that women undergo structural and functional vascular changes at this point in their menopause transition, which may impact their risk for CVD later in life.
Numerous studies now discuss the dose-response relationship between moderate aerobic exercise and the reduction of arterial stiffness (American Heart Association, 2019; Kay & Fiatorone-Singh, 2006; Tanaka et al., 2019), as well as the need for moderate aerobic exercise for cardio-metabolic health and cardio-respiratory fitness – a call also made recently by the American Heart Association. (Belanger et al., 2023).
So, why, with CVD contributing to the leading cause of illness and death among New Zealand and Australian women (AIHW, 2023), do menopause-related guidelines, continue to prioritise heavy resistance training for all women, which has as its priority, bone health? (NICE, 2023). It’s a question that all PTs and Exercise Specialists should know the answer to. As ageing is emerging as a critical theme in women’s health, isn’t it time we understood the evidenced exercise prescription and behavioural health determinants for this important demographic?
Learning Outcomes
– Attendees will develop an understanding of the menopause transition.
– Attendees will learn key changes to cardiovascular physiology in menopause and post-menopause.
– Attendees will learn key changes to musculo-skeletal physiology in menopause and post-menopause.
– Attendees will learn critical evidenced exercise prescription adaptations and dietary evidence for improved cardiovascular health during and after menopause.
