Inconsistent or long menstrual cycles… higher risk of heart disease
Research suggests that people with irregular or long menstrual cycles may be at higher risk of heart disease. Specifically, those with cycles of 40 days or more, or those without menstruation at all, had a higher risk of heart disease.
New research suggests that irregular menstrual cycles do not cause heart disease, but may serve as an indicator of other health problems that ultimately lead to heart disease. In the United States, it is known that about 14-25% experience irregular menstruation. “From a preventive medicine perspective, we’re trying to identify people who are more likely to develop chronic diseases,” said study co-author Lee Sin-Wang, a researcher at Harvard’s TH Chan School of Public Health.
How Your Menstrual Cycle Affects Your Risk of Heart Disease
At the beginning of the study, the research team collected data from more than 80,000 women with an average age of 37.7 years, who reported their menstrual patterns after the age of 14. They completed a follow-up questionnaire every 2 years for 24 years. The researchers looked at how long their menstrual cycle lasted on average, and whether they had had coronary artery disease, heart attack, or stroke.
Of the 80,630 participants, 1816 had heart disease before the age of 46. Research results show that women who report irregular menstrual cycles, no periods or longer cycles have a higher risk of heart disease.
Compared to participants who reported regular menstrual cycles, participants with irregular cycles or no menstruation had between a 15% and 40% increased risk of heart disease. This risk was highest between the ages of 29 and 46.2 years.
Meanwhile, compared to those who reported menstrual cycles between 26 and 31 days, participants with longer cycles had a 30 to 44 percent higher risk of heart disease.
The link between irregular menstrual cycles and heart disease is unclear. Dr. Samar El Kudari of the University of Pittsburgh, who was not involved in the study, suggested that “hormones play a role.” In particular, when the menstrual cycle changes in the 20s and 30s, it is related to the dysfunction of hormones that flow between the brain and pituitary gland. These hormonal changes can affect several body systems, including the cardiovascular system.
Estrogen is the hormone that protects heart health, he said. Longer menstrual cycles result in less ovulation and less estrogen production. People with long menstrual intervals may have reduced cardiovascular protection.
Risk of chronic disease beyond heart disease
Irregular menstrual cycles can indicate a risk of chronic diseases beyond heart disease, according to Professor Wang. People with conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis often experience abnormal menstrual cycles. Hormonal dysfunction, increased blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels associated with these conditions may be responsible for the increased risk of heart disease and cancer.
The new study reaffirms previous findings that lack of exercise, poor diet, smoking and obesity are associated with menstrual irregularities. Therefore, you should try to choose and maintain a healthy lifestyle to minimize the effects of heart disease.
The study was published in the journal JAMA. The original title is ‘Menstrual cycle regularity and length across the reproductive lifespan and risk of cardiovascular disease’.