Keeping Hearts healthy through Menopause

Health & research

Nov 24

"Women have always been, and still are, underrepresented in heart research”

Prevention of heart disease starts with identifying risk factors for heart disease, but our understanding of these risk factors is based on with research done on men. At the Center for Research on Cardiac Disease in Women led by Professor Eva Gerdts, the focus is on why women develop heart disease. We have a particular interest in how risk factors for heart disease differs between women and men.

“If we don't study women's hearts, we'll never bridge the knowledge gap and understand how they're different from men's. This lack of understanding will keep us from effectively preventing heart disease in women."

Many women struggle with overweight and obesity. According to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, a higher proportion of women have severe obesity compared to men. Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of high blood pressure and heart disease.

For many women, menopause is a phase that triggers weight gain. In the FATCOR project led by associate professor Helga Midtbø and supported by the Grieg Foundation, we study hormonal changes in midlife and how they affect weight gain and heart health in women. We are particularly interested in how menopause affects the development of risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure. We are also interested in how the hormonal changes influence the reversible, early stages of heart disease.

“Menopause is for many women a phase in life with weight gain and increase in risk factors for heart disease. But we lack research on how to best prevent these changes”

We all know that exercise is good for the heart. But can exercise or good physical fitness protect women from weight gain and heart disease during menopause? These are some of the research questions in the FATCOR project.

“We want to thank the Grieg Foundation for supporting our research on heart disease in women!”