7 Ways to Protect Your Heart at Menopause

Tip 3: Control Your Cholesterol 

HDL (good) cholesterol is more likely to drop and LDL (bad) cholesterol to rise after menopause. Triglycerides also tend to increase at this time because women metabolize fat differently after menopause.

What you can do to help control your cholesterol:

• Have your cholesterol and triglycerides checked regularly. Total cholesterol should be less than 200 mg/dL.
• Watch the ratio between good and bad cholesterols. Try to keep your HDL above 50 mg/dL and your LDL below 100 mg/dL. Boost your HDL the easy way.
• To keep your triglyceride levels under 150 mg/dL, eat fewer sweets, limit alcohol intake, and eat more fruits and vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. Solve your triglyceride problem today.

Tip: Doctors are less likely to prescribe cholesterol-lowering drugs to women than to men. Teresa Caulin-Glaser, M.D., recommends that women specifically ask their doctor about medicine if they've tried diet and exercise but their cholesterol still isn't within normal range.

Tip: Estrogen raises HDL, protecting women's hearts. However, hormone replacement therapy is not recommended for post-menopausal prevention of heart disease. The American Heart Association and government health agencies agree that it can be safely used for four to five years for relief of menopausal symptoms.

Our top tips to lower cholesterol.