Moodiness and Heart Health

Q: I am 46 years old and am experiencing menopause symptoms. I'm more moody, and it is hard for me to wake up happy and not angry. I'm worried that this moodiness might affect my heart.

A: Did you ever think that the hormonal imbalance associated with menopause could cause such havoc on your body? Your mood swings can be due to fluctuating levels of the hormone serotonin, the basic feel-good hormone in the body. When the levels are low, we feel sad or depressed and the body signals the brain that it needs a pick-me-up. This signal causes a sugar or carbohydrate craving. Unfortunately simple carbohydrates release a short burst of serotonin and we feel good for a moment, but soon return to our low-serotonin state, then crave more sugar. It’s a downward spiral.

On the other hand, adjusting your diet, incorporating daily exercise, and adjusting sleep patterns can help your symptoms and help prevent heart disease. The good news is that like puberty, this phase ends. Most women’s menopause symptoms diminish in two to five years.

Jennifer H. Mieres, M.D., is director of nuclear cardiology and associate professor of clinical medicine at New York University. She’s also a spokesperson for the American Heart Association.