Bone & Cardiovascular Health After Menopause

Why menopause changes your risk

Estrogen helps maintain bone density and supports healthy blood vessels and cholesterol levels. In the years around menopause, women can lose bone rapidly, and LDL cholesterol, blood pressure and abdominal fat often rise. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in women, and one in two women over 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture.

The menopause transition is therefore a powerful window for prevention, not just symptom relief.

Bone health

Bone density testing (DEXA) is recommended for all women at age 65, and earlier for those with risk factors such as early menopause, low body weight, smoking, steroid use or family history of hip fracture. Adequate calcium and vitamin D, weight-bearing and resistance exercise, limiting alcohol and not smoking all support strong bones.

Hormone therapy prevents bone loss and reduces fracture risk while it is used. For women with osteoporosis or high fracture risk, other medications may be recommended in coordination with specialists.

• DEXA bone density scanning
• Vitamin D level testing
• Strength and impact training
• Fall prevention
• Hormone or non-hormone bone therapy

Heart health

Cardiovascular prevention includes regular blood pressure checks, lipid and A1c testing, and attention to sleep, stress, nutrition and movement. A history of PCOS, preeclampsia or gestational diabetes signals higher future cardiovascular risk and should be part of your plan.

Hormone therapy and the heart

Starting hormone therapy before age 60 or within ten years of menopause has not been shown to increase heart disease risk in healthy women, and transdermal estradiol has a lower blood clot risk than oral forms. Hormone therapy is not prescribed solely to prevent heart disease, but timing is an important part of the risk conversation.

Your long-term wellness plan

At JennWell, menopause visits include a preventive roadmap: which screenings are due, how your labs are trending, and which habits will have the biggest impact. The aim is to help you stay strong, active and independent for decades to come.

Preparing for your visit

Coming prepared helps you get the most from an appointment about bone and heart health after menopause. Bring prior bone density reports, recent cholesterol and blood sugar results, and a list of supplements such as calcium and vitamin D. Note any history of fractures, early menopause, steroid use, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes or PCOS, as well as family history of osteoporosis or early heart disease. These details shape your personalized screening schedule.

JennWell Women's Health is located at 11844 Standing Stone Dr., Suite 200 in Gretna, inside Skilled Touch Health and Healing, and welcomes women from Elkhorn, West Omaha, Millard, Papillion, La Vista, Bennington, Lincoln and across Eastern Nebraska. To schedule, call (402) 800-8595 or request an appointment online. If you are unsure whether this service is right for you, a consultation is a no-pressure place to start the conversation and learn your options.