Early Menopause Symptoms: Menopause is considered a normal phase of life, but if it begins prematurely, it can have serious health implications. Let us tell you how.

Disadvantages of menopause before 40

Early Menopause May Increase Heart Attack Risk: Menopause is considered a normal phase of life for women, but if this process starts prematurely, it can have serious health implications. A recent study published in the medical journal The Lancet ObsA recent study published in the medical journal The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women's Health found that women who experience menopause before the age of 40 may have a significantly increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and other heart-related diseases. countries, found that women who experienced menopause between the ages of 40 and 44 had a 30 to 40 percent higher risk of heart disease than women who experienced menopause at a normal age.

What is the situation in India?

The statistics for India are even more startling. Of the 7,872 Indian women included in the study, 1,445 women, or 18.4 percent, experienced premature menopause. Another 25.3 percent experienced menopause between the ages of 40 and 44. Overall, 43.6 percent of Indian women experienced either premature or early menopause.

What problems increase the risk?

The study's lead researcher, Dr. Simone Marschner, from the Westmead Applied Research Centre at the University of Sydney, Australia, says that early menopause can increase a woman's risk of serious illnesses like heart attack and stroke in the future. Dr. K. Srinath Reddy, a researcher on this topic, explained that before menopause, hormones like estrogen provide some protection against heart and blood vessel diseases. However, after menopause, this protection gradually diminishes, and the risk of a heart attack can reach the same level as that of men.

The situation is worse in South Asia.

The research also revealed that women in South Asia and low- and middle-income countries experience menopause at a relatively younger age. While the average age of menopause globally is 47.4 years, in South Asia it is only 44.7 years.

What are the reasons for the increase in menopause problems?

According to Dr. K. Srinath Reddy, stress, smoking, poor diet, lack of adequate sleep, diabetes, environmental pollution, and even secondhand smoke can cause premature menopause. He adds that male-smoked smoke can also increase the risk of early menopause in women. Experts believe that in India, anemia, early marriage, frequent pregnancies, and nutritional problems can also affect the age of menopause. Menopause screening should be combined with screening for diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease to identify women at risk early.