The American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine released a framework that redefines heart health for girls and women — the first coordinated guidance from multiple societies on preventing cardiovascular disease across a woman’s life.
The framework consists of four distinct “female life stages” to help prevent, detect and manage cardiovascular disease among girls and women, according to an Oct. 26 American Heart Association news release. Progress has stalled on preventing cardiovascular deaths among women in the past two decades, according to the release, and the new approach aims to view cardiovascular health as a lifelong process.
Each stage is based on female biology and takes a holistic approach to women’s heart health by considering cardiovascular, hormonal and emotional health. The framework also allows for earlier risk recognition, prevention and better continuity of care. Here are the four stages:
- Perimenarche: The transition around the first menstrual period, at about ages 8 to 15.
- Ovarian cycling: When regular ovulatory and hormone cycles are established and pregnancy typically occurs, at about ages 15 to 44.
- Perimenopause: The transition to variable cycle length, skipped cycles and hormone changes, at about ages 45 to 51.
- Postmenopause: The years after menopause, defined as 12 months after the final menstrual period, at about age 51 and older.
Pregnancy, which can occur during any stage, is identified as a biological “stress test” that can reveal previously unrecognized cardiovascular risk.
Heart disease and stroke are the leading cause of death in women, killing more than 400,000 U.S. women each year.
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