Menopause and the metabolic syndrome

Menopause is the period in a woman's life when she is undergoing hormonal and metabolic changes. Metabolic syndrome or syndrome X comprises of a set of cardiovascular risk factors: obesity, elevated blood pressure, hyperglycemia or insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. Menopause is the point in the timeline of a woman where she is exposed to risk factors for cardiac ill health. The preferential central pattern of fat deposition in obese post-menopausal women is associated with a higher risk of diabetes, hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension and cardiac disease. Hormone therapy improves the altered lipid profile in women with metabolic syndrome and these effects are more pronounced in post-menopausal women. It is important to have more efforts for regular lipid screening and educational programs for a healthy life style for an obese post-menopausal woman.