
During menopause, women stop producing the sex hormone estrogen, which offers some protection against heart disease. In recent years, doctors used hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to restore estrogen to pre-menopausal levels and to reduce a woman's risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). But because of recent clinical trials, the American Heart Association recommends that HRT should NOT be used to prevent a second heart attack to reduce a woman's risk for CVD.
Reference:
"Menopause and the Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke," American Heart Association, 2002.
