HOUSTON (KIAH) – A woman’s risk of a heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases go up sharply after a woman goes through menopause, according to a new study by researchers at UCLA. The results were presented at the American College of Cardiology. 

Heart disease is often tied to men’s health and is regularly under-treated in women despite being the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States.

Researchers said the study underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing early warning signs of heart disease risk in women as they lose the protective effects of estrogen after menopause.