For loved ones
What she's facing
After menopause, the biggest health risks tend to be quiet: bones thin faster, heart disease becomes the leading risk, and dementia affects women more than men. Many of these can be caught early or made less likely.
What helps
- Know the heart attack signs. Chest pressure or pain, pain in the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach, shortness of breath, cold sweats, nausea or lightheadedness. Women often put these down to reflux, flu or getting older. Call emergency services, don't wait.1
- Encourage screening. Bone density screening is recommended for women 65 and older, and earlier for those at higher risk.2
- Move together. Walking, strength training and balance work like yoga or tai chi protect bones and help prevent falls.3
- Look after hearing and blood pressure. Hearing loss, high blood pressure and social isolation are among the risk factors for dementia that can be addressed.4
- Take bleeding seriously. Any bleeding after menopause needs a doctor, even a little.5
- Talk openly about sex. Vaginal dryness and painful sex are common after menopause and treatable.6
What not to say
- "That's just getting old." Many changes after menopause can be prevented or treated.
- "It's probably nothing." About bleeding or chest symptoms, let a doctor decide.
Recap
- Know the signs of a heart attack in women, and call emergency services for them.
- Encourage bone density screening from 65, or earlier with risk factors.
- Exercise together. It protects bones, heart and brain.
- Any bleeding after menopause needs a doctor.
- Vaginal and bladder changes are common and treatable. Talk about them without embarrassment.
Words to know 2
| osteoporosis | A disease in which bones become thin and weak and break more easily. |
|---|---|
| postmenopausal bleeding | Any bleeding from the vagina after 12 months without a period. |
Educational information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about your health.