February Is Heart Health Month: What Changes After Menopause and What We Look at Clinically

February is Heart Health Month!

After menopause, cardiovascular risk rises as hormonal shifts influence blood vessel function, metabolism, inflammation, and body composition. Many women notice changes in weight distribution, blood pressure, blood sugar, or cholesterol levels during this stage of life. These shifts don’t mean that heart disease is inevitable, but they do signal that physiology has changed—and that preventative strategies become especially important. For naturopathic doctors, this represents a powerful window for proactive care focused on protecting long-term vitality and longevity.

Traditional cholesterol panels remain useful, but they are only part of the story. In clinical practice, we assess deeper drivers of cardiovascular risk such as LDL particle characteristics and ApoB, family history, insulin resistance, inflammatory markers, blood pressure trends, body composition, sleep quality, stress physiology, and lifestyle and nutrition patterns. By identifying these underlying contributors early, we can build personalized, evidence-informed strategies to support heart health well into the postmenopausal years.

Dr. Sydne Valiquette ND is a Naturopathic Doctor at Uptown Integrative Health who brings a unique background as a former psychiatric nurse. Her clinical focus includes adult ADHD, anxiety, endometriosis, PCOS, fertility, and cardiovascular health, with an integrative, evidence-informed approach to care.