How hot flashes can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s & cardiovascular disease

A new study has revealed that hot flashes in menopausal women are linked with an increase in C-reactive protein, which is a marker of future heart disease. According to the study, frequent, strong hot flashes are linked to higher levels of C-reactive protein, a blood biomarker that may indicate a later diagnosis of heart illness, as well as a blood biomarker that may indicate a later diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. “Beta-amyloid 42/40 is considered a marker of amyloid plaques in the brain, which is one of the components of the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease dementia,” said lead study author Dr Rebecca Thurston, according to CNN. Thurston, a professor of psychiatry, epidemiology and psychology who directs the Women’s Biobehavioral Health Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh’s Pitt Public Health, added, “We found night sweats were associated with adverse beta-amyloid 42/40 profiles, indicating that hot flashes experienced during sleep may be a marker of women at risk of Alzheimer’s dementia.” According to Thurston, the biomarker merely indicates the potential for future development of the disease, not whether a person now has clinical Alzheimer’s disease. Increased risk of cardiovascular disease Another study conducted by Thurston’s team indicated that women who reported experiencing regular hot flashes during early menopause had a 50 to 80 per cent higher risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure.