Menopause Symptoms linked to race, weight, and smoking

A new study which followed 3,200 American women for seven years finds that African American women had the highest rates of 'vasomotor symptoms' which include hot flashes, night sweats, and cold sweats.  The study also found that Asian American women had the lowest rates.  The pattern persisted through perimenopause. 

However, hot flashes were found to be common in late perimenopause for women of all races, according to Dr. Ellen B. Gold of the University of California, Davis.  The percentage of women who reported frequent (defined as six or more days within two weeks) vasomotor symptoms spiked during the transition from early to late perimenopause.  Black women were 63 percent more likely to have frequent symptoms compared to white women.  Women of Asian or Hispanic descent had much lower risks.

However, your risk for frequent symptoms is not set in stone, there are other factors that can be changed and altered to lessen the effects of menopause and perimenopause.  Smoking and maintaining a healthy weight are two excellent methods of reducing the severity menopausal symptoms.


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