cwsmithsonian.org

Heart disease — not cancer — is the No. 1 killer of women. After menopause, estrogen levels decrease but cholesterol levels rise.

While many women take estrogen to help prevent thinning bones and heart disease, one study shows that it can actually cause heart problems for some.

So, instead of treating women with estrogen, some doctors are now prescribing cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins.

If tests show a woman cannot take estrogen, and her cholesterol is above 300, these cholesterol-lowering drugs may prove to be real lifesavers.