Before the menopause, the risk of heart disease (which can include high blood pressure, angina, a heart attack, stroke) for women is much lower than for men of the same age. Women tend to suffer from heart disease and stroke on average 10 years later.¹ It has not been fully established why this is, however research has shown that oestrogen can help to protect women against heart disease.² Once oestrogen levels start to drop post menopause the risk of heart disease in women increases. One in eight women between the ages of 45 and 64 has some form of heart disease, and this increases to one in four women over 65.³