Oestrogen protects women from heart attacks: study

They say their findings may explain why women are far more likely to suffer heart attacks after the menopause,when their oestrogen levels decline.

Dr Suchita Nadkarni,who led the study,was quoted by the ‘Daily Mail’ as saying,“We’ve shown a clear relationship between oestrogen levels and the behaviour of these white blood cells,” said researchers.

“Our results suggest that oestrogen helps maintain the delicate balance between fighting infections,and protecting arteries from damage that can lead to cardiovascular disease. Understanding how the body fights heart disease naturally is vital for developing new treatments,” said researchers.

Experts have hailed the findings published in the latest edition of the ‘Arteriosclerosis,Thrombosis and Vascular Biology’ journal.

“We know that women’s health is partly protected by oestrogen. After menopause coronary heart disease rates rise steeply. It’s not yet clear quite how this protection occurs.This study suggests that oestrogen has another role. The hormone seems to affect women’s response to infection and injury,by preventing white blood cells from moving out of the blood stream into tissues. This reduces inflammation,part of the immune system’s rapid response,” said Prof Jeremy Pearson,Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation.