A new study finds women who go through menopause before the age of 46 may have twice the risk of having a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular event later in life.
The risk was said to be the same even when women took hormone replacement therapy.
The average age of menopause is 51.
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of American women.
Researchers say women can work harder to improve their modifiable risk factors, such as high cholesterol and blood pressure, by exercising and following a healthy diet.
The study was presented at a meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Diego.
