Some evidence shows that estrogen is associated with a lower incidence of coronary artery disease.
Estrogen improves blood flow, helping to prevent the constriction of the coronary arteries and the risk of a heart attack. As such, it helps decrease our risk of stroke and heart disease. An antioxidant, estrogen prevents oxidative damage to the blood vessel walls. The Women's Health Initiative, a 15-year National Institutes of Health Study, is currently studying 165,000 women to see if estrogen truly is the reason for the lower incidence of coronary artery disease. During the five to six years immediately following menopause, we're at our highest risk of developing osteoporosis, the debilitating, bone-thinning disease that can result in breaks and fractures, chronic pain, a curved back and loss of independence.