HRT really can save your life

FURTHER proof that taking HRT is good for a woman: new research has found that going through an early menopause is linked to a frankly terrifying 29 per cent increase in the likelihood of a heart attack and a 42 per cent rise in the risk of a stroke.

This is because oestrogen, which helps blood vessels relax, has a beneficial effect on the heart. And it’s a subject close to mine: I was 48 when I discovered I was in full menopause, suffering from an array of symptoms, including depression and exhaustion. But perhaps the most notable was the onset of hypertension, or high blood pressure, something I had never once experienced.

Despite embarking on a successful weight-loss regime (I’ve lost two and a half stone), my blood pressure remains stubbornly high.

I still have a stone to lose, so we shall see if that improves it.

But meanwhile, I urge you: don’t bury your head in the sand. If you think you may be peri-menopausal (and if you are over 45 there is a very high chance you are), do see your doctor. It might just save your life.