Postmenopausal Women and Their Endothelium

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Due to the loss of estrogen, women experience a unique accelerated rise in cardiovascular disease risk factors following menopause. Postmenopausal women represent a population at heightened risk for cardiovascular disease development. Function of the endothelium has been shown to decline across the menopause transition, resulting in less production of nitric oxide. As such the investigators are investigating a potential therapeutic strategy in women have recently undergone menopause to boost nitric oxide availability.

Inclusion criteria

• Early post-menopausal women who are within 1-6 years following their final menstrual cycle
• Late post-menopausal women who are beyond 6 years following their final menstrual cycle

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals with any overt cardiovascular, metabolic, hematologic, pulmonary, renal, musculoskeletal, and/or neurological disease(s).
• Users of any tobacco and/or nicotine products (smokers, chewing tobacco, nicotine-containing patches/gum, smokeless cigarettes)
• Individuals with a BMI > 35
• Individuals with resting blood pressure > or = 130/80 mm Hg
• Individuals with high blood lipids (total cholesterol > or = 240 mg/dl, LDL > or = 160 mg/dl, triglycerides > or = 200 mg/dl).
• Postmenopausal women with hyperglycemia (fasting glucose > or = 110 mg/dl and HbA1c >6.0%).
• Individuals taking any of the following medications:

• blood pressure lowering medication (e.g., beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin antagonists, calcium channel blockers, diuretics)
• lipid- lowering medication (e.g., statins)
• nitrates (e.g. nitroglycerin) for angina
• phosphodiesterase inhibitors (e.g., Viagra)
• anti-Inflammatory drugs
• Individuals taking hormone therapy