Early Menstuation and Heart Disease

Early menstruation associated with greater risk for heart disease.

The Time (1/7, O'Callaghan) "Wellness" blog reported that "girls who begin menstruating at a younger age may have a greater risk for developing heart disease later in life, according to" a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. In a study of "15,807 middle-aged and senior women," investigators discovered that "women who got their first period before age 12 faced a 23% higher risk for developing heart disease," had a "28% higher risk of dying from heart attack or stroke," and "a 25% higher risk of dying from cancer," compared to women "who began menstruating later."