By Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta, Ph.D. Reviewed by Lauren Hardaker May 15 2026 The menopausal transition may be a critical window for detecting hidden cardiovascular risks, with perimenopausal women showing significantly worse lipid and glucose health scores than expected for age alone. Study: Cardiovascular Health Characterization Using Life's Essential 8 Score in Perimenopausal Women: An Analysis of the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey . Image credit: Monkey Business Images/