Role of Estrogen in Female Longevity - Hormone Mechanism

Introduction:

Estrogen plays an important role in male and female reproductive systems. The estrogen hormone is responsible for many functions in the body. Estrogen is secreted from the adrenal glands, ovaries, and fat. The levels of estrogen go high as we hit puberty. Estrogen helps to keep the heart healthy. In women, heart disease generally occurs after 60 years because the estrogen levels go down after 50 years. Estrogen production slows down in women after menopause. The relationship between estrogen, women, and the heart is discussed in this article.

What Is the Role of Estrogen in the Human Body?

Estrogen is a steroid hormone that plays an important role in the development of many organs like the uterus, breasts, and cardiovascular system. In females, the estrogen hormone is responsible for maintaining reproductive systems and characteristics like breast and pubic hair. Estrogen is produced from the adrenal glands, fatty tissues, and ovaries responsible for the development of breasts, puberty, and uterine lining growth during the menstrual cycle. It maintains bone strength by its action on vitamin D, calcium, vitamins, and minerals. Menopause occurs between the age of 40 to 55. By that time, the ovaries stop producing estrogens as the ovaries stop functioning. The hormones fluctuate during the menstrual cycle, and few symptoms of mood swings or hot flashes are caused due to hormonal fluctuations.

The three major estrogens produced in the body are:

• Estradiol (E2) - Produced during childbearing age.

• Estriol (E3) - The main estrogen produced during pregnancy.

• Estrone (E1) - Produced after menopause.

The functions of estrogen are:

• It helps control cholesterol.

• Responsible for changes during pregnancy.

• Plays a crucial role in the development of the uterus.

• Responsible for changes in the body during the menstrual cycle, like increasing growth of the vagina, thickening of uterus wall after periods, widening of the pelvis, and breast growth.

• Estrogen is a steroid hormone that regulates the transcription of genes in the uterus.

The core indicators of heart health are:

• Cholesterol.

• Blood pressure.

• Blood glucose level.

• Hormonal levels.

• Kidney function.

What Is the Role of Estrogen in Preventing Heart Disease?

The role of estrogen is described as follows:

• There is a lower incidence of heart disease in women when compared to males. Only after menopause is the incidence of cardiovascular disease is more in women. The lower incidence of heart diseases in women is largely attributed to the estrogen levels in the body.

• During menopause, more amounts of plasma estrogen called estrone are present, which is less effective than Estradiol.

• The protective effects of estrogen are due to its influence on regulating cholesterol levels. They have effects on the liver that cause an overall reduction in cholesterol levels, and there is an increase in high-density cholesterol and a decrease in low-density cholesterol.

• High-density cholesterols are good cholesterols that help bring peripheral cholesterol to the liver for metabolism. The low-density cholesterols carry the cholesterol from the liver and deposit them in peripheral tissues. This bad cholesterol accumulates and deposits in the blood vessels.

• This bad cholesterol blocks the flow of blood to the heart by attaching to the blood vessel walls.

• The high-density lipoprotein called good cholesterol reduces the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood vessels.

• After the accumulation of bad cholesterol, the blood vessels become inflamed. This inflammation causes further blockage leading to heart disease and stroke.

• Women suffer from blood vessel aging, insulin sensitivity, and increased blood pressure due to a decrease in estrogen after a certain age, like 40 years.

• The estrogen receptors are present in the skeletal system and cardiovascular system. Estrogen has a regulatory function on the skeletal system and heart.

• After menopause, the estrogen levels go very down, and women experience symptoms of menopause like osteoporosis and hot flashes, and they are at risk of heart disease.

• Estrogen has its effects on the heart and blood vessels. It has both more positive effects and some negative effects on the cardiovascular system that is:

1. Increases the high-density cholesterol (good cholesterol).

2. Decreases the low-density cholesterol (bad cholesterol).

3. Promotes the formation of a blood clot.

4. Dilates or relaxes the blood vessels so that the blood flow increases.

After menopause, there is a severe drop in estrogen levels, so the risk of heart disease is increased.

What Are the Food Sources of Estrogen?

Some foods contain phytoestrogens, which are plant-based substances that resemble estrogen.

Foods that contain phytoestrogens include:

• Soy and some foods containing soy protein.

• Berries.

• Seeds and grains.

• Nuts.

• Fruit.

• Wine.

• Flax seeds.

• Dried fruits.

• Sesame seeds.

• Wheat bran.

• Tofu.

Phytoestrogens help to manage the symptoms of menopause. Some seeds and plants contain phytoestrogens, which act in a similar way to estrogen. This help regulates estrogen and treats symptoms of menopause. One of the popular sources of phytoestrogens is tofu which is made from coagulated soy milk.

How To Maintain Healthy Levels of Estrogen?

Estrogen helps support heart blood vessels, protects the brain, and promotes bone strength. Some of the phytoestrogens present in the foods help relieve menopausal physical symptoms like vaginal dryness and hot flashes. The following steps can be followed to maintain healthy estrogen levels:

• Proper and Sufficient Sleep - Uninterrupted and adequate sleep helps the body to maintain healthy hormone levels for important functions.

• Exercise - Healthy exercises help regulate the fat in the body and aid in good sleep.

• Avoid Alcohol - High levels of estrogen increase the risk of breast cancer.

• Proper Diet - Always prefer a balanced diet by reducing the sugar intake and eating foods high in fiber and fats that help hormonal balance.

Conclusion:

Hormones are chemical messengers that control and regulate many bodily functions like growth, development, behavior, and reproduction. Many hormones are produced in the body. They are secreted as chemical messengers by the endocrine cells that act on the target tissues and produce the desired metabolic effects. The main function of hormones is the maintenance of homeostasis. Estrogen is a hormone that is crucial for the reproductive health of women. So a healthy diet and brisk physical activity play a significant role in controlling heart disease. It is essential to manage blood pressure and lose weight.