Overweight, hypertension and ECG changes in menopausal women in West Bengal.

The prevalence of overweight with related changes in ECG and blood pressure (BP) were studied in thirty menopausal women from different districts of West Bengal to assess the effects of menopause on weight, BP and on heart in them with review of the literature. Both hypertension and ischaemia were increased to 77% and 43% in the study group compared to control group values of 50% and 30% respectively. All the 3 persons in the control group showing ischaemic change were hypertensive while among 13 persons in the study group who showed ischaemia; 3 had normal BP and 10 were hypertensive. In the menopausal (study) group, 30% showed irregularities of heart rate compared to 10% women in the premenopausal (control) group. The dramatic effect of exercise in reducing the ECG changes seen in the control group were not seen in the study group.