It’s not just hormones. New research shows menopause may trigger low-grade inflammation that could increase heart risk and cause everything from joint pain to brain fog.
A visit to the clinic revealed inflammatory markers — particularly high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) — had shot up. The doctor suspected it was inflammation linked to menopause, often referred to as in-flammopause, a growing but still under recognized phenomenon.
For decades, menopause has been mapped through hormonal decline, mostly estrogen. But it goes beyond hot flashes. A recent study found menopause often triggers systemic inflammation (when the immune system releases inflammatory chemicals into the bloodstream which affects the entire body), whether a woman shows obvious symptoms or not. “As estrogen drops, the body’s immune system misfires: instead of fighting threats, it launches tiny, constant attacks on tissues — from arteries to bones to neurons. The ‘smoldering fire” is what scientists now call ‘inflammaging.’
The Journal of Clinical endocrinology and Metabolism, tracked around 1,500 women and classified them into three inflammatory trajectories — low-rise, medium-rise, and high-decline — with subgroups who enter menopause transition with moderate inflammation levels (medium-rise) experiencing a sharp, sustained increase closer to their final menstrual period.
INDIANS PRONE TO INFLAMMAGING:
Currently, India has over 150 million women in the menopausal or perimenopausal phase. Indian women reach menopause three to five years earlier than many other countries (around 46-47 years, compared to 51 years.) And yet, for most, remains a whispered milestone — acknowledged but rarely explored in full clinical depth.
“Many women in India transition into menopause with unrecognized metabolic concerns like central obesity, insulin resistance and vitamin D deficiency.” Adding that these hidden vulnerabilities, combined with urban stress, sedentary routines, and erratic sleep, make Indian women especially susceptible to inflammaging.
The role of exosomes — tiny vesicles released by aging ovarian cells — which carry inflammatory signals throughout the body, potentially alternating metabolism, degrading tissue health, and accelerating immune wear and tear.
MANAGING MENOPAUSE IS KEY:
Poorly managed menopause leaves women vulnerable to disease they will face 10-15 years down the line. “We now understand menopause as a whole-body reset, involving immune, metabolic, and cellular shifts. What happens during these years may determine whether a woman develops osteoporosis at 60 years, has a heart attack at 65, or begins to lose cognitive sharpness at 70 years. It is not dramatic, but it is decisive, stressing that women should start opting for regenerative medicine early on to prevent health troubles later.
Fewer than 30% of gynaecologists routinely assess cardiovascular or metabolic health markers in menopausal women. Most patients are only advised calcium supplements, iron pills, and lifestyle tips, with no deeper investigation. Inflammatory markers such as hs-CRP and IL-6 (Interleukin-6, a cytokine or small protein that regulates immune responses and inflammation) begin to rise roughly a year before the final menstrual period and remain elevated for years afterward, even in otherwise healthy women.
“But very few clinics routinely test hs-CRP, IL-6 or assess menopause through the lens of inflammatory markers. As a result, women in the medium-rise group often go undiagnosed, until they show up years later with osteoporosis, blocked arteries, or memory problems.”
NEED FOR HOLISTIC CARE:
So, what can we do? “Start early”.
“Women in their 40s should regularly assess weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and inflammatory markers.” Inflammaging also raises the risk of coronary artery disease post menopause, even in women without high cholesterol or other classic risk factors. “With the protective effect of estrogen gone, women become more vulnerable to high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol imbalance. What’s often overlooked is silent inflammation, which can also gradually damage blood vessels and increase the risk of heart attacks.”
Maintaining gut health is also important. “It’s time clinicians acknowledge how post-menopausal gut dysbiosis can contribute to mental fog, joint stiffness, and insulin resistance.” Calling for fermented foods, prebiotic-rich fibers, and polyphenol-rich turmeric, amla, and berries to be incorporated into the post-menopause diet to help nourish beneficial microbes and restore immune balance.
INFLAMMAGING SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR:
- Brain fog or memory lapses.
- Fatigues that lingers despite taking rest.
- Morning joint stiffness.
- Irregular cycles and insulin resistance.
- Unexplained weight gain.
CHECKLIST FOR MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN:
- Apart from fasting sugar, request routine inflammation screening such as hs-CRP and IL-6 tests during menopause evaluations.
- Don’t delay bone mineral density test and heart scan, especially if inflammatory markers are raised.
- Don’t forget to ask your doctor for a menopause plan tailored to your body type and lab profile.
- Check Vitamin-D levels, follow an anti-inflammatory diet with millets, leafy greens, turmeric, Omega-3s, and adequate sleep.
