Overview
The investigators aim to assess the interactions between the sympathetic nervous system and the vasculature in women across the menopause transition to better understand why aging women have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Assigned female at birth
- 18-70 years of age
- Body mass index (BMI) \<30 kg/m2
Exclusion Criteria:
- Assigned male at birth
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding
- Body mass index ≥30 kg/m2
- Oral hormonal contraception in last 6 months, history of hormone replacement therapy, oophorectomy
- Current smoking/nicotine use
- Increased risk of bleeding, pro-coagulant disorders, clotting disorders, anticoagulation therapy
- Nerve/neurologic disease
- Cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, respiratory disease
- Blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg
- Diabetes, Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Communication barriers
- Prescription medications
