The act of breastfeeding is known to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease in women, but it has been unclear how it decreases the risk and what risk factors it alters. A recent study suggest how it might affect women’s risk.
In this study of over 800 women, the act of breastfeeding was associated with decreased thickness of the carotid artery wall, which is a measure of vascular health and risk in older adults. Our arteries become stiffer and thicker over time which increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases and events. Cholesterol plays a role in thickening arteries, but the process is still poorly understood. It is not known why breastfeeding was associated with healthier arteries, or whether it or some common factor was the cause.
Update August 18, 2015: Brief story published in New York Times
Lactation Duration and Midlife Atherosclerosis
