The appearance of “hot flashes” at the beginning of menopause is a prerequisite for reducing the risk of heart attack, according to a new study. The study involved 60,000 women in menopause. The researchers followed the volunteers throughout the menopause, looking at the onset of common symptoms and subsequent heart problems, said Dr. Joanne Manson, head of the division of preventive medicine at Harvard University Brigham Hospital. Scientists believe that the “hot flashes” dilate blood vessels. and thus prevent the formation of clots leading to a heart attack or stroke. The absence of hot flashes or their late onset in menopause can be a warning sign of a blood vessel abnormality that could lead to heart problems, Manson says. 2.5 percent of women with “hot flashes” during menopause have had heart attacks, and menopausal women without this symptom are 1% more, according to the 10-year study. Symptoms occurring during menopause play a key role in a later stage of women’s lives, experts say.