Researchers followed more than 3,200 women in their 40s and 50s for seven years. They found women with a high frequency of hot flashes had significantly higher levels of LDL and HDL, the bad and good types of cholesterol.
The study accounted for other risk factors such as age and body weight.
Researchers said it remains unclear if hot flashes have any direct impact on heart attack and stroke risk.
However, they do believe menopause is related to changes in a woman's risk for heart disease.
