Menopause & Blood Pressure

As a Woman Ages…

Between the ages of 45-54, the percentages of women and men with high blood pressure are similar. However, many women in this age group are entering menopause and may experience hot flashes, increasing their risk for hypertension¹. Also, there is a possibility that women who are on hormone therapy may experience an increase in blood pressure. And women who are over 54 years old have a much higher chance of having high blood pressure than men.² Therefore it is important for women to monitor their blood pressure at home as they enter this phase of their lives.

General Hypertension Risk To Women

High blood pressure used to be thought of as a man’s disease. However, here are some sobering statistics for women:³

• Heart disease is the number one killer of women over 20 years of age. The death rate from heart disease is higher than the rate for ALL cancers combined!
• Cardiovascular disease kills over 460,000 women, approximately one death per minute.
• One in three female adults has some form of cardiovascular disease.
• Since 1984, the number of CVD deaths of females has exceeded that of males.

References

1. Gerber LM, Sievert LL, Warren K, Pickering TG, Schwartz JE. (2007, March/April). Hot flashes are associated with increased ambulatory systolic blood pressure. Menopause, 14(2), 308-315.
2. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. (2008). High Blood Pressure.
Retrieved February 4, 2008, from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Hbp/HBPLivingWith.html
3. Rosamond W, Flegal K, Furie K, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics-2008 update: a report from the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee.