| Menopause and High Blood Pressure | | | | is after the menopause that the systolic |
| | | | pressure in women increases by about 5 mm Hg. |
| It has often been said that High Blood | | | | |
| Pressure is very much an equal opportunity | | | | These increases can be attributed to a number |
| disease and condition in that it is just as | | | | of factors partly related to potential |
| likely to affect women as it is men. | | | | increased salt sensitivity and potential |
| | | | weight gain that in turn are associated with |
| The surprising nature of High Blood Pressure | | | | Hormone changes that occur during menopause. |
| and it's affect on women is that three out of | | | | Sadly, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) that |
| very four women with high blood pressure are | | | | many women either undertake voluntarily or |
| aware of the fact that they have it but | | | | have prescribed for them may also contribute |
| research has shown that less than one out of | | | | to increases in blood pressure. An additional |
| every three women are making any attempt to | | | | factor to take into consideration here also |
| control their high blood pressure. | | | | is that women who are over 50 who also take |
| | | | HRT may also have a small increase on average |
| I guess as far as Women and High Blood | | | | systolic pressure (1-2 mm Hg). These women |
| Pressure are concerned the debate falls | | | | are 25 percent more likely to suffer from |
| pretty much into two topics: Menopause and | | | | high blood pressure than are women who don't |
| High Blood Pressure and is there a connection | | | | take HRT. |
| and High Blood Pressure and Pregnancy. This | | | | |
| article will attempt to consider the | | | | The important aspect to remember in all of |
| relationship between the Menopause and | | | | this is that there are steps that can be |
| HighBlood Pressure. | | | | taken to control any onset of high blood |
| | | | pressure after the menopause. Basically these |
| These are two key occurrences in a Woman's | | | | revolve around various basic lifestyle |
| life? How do I know? Firstly I am a father | | | | changes that can bring a tremendous benefit. |
| and I well remember (fondly) the entire | | | | |
| period of my wife's pregnancy and all that | | | | You would not realise how much benefit you |
| entailed. The second subject? Well let's just | | | | could achieve from reducing Sodium in your |
| say I know (at the risk of incurring the ire | | | | diet, increase the level of physical |
| of "she who must be obeyed") and leave it at | | | | activity, generally aim to keep to a fairly |
| that. | | | | healthy diet i.e. lost of fresh fruit and |
| | | | vegetables etc and cutting back and being |
| The Menopause and High Blood Pressure is | | | | sensible with the time honoured twin vices of |
| probably a combination of the "big guy | | | | Alcohol and Tobacco! |
| upstairs" reminding us that life really isn't | | | | |
| fair and if having to come to terms with a | | | | It is important to realise however that not |
| whole series of unfortunate physical changes | | | | all cases of high blood pressure are going to |
| isn't enough then along comes high blood | | | | be dealt with successfully just through |
| pressure to boot when you least expect it! | | | | lifestyle changes. Sometimes that just isn't |
| | | | possible and medication has an important |
| So what does it all entail? Does the onset of | | | | bearing on these matters also. Of the wide |
| the menopause affect high blood pressure? | | | | range of medication available for the |
| | | | treatment of high blood pressure, in these |
| Before the menopause, women tend to have | | | | cases diuretics have shown to be extremely |
| slightly lower diastolic pressure and | | | | effective as many women have reported that |
| systolic pressure than the men do. As has | | | | incidences of general fluid retention tend to |
| been mentioned on quite a few occasions, it | | | | rise with the onset of the menopause. |