What is
the Link Between Menopause and Hypertension?
Do you think that the
menopause and hypertension are related? After
menopause, most women notice an increase in their
blood pressure. As such, most are diagnosed with high blood pressure
after menopause symptoms.
This suggests a
relationship between the hormonal and
biochemical changes a woman experiences during that phase of her life
with the onset of high blood pressure.
Hormonal changes a
woman
experiences during menopause can leads to an increase to salt
sensitivity, loss of energy and a tendency for weight gain. These
factors are well-known precursor symptoms to high blood pressure. High
blood pressure increases a woman's risk to cardiovascular disease and
if the weight gain is not stabilized then a woman is faced with a
variety of other ailments such as diabetes and an increased risk to
strokes.
 Another
contributor to the increased risk is said to be
related to the estrogen hormone level. Estrogen helps keep a woman's
blood
pressure under control. This has been touted as one of the
explanations why men have a tendency to be afflicted with hypertension
earlier than women. Estrogen, which men lack, is suspected to
keep a woman's carotid artery, aorta, and other large arteries flexible
maintaining acceptable blood pressure levels. As a woman enters
menopause symptoms her estrogen levels start decreasing and the benefits of the
estrogen associated with blood pressure, decrease.
The arteries lose
their elasticity becoming more rigid, making it difficult for the blood
vessel wall to expand and contract eventually leading to a higher blood
pressure.
However, the reduced
estrogen level theory is still being
studied within menopause and hypertension. In a study that appeared in
the Journal of Hypertension,
researchers questioned the hormonal effect of estrogen in
menopause.
They argued that the risk of being diagnosed with high blood pressure
is not related to decreasing estrogen levels but related to the
increase in women's
weight as they age and also a general factor of
aging. There research did not find that estrogen had any significant
role in the changing blood pressure as women go through menopause symptoms.
Women
on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) also experience
an increase in blood pressure minimally. These treatments however
coupled with cigarette smoking can lead to significant changes in their
blood pressure. In this case, the risk of suffering cardiovascular
disease is increased by a factor of four.
 Blood
pressure for
menopausal women increases an average of 5 millimeters of
mercury. Postmenopausal women can combat high blood pressure effect naturally.
They can do this through diet, exercise, and concentrating on a healthy
lifestyle. To avoid a substantial blood pressure rise, woman can start
by eating a heart healthy diet that includes fresh fruits and
vegetables.
They should also opt
for low fat or fat
free alternatives of dairy products. Alcohol, cigarettes,
and salt
intake should be limited. Foods to be avoided include sweets and
processed foods. Being overweight can also lead to heightened risk of
high blood pressure, therefore women should lose any excess
weight.
If
lifestyle adjustments cannot control the high blood pressure, a doctor
may write a prescription for medications to lower the blood pressure.
Exercising is also very important in menopause and hypertension, it can
be as simple as a 40 minute
walk a day. This can help shed the excess weight and help retain some
of the elasticity of the arteries.
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