New study finds women’s blood pressure rises faster than men’s

New study finds women’s blood pressure rises faster than men’s

The belief about heart disease and women has always been that women lag behind men by about 20 years regarding their cardiovascular risk for heart attacks and stoke. Now new research from the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai challenges this long-held notion.

The study, published in the journal JAMA  Cardiology, shows for the first time that women’s blood vessels, both large and small, age at a faster rate than men’s. These findings could also explain why women tend to develop different types of cardiovascular disease and with different timing than men. The importance of this study is crucial for women’s heart health since the vast majority of cardiovascular diseases tend to begin with elevated blood pressure as a primary risk factor.

Research methods and findings from the study

This long-term study covered a 43-year period which collected almost 145,000 blood pressure measurements from 32,833 study participants ranging in age from 5 to 98 years old. Data for the study came from multiple sites across the U.S. and used sex-specific analyses of measured blood pressure, a critical indicator of cardiovascular disease. Individuals with high blood pressure are at an increased risk for a heart attack, heart failure, or stroke.  Researchers with the study examined the data looking for clues and patterns regarding how blood pressure starts to rise. From this, they compared the data from women to women and men to men.

Findings from the study showed that progression and evolution of women’s vascular function is very different from a man’s and that women showed signs of elevated blood pressure earlier in life than men. From this finding, the researchers concluded that a 30-year old woman with high blood pressure is likely at a greater risk for cardiovascular disease than a 30-year old man with high blood pressure.

What can be done?

A main take away from this study is that clinicians should think differently about how they treat heart disease in women. The goal is pointing towards tailoring a treatment plan for high blood pressure specifically for women. This study highlights the importance of women having their blood pressure assessed at least yearly and then continued regular monitoring looking for rises in their blood pressure readings.

Fortunately, there are several steps women can take helping reduce their risk of developing cardiovascular disease:

1.     Maintain a healthy body weight

Staying within an ideal body weight range over thier lifetime can be a big plus in reducing the risk of heart disease.  Excess adipose tissue, particularly in the central abdominal area (belly fat), can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. 

2.     Regular physical exercise

Keeping oneself fit and active is a huge step in controlling body weight.  Find an exercise activity you enjoy doing and will stick with in the long-run.  It’s never too late to start.

3.     Don’t smoke

Any woman who currently smokes should quit. 

4.     Eat a heart-healthy diet

A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, seeds, lean protein, fish and lowfat dairy will feed the body the nutrients it needs while protecting heart health.  The Mediterranean Diet is a good example of a heart healthy meal plan to try. 

5.     Control any current risk factors

Women who already have high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol, should work with their doctor to find an effective treatment plan to manage these chronic conditions. This might include improved dietary changes, weight loss, increasing exercise, and stress reduction.

6.     Avoid excessive alcohol intake

Drinking excessively has many risks including contributing to obesity, raising triglycerides and blood pressure, and can lead to a stroke.  Women who choose to drink alcohol should consume no more than one drink per day.  

7.     Manage stress

Stress will always be present so dealing with it effectively matters. Stress is a major factor for raising blood pressure increasing the risk for heart disease.  Finding healthy ways to cope with stress can reduce its affect on heart health.

8.     Consider aspirin therapy

Some individuals may benefit from a daily dose of aspirin.  However, it is not for everyone and no one should begin taking it without consulting with their doctor first.

9.     Know the symptoms of a heart attack

Heart attacks are more severe in women than in men.  In the first year after a heart attack women are more than 50% more likely to die than men are.  In the first 6 years after a heart attack, women are almost twice as likely to have a second heart attack.

Women have different symptoms of a heart attack than men.  Many women who have a heart attack do not know it.  Women tend to feel a burning sensation in the upper abdomen and may experience lightheadedness, an upset stomach, shortness of breath, sweating, and an ache or feeling of tightness in the chest, arm, neck, jaw, or abdomen.   Because they do not feel the typical chest pain, many women ignore symptoms indicating they are having a heart attack.  Anyone experiencing these symptoms should immediately call 911.   

David B. Samadi, MD, Urologic Oncology Expert and Robotic Surgeon located at 485 Madison Avenue on the 21st floor, New York, NY – 212-365-5000.  Follow Dr. Samadi at www.samadimd.com,  www.prostatecancer911.com, and www.roboticoncology.com