Menopause and High Blood Pressure: The Relationship

Menopause and high blood pressure presents a known risk for women. Most women will experience an increase in blood pressure after menopause occurs. The risk factors of developing high blood pressure also increase in postmenopausal women, especially when you consider the difference in premenopausal women.

What Is Menopause

Your menopause is defined as the absence of your menstrual periods for twelve months in a row and is accompanied by low levels of estrogen.

Lifestyle factors plays a very important role in the timing of when your menopause might start. Or if you have had your ovaries surgically removed.

My menopause was surgically induced when I was only forty years of age due to problems with fibroid, so overnight I went into menopause and high blood pressure adding to the mix of me also taking blood pressure medication.

Doctors believe that the numerous changes that occur in women during menopause lead to this increased risk of developing high blood pressure. The changes during your menopause are related to the changes happening in your ovaries, that brings on hormonal changes that can lead to your increased risk.

In addition, there are biochemical changes that occur during menopause that can play a role in the development of high blood pressure in women. For example, the hormonal changes that occur can lead to increased salt sensitivity and to weight gain.

Another factor that can sometimes play a role in the development of high blood pressure in women after menopause is the use of medications to treat menopause symptoms.

For example, hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, is often needed to balance hormones in the woman’s body. However, HRT can also increase blood pressure.

Controlling Blood Pressure

Although there's an increase in the blood pressure of women after and immediately before menopause, there are ways to control it. The following can help:

• Lose excess weight, even the decrease of ten percent of your body weight can make a marked difference.
• Eat foods that are good for your heart such as whole grains, vegetables and fruits.
• Get physical exercise on a daily basis.
• Reduce the amount of sodium in your diet.
• Limit the amount of alcohol you drink, or avoid it altogether if you already have high blood pressure.
• If you smoke, stop.

The combination of these factors is the best way to prevent or even to lower your blood pressure numbers. However, your doctor may offer additional help.

Medications are often necessary to treat high blood pressure. If your doctor prescribes medications for the treatment of the condition, take them. Make lifestyle changes as well.

Also consider the use of alternative treatments for high blood pressure which can further improve your health and limit your dependency on medications.

Menopause and high blood pressure often go hand in hand for those who have these increased risk factors. However, through monitoring and prevention methods, you can lower your risk of developing this life threatening condition.

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Menopause and High Blood Pressure

Having to deal with menopause and high blood pressure at the same time can take a toll on your body and life.

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