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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
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High Blood Pressure |
Hypertension and perimenopause-connection?04/15/2002 |
Is there a correlation between High blood pressure readings and perimenopause? My last visit to my M.D. showed and elevated bp reading. He had me do 2 follow-ups, and a third one lated this month. I am in perimenopause and often have hot flashes during daytime from waist up. I have had more stress in my life, facing a move to another city. But I am also trying to exercise and watch my salt and caffeine intake. I walk 30 min 3x a week at about 2.4 mph. Then I do 15 to 20 minutes with my petite bell weights (about 5 lbs ea) There is hypertension history on both sides of my family. I am about 45 lbs overweight, but have been battling compulsive eating pattern for years.
There is no evidence that menopause by itself causes high blood pressure. However, blood pressure increases with age, and post-menopausal women have a four times higher chance of being hypertensive than pre-menopausal women.Stress can cause an increase in blood pressure, but the effect is usually small. Given that hypertension runs in your family, it is most likely that you have essential hypertension, i.e. the exact cause is not known. Essential hypertension is partially genetic (inherited) and partially due to environmental factors and lifestyle.
Exercise can lower blood pressure and contributes to better general health. Reducing stress, weight loss and a diet rich in fruit and vegetables and low in fat and processed food are also helpful. However, most people with essential hypertension will need medication in addition to these lifestyle changes.
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Max C Reif, MD Professor of Medicine Director of Hypertension Section Division of Nephrology & Hypertension Department of Internal Medicine College of Medicine University of Cincinnati |
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