High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease in Women
Quick Facts
- Blood pressure is an important health measure for all women at any age.
- There are often no symptoms of high blood pressure.
- Birth control, pregnancy and menopause can raise the risk of high blood pressure
- High blood pressure can lead to heart disease.
What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure is an important health measure. As your heart beats, it pumps blood to the organs and tissues in your body. Your blood pressure measures the force of blood against the artery walls when the heart beats and rests.
What is a normal blood pressure in women?
Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers.
- Systolic (the top number): Measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats. This number is the higher number.
- Diastolic (the bottom number): Measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats. This number is the lower number.
Your blood pressure rises when your heart beats and falls when your heart relaxes between beats. Exercise, posture, stress, sleep and talking can change your reading. That’s why learning how to take your blood pressure correctly is so important.
The different blood pressure categories are:
Blood Pressure Categories
| BLOOD PRESSURE CATEGORY | SYSTOLIC mm Hg (top/upper number) | and/or | DIASTOLIC mm Hg (bottom/lower number) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORMAL | LESS THAN 120 | and | LESS THAN 80 |
| ELEVATED | 120 – 129 | and | LESS THAN 80 |
| STAGE 1 HYPERTENSION (High Blood Pressure) | 130 – 139 | or | 80 – 89 |
| STAGE 2 HYPERTENSION (High Blood Pressure) | 140 OR HIGHER | or | 90 OR HIGHER |
| SEVERE HYPERTENSION (If you don’t have symptoms*, call your health care professional) | HIGHER THAN 180 | and/or | HIGHER THAN 120 |
| HYPERTENSIVE EMERGENCY (If you have any of these symptoms*, call 911) | HIGHER THAN 180 | and/or | HIGHER THAN 120 |
| *symptoms: chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness, weakness, change in vision, or difficulty speaking | |||
Learn how to measure your blood pressure properly.
What are the symptoms of high blood pressure in women?
High blood pressure is called the ”silent killer” because there are often no symptoms. This is why monitoring your blood pressure is so important.
We may assume it affects those who are type-A personalities, tense and aggressive. But the truth is, it has nothing to do with personality traits. You can be the most relaxed, calm person and still have high blood pressure.
Do men and women have different blood pressure numbers?
There is no difference in what is considered normal blood pressure in women and men. The different categories are the same for all non-pregnant adults.
Are women at higher risk of having high blood pressure than men?
Women are about as likely as men to develop high blood pressure at some point during their lives.
However, women have unique life phases that can change their risk for high blood pressure. Birth control, pregnancy and menopause can all raise the risk.
You have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure if you are overweight, have a family history of high blood pressure or have reached menopause.
How can I improve my blood pressure?
While there is no cure, high blood pressure can be managed and sometimes prevented by:
- Adopting an overall healthy dietary pattern
- Getting the recommended regular physical activity
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Stopping tobacco and vaping
- Having healthy sleep
These simple changes can go a long way. They are key factors in lowering your numbers.
Will taking birth control pills increase my chances of getting high blood pressure?
Doctors and researchers have found a link between some birth control pills and an increase in blood pressure among some women. This is more likely in women who are overweight, have kidney disease or have a family history of high blood pressure.
Talk to your health care team to determine what forms of birth control may be best for you.
Learn more about birth control and heart disease.
Will high blood pressure affect my chances of getting pregnant?
High blood pressure will not affect your chances of getting pregnant. However, women who improve their heart health before pregnancy can reduce their medical risks later. This proactive approach can lower the risk of pregnancy complications. If you’re considering becoming pregnant, talk to your health care team about lifestyle changes you can make to help both you and your baby be healthier. If you take blood pressure medication, talk to your health care team about any changes to your medication that may help protect your health and your baby’s health.
Learn more about pregnancy and heart disease.
Does pregnancy impact blood pressure?
Yes, pregnancy can impact blood pressure. Some women who have never had high blood pressure before getting pregnant can develop high blood pressure during pregnancy or even up to a year after giving birth.
Learn more about pregnancy and heart disease.
Does menopause impact blood pressure?
Everyone’s risk of developing high blood pressure rises with age, but managing your blood pressure before, during and after menopause is especially important.
Learn more about how menopause can impact your risk for heart disease.
Is high blood pressure considered heart disease?
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a condition that makes the heart work harder than normal. If left untreated, it scars and damages your arteries and can lead to heart disease.
Having high blood pressure raises your risk for
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Heart failure
- Fatty buildups in the arteries (plaque)
- Kidney failure
- Eye damage
