In a new study from the University of Bergen, researchers found that women with mildly elevated blood pressure in their early 40s have a doubled risk of coronary syndromes in their 50s compared to women with normal blood pressure.
They suggest that even if feeling healthy, women should have their blood pressure measured by their primary care physician and repeated at regular intervals with the frequency-dependent on the level.
Those with other risk factors for heart disease, such as obesity, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, pregnancy complications, or parents with high blood pressure need more intense monitoring.
Previous studies have suggested that high blood pressure is a stronger risk factor for heart disease in women than in men.
In addition, young and middle-aged women have on average lower blood pressure than men, but despite this, the threshold for diagnosing high blood pressure is the same in both sexes.
In the study, the team examined whether mildly elevated blood pressure (130-139/80-89 mmHg) was a stronger risk factor for coronary syndromes in women than in men.
Blood pressure was measured in 6,381 women and 5,948 men participating in the community-based Hordaland Health Study at age 41 years. Heart attacks were recorded during 16 years of follow-up.
The researchers found that in women, mildly elevated blood pressure was linked to a doubled risk of acute coronary syndromes during midlife.
This association was not found in men after adjusting for other cardiovascular disease risk factors.
The analyses confirmed that mildly elevated blood pressure affects the risk of acute coronary syndromes in a sex-specific manner.
The results add to emerging evidence indicating that high blood pressure has particularly unfavorable effects on women’s hearts.
The team notes that the findings probably reflect differences between women and men in how the small arteries respond to elevated blood pressure, but this needs to be further explored.
To retain normal blood pressure, it is recommended to maintain normal body weight, keep a healthy diet and exercise regularly. Furthermore, it is advisable to avoid smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol and salt.
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The study is published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. One author of the study is Dr. Ester Kringeland.
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