Causes of high blood pressure in women over 50 years of age

Arterial hypertension is a common disease without gender or age. Anyone can become a victim of hypertension, but most often high blood pressure occurs in women after 35 years of age. The female body is better able to adapt to any internal changes, often arterial levels increase due to natural factors: menopause, premenstrual syndrome, hormonal changes, but the problem cannot be started if the levels increase regularly for no apparent reason. A specialist treats hypertension.

Normal blood pressure indicators

Blood pressure is the degree to which blood compresses the vascular walls during blood flow. Blood is forcefully pushed out of the heart, and then transports nutrients, minerals, and oxygen through the vessels to tissues, cells, and organs.

For a doctor, two types of pressure play an important role when diagnosing hypertension - systolic and diastolic. Upper pressure shows the degree of compression of the walls during contraction of the heart muscle. The lower value shows the minimum compression parameter when the heart relaxes.

Women over 35 years of age often suffer from hypertension.
Arterial hypertension is regularly high blood pressure when the values ​​remain above normal for several days. The normal blood pressure is calculated taking into account gender, age, and living conditions. The reference point for normal blood pressure is 120 to 80 mmHg. From this indicator, acceptable average values ​​are derived, which help the cardiologist determine the severity of the pathology.

Blood pressure levels vary between women and men. This can be clearly seen in the table diagram presented:

To determine the degree of development of hypertension, doctors use a proven classification:

What does pressure 160/100 mean?

Blood pressure indicators expressed in values ​​of 160/100 (or 110) mm. rt. Art., indicates the onset of second-degree hypertension.

This stage of the disease is quite dangerous, since destructive processes begin to occur in the body, affecting the patient’s heart, her brain and kidneys, as well as her eyes.

The symptoms of hypertension in women (meaning the second degree of pathology) are partially similar to those listed above:

• Headache, very intense.
• Acceleration of the heartbeat, which is well felt by the patient.
• Deterioration of vision (appearance of spots, blurred vision, etc.).
• Facial redness.
• The appearance of red veins in a woman's eyes.
• Numbness of the fingers and sometimes the patient’s hands.

What are the causes of blood pressure 160/100 in women? There are two main reasons:

1. The first stage of hypertension - that is, in the absence of diagnosis or treatment of stage 1, the disease passes into the second, which is much more difficult to treat.
2. Constant stress that accompanies a woman - this symptom contributes not only to the appearance of hypertension in general, but also to its worsening (for example, transition to the second, more severe, degree).

Why does women's blood pressure rise?

The main causes of high blood pressure in women are stress, severe anxiety, and anxiety. Women are more emotional than men, so psychoneurological factors take first place among the causes of hypertension.

Women who have a history of hypertension in their family, especially in the first line, are at risk of becoming a victim of hypertension. If women have both parents with hypertension, the probability of repeating their fate reaches 60–70%. Such a woman from a young age needs to monitor her lifestyle, follow a diet and other preventive measures.

A person’s lifestyle affects the functioning of the body. The functioning of the heart, blood vessels, and other internal organs depends on the lifestyle. The heart and blood vessels weaken with poor nutrition, lack of minimal physical activity, consumption of fatty foods, processed foods, fast food, and snacks.

The reason for high blood pressure in women often lies in their emotionality.

If a woman lives in a region with poor environmental conditions, she will become hypertensive. In large cities, with strong air pollution and insufficient oxygen, the body lacks nutrients, hypoxia develops, which leads to hypertension. Residents of megacities often complain of headaches, severe fatigue, and rapid fatigue, not suspecting that these are the first alarming signs of high blood pressure and the development of pathology.

The causes of high blood pressure in women are directly related to age. Over the years, the body wears out, the internal organs cannot cope with the high load, the body needs help. The natural process of aging of organs and vital systems leads to pressure surges.

We must not forget that women have a special body. The female body constantly undergoes strong hormonal changes. During adolescence, maturation occurs when a woman gets her first period. After this, once a month the body experiences an emotional and physical shock, which cannot but affect blood counts. The next hormonal shock is pregnancy. The period when the body works for two people at once. After 45–50 years, a new stage in a woman’s life begins - menopause, when the hormonal levels completely change, which always leads to an increase in blood counts.

Taking hormonal contraceptives affects arterial indicators; indicators increase due to changes in hormonal levels.

High blood pressure in pregnant women

During pregnancy, a woman's blood pressure can change several times a day, so women often complain of headaches, dizziness, and loss of strength. The reason for high blood pressure in pregnant women is excessive stress on the spine and legs, so during the period of bearing a child, a woman’s limbs often swell, varicose veins appear, and pain in the legs. All these are signs of impaired blood flow and blood flow to the lower extremities, which leads to weakness of vascular tone and hypertension.

During pregnancy, blood levels increase due to hormonal changes in the body. This is a temporary phenomenon, so medical intervention in the natural process is not required. To normalize vascular tone and blood pressure, a specialist prescribes the use of compression stockings. They normalize blood circulation, reduce swelling, and restore normal blood pressure.

In pregnant women, blood pressure increases due to hormonal changes in the body.

ethnoscience

Traditional medicine suggests treating hypertension in women using the following means:

1. Flax seeds - they are useful due to the content of omega-3 acids, which help increase high-density lipoproteins in the blood, as well as strengthen the walls of blood vessels; You can use them as a sprinkle on sandwiches, as an ingredient in salad, and in crushed form, but no more than three tablespoons per day.
2. Red pine cones - tannins, bioflavonoids and other substances they contain help thin the blood, thereby preventing the formation of blood clots and possible blockage of blood vessels. In addition, they increase the permeability of the patient’s blood vessels and help restore capillary blood flow in a sick woman; the raw materials collected in June-July (actually, cones), well washed, are infused with vodka for three weeks in a dark place, for which the raw materials are placed in a liter jar and filled with vodka; apply as follows: three times a day, 20 minutes before meals, 1 teaspoon.
3. Garlic - this product has a blood-thinning effect, prevents the appearance of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels, stimulates blood flow and normalizes it, and also prevents the formation of blood clots; by eating several cloves per day, you can achieve a reduction in blood pressure by 5 - 8%; Another option for use is to use garlic infusion (pour a chopped clove of garlic with water and let it brew for twelve hours), drink garlic water in the morning.

There are other remedies recommended by traditional medicine: raw sunflower seeds, lemon, plantain, cranberries with honey.

Consequently, women during certain periods (pregnancy, menopause) are most vulnerable to hypertension. That is why it is so important to recognize the symptoms of this disease in time and fight them.

Risk factors for developing arterial hypertension

High blood pressure in young women, as well as in old age, can develop against the background of internal changes occurring in the body:

• kidney failure;
• hormonal changes during menopause;
• passive lifestyle;
• diabetes;
• brain concussion;
• bad habits;
• gestation period;
• excess body weight;
• use of medications that affect blood pressure;
• diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

Women with these problems are at risk of developing arterial hypertension and should regularly monitor their levels.

Characteristic signs of hypertension

It is impossible to recognize the development of hypertension from a woman externally. Diagnosis will require a comprehensive examination, but symptoms of high blood pressure will help prompt you to visit a doctor.

The main symptoms of high blood pressure in women:

• sleep disorders;
• prostration;
• soreness in the heart;
• dysfunction of the heart muscle;
• decreased appetite;
• numbness of the limbs;
• vestibular disorders;
• rapid fatigue;
• decreased performance;
• headaches.

The following signs indicate high blood pressure in women:

• involuntary muscle contraction;
• skin changes;
• gagging;
• clouding of consciousness;
• hyperhidrosis;
• deterioration of visual function.

Constant fatigue in a woman may be a sign of developing hypertension

Symptoms may appear immediately or increase gradually. Women do not immediately manage to recognize the first signs of oncoming hypertension, so they go to see a doctor with the disease already advanced.

Doctors recommend listening to the body and recording any changes. If signs of high blood pressure appear, you should not delay visiting a specialist. The longer you delay treatment for hypertension, the higher the likelihood of developing serious pathologies that affect the functioning of all internal organs.

A woman may not experience all the symptoms, but only some of them. The development of symptomatic manifestations is associated with the individual characteristics of the body, age, and other factors. Sometimes hypertension manifests itself only in a minor headache or a feeling of throbbing in the temples. Even minor signs should not be overlooked. During a hypertensive crisis, all perceptions become aggravated, the symptoms become pronounced, and immediate medical attention is required.

Symptoms

It is almost impossible and undesirable to accurately determine the presence of high blood pressure in a woman just by type alone. It is necessary to measure the pressure using an accurate device and consult a medical specialist. However, there are a number of signs, when they appear, you should think about the state of your cardiovascular system:

• general feeling of weakness of the body;
• sleep disturbance, frequent insomnia;
• pain in the heart area, disruptions in its functioning;
• poor appetite;
• decreased performance of the body, rapid fatigue;
• frequent causeless dizziness;
• numbness of the limbs;
• etc.

Symptoms of hypertension

It is worth noting that all these symptoms can appear slowly, gradually, almost imperceptibly for the body. Therefore, after 35 years, it is extremely important to notice such things, otherwise negligence can turn out unfavorably for you: the condition of the heart, blood vessels, visual organs, etc. worsens.

On a note! According to statistics, late treatment of high blood pressure often leads to a heart attack and, as a consequence, death.

Consequences and complications

Hypertension does not go away without consequences for a woman. Due to increased pressure in the vessels, blood clots form, which lead to acute cerebrovascular accident or heart attack.

A dangerous consequence of high blood pressure is an increased load on the heart muscle and blood vessels. It becomes more difficult for the body to cope with any stress, a person quickly gets tired, respiratory failure develops, swelling, and intermittent claudication appear.

In the absence of therapeutic intervention, hypertension can lead to impaired renal function, retinal detachment, hemorrhage in certain organs, and blindness.

Other consequences of hypertension:

• irreversible damage to internal organs;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• blurred vision;
• memory loss;
• deterioration of mental activity;
• development of stroke.

The sooner treatment for hypertension is started, the higher the likelihood of complete recovery.

Hypertension has serious consequences

Complications of hypertension

If women's hypertension is not treated in time, the consequences can be very serious. The disease is fraught with serious complications; most often, disorders are observed in the kidneys, heart, and brain. If a woman faces such a serious problem at a young age, she runs the risk of not carrying a child to term.

Lack of timely and correct treatment can lead to various diseases, namely:

• Aortic aneurysm.
• Heart failure.
• Sterility.
• Nephrosclerosis of the kidneys.
• Myocardial infarction.

In order not to face such serious consequences, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination for the slightest violation, timely and correct treatment, which will allow women at any age to feel healthy, active and happy. Complications can also be caused by a number of other unwanted diseases that will reduce the functionality of the body.

High blood pressure therapy

Before prescribing treatment for high blood pressure in women, a specialist needs to determine the root cause of hypertension. With high blood pressure, a woman at 30 years old must be sent to an endocrinologist; she must undergo hormone tests and undergo an ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland. For treatment of high blood pressure in a woman after 50 years of age, a visit to a cardiologist is required, who checks the condition of the heart and blood vessels to exclude damage to vital organs.

You cannot put off a visit to a specialist. You should consult a doctor when the first signs of illness appear. Treating hypertension is expensive and time consuming. It is almost impossible to completely recover from the disease. Comprehensive treatment of high blood pressure in women helps normalize the condition and return the patient to a full life. You cannot self-medicate or take medications on the advice of friends, relatives, or acquaintances. Drug therapy for hypertension is prescribed by the attending physician individually according to indications.

Hypertension levels need to be lowered gradually. First of all, it is necessary to rid the patient of the cause of high blood pressure. Once the root cause is eliminated, the indicators can return to normal without outside help.

Correcting the existing lifestyle will significantly help in normalizing indicators:

• regular sports activities;
• dietary nutrition for obesity;
• nutritious, varied nutrition;
• giving up bad habits: smoking, alcohol, drugs;
• restoration of normal sleep and wakefulness;
• refusal of drugs that provoke hypertension;
• refusal of coffee, strong tea;
• regular eight-hour sleep;
• reduced consumption of salty foods.

An individual treatment regimen is drawn up for each patient. The doctor takes into account the degree of development of hypertension, the individual characteristics of the body, and lifestyle. The doctor prescribes tablets to normalize blood pressure from the recommended list according to indications. It is necessary to strictly follow the prescribed dosage, frequency of administration, and duration of therapy. If you take medications correctly, you can adjust your blood pressure and normalize your condition.

A healthy lifestyle helps regulate blood pressure, especially in the early stages of the disease.

You should not take medications for hypertension without a doctor's prescription. You can reduce your readings with tablets only if they are prescribed by a specialist. Taking pills without permission can cause serious complications.

If high blood pressure is caused by obesity, a specialist will definitely prescribe a diet for high blood pressure. It is necessary to strictly follow a diet to get rid of excess weight. After weight normalization, indicators stabilize without drug therapy.

If you are overweight and have high blood pressure, you should avoid:

• table salt;
• semi-finished products;
• fast food;
• snacks;
• canned food;
• fatty foods;
• coffee and strong tea;
• Sahara.

If all recommendations are followed, the patient will quickly recover and regain full functionality. At the initial stage of hypertension, timely therapy will help to completely recover from the disease. If you have advanced hypertension, you will have to take antihypertensive pills for the rest of your life.

Prevention measures

There are no special preventive measures to reduce the risk of developing hypertension, since many factors influence the increase in blood pressure. But there are general recommendations that, if followed, will help minimize the risk of developing hypertension:

• maintaining a healthy lifestyle;
• rejection of bad habits;
• complete nutrition;
• normal sleep and wakefulness patterns.

The main reason for high blood pressure is stress. Blood pressure fluctuates due to psycho-emotional stress. To reduce the risk of developing hypertension, it is necessary to reduce the stress on the nervous system:

• reduce the impact of stress;
• do yoga or breathing techniques;
• sleep and rest more;
• learn to relax;
• Take mild sedatives for severe anxiety.

If your blood pressure is high, you should immediately consult a doctor. High blood pressure in women requires mandatory correction.