Women’s Blood Pressure
Friday, May 16, 2008

While the trend in blood pressure rates over the past few decades has been decreasing, a recent study concludes that the trend may be reversing in women. Dr. Ken Davis discusses this study in today’s 60 Second Housecall.

A recent analysis of blood pressure indicates that fewer American women have their blood pressure under control.

The study found the proportion of American women with systolic blood pressure greater than one hundred and forty increased by four percent between the early 1990s and the early 2000s. For American men, systolic blood pressure declined by 2 percent.

This is an alarming finding because blood pressure had been declining since the 1970s for both men and women.

Researchers examined data from national data bases and focused on adults age 30 and older.

They compared actual systolic blood pressure with self-reported values. If someone said they had high blood pressure, the researchers checked to see if the individual was taking medication for it.

Poorer blood pressure control in women puts them at greater risk for heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney failure and other health problems.

For North Mississippi Medical Center, I’m Dr. Ken Davis.