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Nearly half of women have high blood pressure, or hypertension — and less than 1 in 4 have it under control.1 Part of the reason may be that it can be hard to know you have high blood pressure, or that you’re feeling symptoms.
What exactly does high blood pressure feel like for women? The answer isn’t always obvious. In many cases, high blood pressure doesn’t have any symptoms at all. And when it does, they’re easy to mistake for signs of stress, fatigue, menstrual cycle changes, or other issues.
Still, it’s important to know the possible signs of high blood pressure in women — including if you’re noticing headaches, fluid retention, and tightness around your the chest, and swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet have. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, the number one killer of women.2 It’s also a leading cause of stroke and kidney failure.3 That’s why you need to know your blood pressure numbers and risk factors, so you can take steps to stay healthy.
What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure measures how hard blood pushes against the walls of your arteries. Your blood pressure goes up and down throughout the day. If it stays up for weeks or months, your heart has to work harder to pump blood. This is high blood pressure, or hypertension. High blood pressure that isn’t treated can damage your blood vessel walls and arteries. It can cause serious health problems, including stroke, heart attack, kidney disease and kidney failure, vision problems, and dementia.
What your blood pressure numbers mean
There are two numbers that tell you your blood pressure. The first (top) number is the systolic pressure. It shows how hard the blood pushes when your heart pumps. The second (bottom) number is the diastolic pressure. It shows how hard the blood pushes on artery walls when your heart relaxes between beats.
- Normal blood pressure — Blood pressure is below 120/80.
- Elevated blood pressure — The top number ranges from 120 to 129, and the bottom number ranges from 80 to 89.
- Elevated at-risk blood pressure — The top number ranges from 130 to 139 or the bottom number ranges from 80 to 89. Your doctor may treat you for high blood pressure if you have other high-risk factors, like heart or kidney disease.
- High blood pressure — The top number is 140 or higher or the bottom number is 90 or higher.
When should women get their blood pressure checked?
All adults 40 and older should get their blood pressure checked once a year, says Angeline Ong-Su, MD, in family medicine at, Kaiser Permanente Panorama City Medical Center. High-risk adults, including people who are overweight or obese, should also get checked every year. Other adults 18 to 39 can get their blood pressures checked every 3 to 5 years, Dr. Ong-Su says.
5 facts about high blood pressure in women
Anyone can get high blood pressure
Experts don’t totally understand the causes of high blood pressure in women. It’s also unclear why some people get high blood pressure and others don’t. Basically, anyone can get it, at almost any age.
But certain risk factors make some women more likely to develop high blood pressure:
- Race. Black women have the highest rates of high blood pressure, and 5 times the risk of death.4
- Genetics. If a family member has high blood pressure, you’re at higher risk. Talk to your relatives about their blood pressure and heart health.
- Age. Women’s risk of high blooe pressure starts to increase after menopause, usually around age 50.
- Pregnancy. Having high blood pressure when you're pregnant makes you more likely to have it later in life.
- Certain conditions. Health issues like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis raise your risk of high blood pressure.5,6
- Some birth control pills. Oral contraceptives may affect your blood vessels and blood pressure. If you take them, be sure to get your blood pressure checked every year.
Other factors can also increase your risk. Chronic conditions such as kidney disease, diabetes, or sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, says Dr. Ong-Su. And certain lifestyle factors, such as lack of exercise, tobacco use, eating too much salt, and drinking too much alcohol can also increase your risk of high blood pressure.
High blood pressure symptoms in women can be hard to identify
High blood pressure is called a "silent killer" because many people don't have symptoms. If you do have symptoms, it might be that your blood pressure has been high for a long time. That’s why it’s important to know your risk factors and get your blood pressure checked when needed.
Common symptoms of hypertension in women:7
- Severe headaches
- Blurry vision
- Chest pain, including feeling like your bra is painfully tight
- Irregular heart rhythm or heart palpitations
- Dizziness
- Swelling of your legs, ankles, or feet
- Numbness or weakness on one side of your body
You should also know the signs of severe high blood pressure, which may indicate a medical emergency. If you think you’re having an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.
If you’re prescribed high blood pressure medications, be sure to take them as directed. People without symptoms may forget to take their medications because they can’t feel them working, says Dr. Ong-Su.
High blood pressure from pregnancy increases your risk later in life
Some women get high blood pressure when they're pregnant. A smaller number, about 1 in 25, will have preeclampsia.8 Preeclampsia is a specific type of high blood pressure during pregnancy that significantly raises the risk of heart disease.9
Most types of high blood pressure during pregnancy go away within a few months. But they can put some pregnant people at a higher risk of developing chronic high blood pressure when they’re older. If you had high blood pressure during a pregnancy, let your doctor know so they can monitor your condition.
Your risk is higher after reaching menopause
Menopause happens when haven't had a period for 12 months in a row, usually around age 50. Heart disease risk factors increase around this time — including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and poor sleep. And women who reach menopause early (before 45) have a greater chance of having heart disease.10
It’s important to focus on your heart health during this transition to help prevent problems later. Get your blood pressure checked at your yearly doctor visit — and more often if you experience any sudden health changes.
Healthy lifestyle changes can lower your risk
The good news? A healthy lifestyle can help you avoid or manage high blood pressure. The best things you can do to prevent heart disease are healthy eating, staying active, and maintaining a healthy weight, says Dr. Ong-Su.
From better nutrition to less stress, these habits can keep your heart and blood vessels healthy.
- Make healthy food choices. Eat mainly plant-based, whole foods, like vegetables, fruits, legumes, healthy grains, and nuts. Choose foods low in sodium and high in potassium — like baked potatoes, spinach, and avocados, Dr. Ong-Su says. Sodium (including salt) increases your blood volume, putting more pressure on your blood vessels. That makes your heart work harder. Potassium helps relax blood vessels and decrease blood pressure.
- Limit alcohol to 1 drink a day or less.
- Get at least 150 minutes of physical activity a week. That could be 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week.
- Be mindful of your weight and try to lose extra weight if you need to.
- Aim to sleep at least 7 hours a night.
- Find ways to manage stress. Take time for self-care and activities you enjoy.
- Choose a program to help you quit smoking.
- Avoid certain over-the-counter blood pressure medications if you’re being treated for high blood pressure. Talk to your doctor about which medications are safe for you.
Healthier living for a healthier heart
High blood pressure can be a serious condition if left untreated. At Kaiser Permanente, our members get personalized care to prevent and manage high blood pressure. Learn more about heart health and our cardiac care.