National Women's Blood Pressure Awareness Week

13 Oct, 2024

With heart disease being the leading cause of death for women, warning signs should never be ignored. During National Women's Blood Pressure Awareness Week, it's the perfect time to take a closer look at how important it is to monitor your blood pressure and understand how it can affect your vascular health. At National Vascular Associates, we want to empower women by providing professional vascular care services. Read below to find out how important life stages can impact your heart and what you can do to stay protected.

Pregnancy

A lot of physiological changes take place in a woman’s body when they are pregnant, and this can lead to fluctuating blood pressure and an increased risk for some cardiovascular conditions. Gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia can lead to extremely high blood pressure that can affect the health of the growing baby and increase the risk of long-term cardiovascular problems post-partum. Because pregnancy demands so much from the body, it's not uncommon for pre-existing conditions to worsen or for new issues to emerge. Regular check-ups can help manage blood pressure and ensure both mother and baby stay healthy. It’s important for women to take vascular care seriously during pregnancy to monitor and manage these risks.

Menopause

Before and during menopause, fluctuating hormones can lead to a sudden increase in blood pressure. Estrogen helps protect cardiovascular health earlier in life, and a decline in this important hormone can lead to changes that are quite surprising to women going through the initial stages of menopause. As estrogen decreases, some women may also experience more intense reactions to stress, which can further impact heart health. It’s common to feel a bit caught off guard by these changes, even if you’ve been generally healthy before. This is often a time when regular cardiovascular monitoring becomes more critical than ever.

Stress

Women often carry a lot of stress. Whether it’s balancing a career, taking care of family, or managing countless daily responsibilities, the weight can add up quickly. What many women don’t realize is that chronic stress can have a more profound effect on their blood pressure and heart health than they might expect. When you're constantly stressed, your body releases hormones like cortisol that can spike your blood pressure. Over time, this can put a lot of strain on your heart, especially when combined with other risk factors. A little attention now can go a long way in protecting your vascular health down the line.

Misdiagnosis

Women will often have atypical symptoms of heart disease that men don’t experience. Fatigue, nausea, and shortness of breath may be more pronounced, and chest pain might not be present at all. These symptoms can easily be attributed to stress or hormonal changes, which makes it even easier for heart disease to be overlooked. It’s frustrating, but many women don’t realize something is wrong until the condition has progressed. Unfortunately, a lot of these symptoms are mistaken for less serious conditions, which can delay treatment. Working with a vascular doctor can improve diagnosis accuracy by identifying vascular issues early on before they get worse.

Are You Searching for a Local Vascular Specialist?

If you're worried about your blood pressure or experiencing symptoms that seem unusual, reach out to a vascular specialist who can help. At National Vascular Associates, we’re ready to provide comprehensive vascular treatment, so you can stay informed and supported every step of the way. Contact us to schedule an appointment with a vascular doctor today.