Primary Prevention of Hypertension in Women.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in women in the U.S. In women greater than 45 years of age, 60% of Caucasian women and 79% of African-American women have hypertension. It is estimated that 30% of elderly women (Â³65 years) are diagnosed with isolated systolic hypertension. Most risk reduction strategies for hypertension have traditionally focused on detection and treatment of the disease. Minor efforts have been aimed at primary prevention strategies for hypertension. A focus on lifestyle issues, which contribute to the development of hypertension in higher risk groups, may be beneficial, especially in premenopausal and perimenopausal women. These factors include potassium and sodium intake, obesity, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol consumption. In this paper, the interventions for the primary prevention of hypertension based on these and other lifestyle factors will be reviewed, with special attention to the role they have in women. (c)2000 by Le Jacq Communications, Inc.
Caulin-Glaser
Teresa
T
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.