Hypertension in postmenopausal women: how to approach hypertension in menopause.
During fertile life women are usually normo or hypotensive. Hypertension may appear during pregnancy and this represents a peculiar phenomenon increasing nowadays for delay time of pregnancy. Gestational hypertension appears partially similar to hypertension in the context of metabolic syndrome for a similar condition of increased waste circumference. Parity, for the same pathogenesis, has been reported to be associated to peri and postmenopausal hypertension, not confirmed by our study of parous women with transitional non persistent perimenopausal hypertension. Estrogen's deficiency inducing endothelial dysfunction and increased body mass index are the main cause for hypertension in this phase of life. For these reasons lifestyle modification, diet and endothelial active drugs represent the ideal treatment. Antioxidant agents may have a role in prevention and treatment of hypertension. In conclusion, hypertension in women represents a peculiar constellation of different biological and pathogenic factors, which need a specific gender related approach, independent from the male model.
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy, mariagrazia.modena@unimore.it.
Maria Grazia
MG
Modena
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000172:deficiency; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008019:Life Style; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*
D000975:Antioxidants; D004967:Estrogens