title: Hypertension in women.
abstract: Hypertension is the most common modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in both men and women. The prevalence and severity of hypertension rise markedly with age, and blood pressure control becomes more difficult with aging in both genders, particularly in women. In addition, there are forms of hypertension that occur exclusively in women, e.g., hypertension related to menopause, oral contraceptive use, or pregnancy (e.g., chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia or eclampsia). Randomized controlled trials show that antihypertensive therapy provides similar reductions in major cardiovascular events in men and women. Therefore, gender should not influence decisions on selection of blood pressure lowering therapies, except for consideration of gender-specific side effects or contraindications for use in women who are or may become pregnant. This article reviews the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in women, as well as recent guidelines for management of hypertension in women.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama, USA ; Section of Cardiology, Birmingham Veteran Affairs Medical Center , Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Fadi G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Hage
authors.affiliation: Princeton Baptist Medical Center , Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Sulaf J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Mansur
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Dongqi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oparil
keywords: antihypertensive treatment; hypertension; oral contraceptives; preeclampsia; pregnancy-related hypertension; women