The Truth about High Blood Pressure in Women

With persistent hypertension being one of the risk factors of myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, and arterial aneurysm, high blood pressure is indeed a very serious condition among women. High blood pressure is also the leading cause of chronic kidney failure and other chronic ailments. Indeed, high blood pressure shortens an individual’s lifespan and must be dealt with properly and promptly. For women, the dangers and symptoms are quite identical to those experienced by men. This would mean that signs, symptoms, and treatment regimens in both sexes are fairly similar with only slight differences.

It is of highest importance that people understand the truths about high blood pressure in women in order to better prevent and combat this condition. With our current information age and the inherent ease of procuring information, individuals must be able to collect only factual information and helpful insights to ensure that women are spared of this common and yet deadly medical condition.

Myth 1 – High Blood Pressure is symptomatic and is not clinically silent among women. It would always present signs and symptoms right whenever the blood pressure rises.

Fact 1 – Women may not exhibit any symptoms at the onset of blood pressure increase or during a hypertensive crisis. Although symptoms do commonly and frequently arise, there are still a number of cases which go unnoticed mainly due to lack of symptoms. There have been numerous cases of women who did not exhibit any symptom at all during worsening hypertensive crisis. It is best for women to measure and conduct blood pressure readings from time to time as this myth leaves women more vulnerable to hypertension.

Myth 2 – Women may experience headaches during high blood pressure occurrences while still having clear and intact cognitive processes. Judgment and rational thinking are not affected during hypertensive crisis.

Fact 2 – Hypertension causes varying levels of confusion that goes along with dizziness, which then leads to an individual’s sense of disorientation. Aside from the pain caused by headache and nausea, confusion normally appears as a symptom. This condition clouds the mind; irrationality as well as intense irritability then becomes apparent with slurred speech and disorganized sentence construction.

Myth 3 – The incidence of vomiting together with hypertension is greater among males than in females. Males experience vomiting when they have high blood pressure and only a small portion of women with hypertension would experience vomiting as a symptom.

Fact 3 – This is totally false as numerous studies have shown males and females both experience vomiting as their blood pressure rises. It is important to note that sex and gender are not predisposing factors which trigger the development and/or occurrence of high blood pressure. It is one of the many positive symptoms experienced by both men and women who have history of hypertension.

Myth 4 – The feeling of being short of breath only manifest during or directly after any level of physical activity. Dyspnea or difficulty of breathing only appears as a symptom of hypertension if an individual had just finished moderate to extreme physical exertion.

Fact 4 – Dyspnea is one of the many positive symptoms which point to hypertension among women. A woman experiences shortness of breath even while lying down or in a very relaxed body position. Shortness of breath among women is an indicator that high blood pressure is present and should immediately be managed and treated to avoid exacerbation of symptoms.
.
Myth 5 – Double Vision is a rare occurrence among hypertensive women. It accounts for less than a quarter of those who have high blood pressure and even then, the double vision is usually not that severe.

Fact 5- This is very much false as reports gathered have shown close to half of women with hypertension experience some level of double vision. Women who present double vision as an accompanying symptom of hypertension account for a larger percentage than what is conventionally known. Women must be cautious as this visual impairment may lead to accidents while doing various chores.

Myth 6 – Family history of high blood pressure among women can be contributed to the female genes and do not affect male members of the family. Consequently, hypertension incidence that is prevalent among the males in a family can only be contributed to the male genes in their bloodline.

Myth 6 – Both male and female family members can be afflicted and may develop hypertension for as long as they have a family history of high blood pressure. Regardless of gender, both males and females are at risk of developing hypertension if one of their parents or both have a family history of hypertension as well. Gender is obviously not an unmodifiable risk factor among hypertensive individuals. This chronic cardiovascular problem does not discriminate and are more likely to attack people who have a family history of high blood pressure with unhealthy diet and lifestyle habits.

Women, just like men, are very much susceptible to high blood pressure. It is imperative that females are given proper understanding of the symptoms which accompany this illness. With hypertension leading to much more extreme body problems, women should not take hypertension and its physical signs and symptoms for granted. High blood pressure can only be regulated if preventive measures are taken seriously. This means that a healthy diet, a more active lifestyle, and a good outlook in life should be observed not only by women, but by both genders in order to avoid worsened cardiovascular problems which may lead to irreversible and deadly complications.

Most Related Posts

1. Heart Attack Symptoms in Women

2. Stroke Symptoms for Women