High Blood Pressure - Women in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

High blood pressure (hypertension) may cause problems to major organs such as the heart, kidneys, brain and eyes if not treated properly. High blood pressure can also damage blood vessels, which may lead to a heart attack, heart failure, stroke or brain problems. High blood pressure in midlife is frequently associated with decreased cognitive function. Approximately one in five adults with high blood pressure don’t realize they have it because there are no warning signs or symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 44% of women in the United States have high blood pressure. 

Women without hypertension may develop it during pregnancy — this is called gestational hypertension. Both gestational and preexisting high blood pressure during pregnancy may lead to complications, including preeclampsia, eclampsia, stroke and preterm birth. High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and requires additional management and monitoring, particularly for signs of preeclampsia. 

Risk factors such as smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet (eating foods high in sodium and low in potassium) and excessive alcohol use can increase the risk of developing high blood pressure. In addition, some research indicates that birth control pills may increase blood pressure among some women. Age and family history are also risk factors.

According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the prevalence of high blood pressure is higher among:

• Women ages 35-44 than those ages 25-34 and 18-24. 
• Non-Hispanic Black women compared with non-Hispanic white, Hispanic and Asian women.
• Women with less than a college degree; college graduates have the lowest prevalence of high blood pressure. 
• Women with annual household incomes below $25,000 compared with those who have incomes of $75,000 or more. 
• Women living in non-metropolitan areas compared with women in metropolitan areas.

Many people can manage high blood pressure through lifestyle modification and health care intervention. Effective interventions include eating a healthy diet, increasing physical activity, quitting or not starting smoking, limiting alcohol intake, getting enough sleep, taking blood pressure medication properly and screening every year or as a doctor recommends. Women with high blood pressure may monitor their blood pressure at home with a home blood pressure monitor.

The CDC recommends that women with preexisting hypertension make a plan for pregnancy with their care provider to ensure appropriate treatment before and during pregnancy. Women are advised to get regular prenatal care early to monitor blood pressure during pregnancy. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women at high risk for preeclampsia use low-dose aspirin after 12-weeks of gestation as a preventive measure. Additionally, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists answers frequently asked questions about high blood pressure during pregnancy.

Women who are prescribed high blood pressure medications should take them as directed by a doctor. The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends pharmacy-based interventions to improve medication adherence for blood pressure control and cardiovascular disease prevention. There is strong evidence that interventions delivered by pharmacists to the community increase the number of patients who take their medications as prescribed. Examples of interventions include assessment tools used to identify adherence barriers and target strategies based on the results, medication refill synchronization and medication counseling.

Healthy People 2030 has several objectives related to high blood pressure, including reducing the proportion of adults with high blood pressure.

In addition, the Office of the Surgeon General released a Call to Action in 2020, naming hypertension control as a national priority. The report identifies goals and strategies to improve hypertension control across all U.S. populations.

Nilsson, Peter M., Margus Viigimaa, Aleksander Giwercman, and Renata Cifkova. “Hypertension and Reproduction.” Current Hypertension Reports 22, no. 4 (March 13, 2020): 29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-020-01036-2.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Control Hypertension.” Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General, 2020. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/call-to-action-to-control-hypertension.pdf.