Winston-Salem, NC – High blood pressure may be more dangerous for women than men, according to a study from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
Although male deaths from heart disease have declined, heart disease remains the top cause of death among women. To understand the discrepancy, researchers evaluated the blood circulation of 100 men and women with untreated high blood pressure. Compared to men with similar blood pressure levels, women were found to have 30 to 40 percent more cases of vascular disease as well as changes in the hormones that help control blood pressure, according to a press release.
Researchers concluded doctors may need to treat high blood pressure in women earlier and more aggressively.
The study was published in the December issue of Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease.
