Medical experts will agree that women tend to have higher blood pressure and a greater risk of excessively high blood pressure after the menopause. However, many have claimed that this is due merely to ageing and weight gain, rather than the menopause itself. Recent research has proved conclusively that, once these other factors are accounted for, menopause does indeed place women at a greater risk of developing high blood pressure.

- How does menopause affect blood pressure?

The latest thinking is that oestrogen, which decreases during menopause, plays a protective role in maintaining a healthy blood pressure. Before the menopause, women tend to have a slightly lower diastolic pressure and systolic pressure than men, but studies have shown that with the dramatic drop in oestrogen which comes with the menopause, women’s systolic pressure increases by an average of 5mm Hg.

As well as being directly responsible for an increase in blood pressure, changes in hormone levels during menopause can have other effects which can cause a greater risk of high blood pressure. These include hormone related weight gain and increased salt sensitivity.

- Contribution of Hormone Replacement Therapy to increased blood pressure

There is some evidence to suggest that women who take Hormone Replacement Therapy to control the symptoms of menopause are likely to have a greater increase in blood pressure than those who do not. Women over 50 years of age who take HRT are likely to have an increase in systolic pressure that is 1 or 2mm Hg greater than other women going through the menopause. They are 25% more likely to suffer from high blood pressure than women that do not use HRT.

- Controlling blood pressure after the menopause

There are some lifestyle changes that you can make to reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure after the menopause. You may not be able to avoid high blood pressure altogether but you may be able to control it and reduce your need for medical treatment by following this advice.

• Get moving as regular exercise can reduce blood pressure

• Check the amount of sodium in your food and choose low sodium alternatives

• If you are a smoker now is the time to stop

• Limit your alcohol intake as this can contribute to high blood pressure

If you do find that you need medical treatment to control your blood pressure, there are many options available to you, and continuous progress in this field will only expand the possible treatments. A hormone therapy is currently being developed in Europe that may be more effective at controlling high blood pressure in post menopausal women than traditional high blood pressure medications.

Lisa Janse is a professional writer specialising in health topics. You can read more practical and interesting facts about Menopause Symptoms by visiting http://www.menopausesymptoms.us