Healthy Body
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Women in Midlife Should Pay Special Attention to their Blood Pressure Readings
September 2026
Photo Credit: Elianna Gill (Unsplash)
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By Melissa Chefec
Sometimes national statistics are so shocking that people have to stop and take notice. This is certainly the case for high blood pressure, which affects nearly half of all adults in the United States — only a quarter of whom have the condition under control, according to cardiologist Dr. Robert Segal, the founder of Manhattan Cardiology, Medical Offices of Manhattan and co-founder LabFinder.com.
High blood pressure — when blood pushes against artery walls more forcefully than normal — caused or contributed to more than 670,000 deaths in the United States in 2020, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Since the condition, known medically as hypertension, places people at risk for heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease, high blood pressure just can’t be ignored, Dr. Segal says. |
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"More than 58.9 million women in the United States (45.7%) have high blood pressure (defined as 130/80 mm Hg or higher) or are taking blood pressure medicine, according to the CDC." |
“What makes it even more dangerous is that it often produces no symptoms,” Dr. Segal explains. “Some people with high blood pressure may experience headaches, shortness of breath, or nosebleeds, but these signs aren’t exclusive to it and often don’t occur until high blood pressure has become severe or life-threatening.”
The Female Factor High blood pressure is common in women. More than 58.9 million women in the United States (45.7%) have high blood pressure (defined as 130/80 mm Hg or higher) or are taking blood pressure medicine, according to the CDC. More importantly, less than 1 in 4 have it under control. And women’s risk of high blood pressure starts to increase after menopause, usually around age 50. So those in midlife need to pay special attention. |
For many women, especially those in midlife, signs such as confusion, fatigue, headaches and dizziness may be dismissed as changes due to perimenopause/menopause. That’s why routine monitoring and screening are essential, even if you feel fine.
What Leads to High Blood Pressure?
Anyone can develop high blood pressure, but certain risk factors make it more likely, Dr. Segal says. These include:
What Leads to High Blood Pressure?
Anyone can develop high blood pressure, but certain risk factors make it more likely, Dr. Segal says. These include:
- Family History: Family members have high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes.
- Race: Approximately 58% of Black women have high blood pressure in the U.S., compared to 43% of White women, 38% of Asian women, and 35% of Hispanic (American Heart Association)
- Age: It’s more common in people over 55.
- Weight: Those overweight or obese are more apt to develop high blood pressure.
- Sedentary Lifestyle: Spending more than six hours sitting or not moving and without compensating with daily exercise routines.
- High-Salt Diet: canned foods, cured meats, processed dressings and sauces, salted snacks, etc.
- Tobacco Use
- Alcohol Use: More than one drink per day for women, or two for men, can raise the odds.
“It’s clear that lifestyle choices play a large role in who develops high blood pressure, though that’s not always the case,” Dr. Segal shares. “There’s no single cause for the condition, but there are certainly plenty of contributing factors.”
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Diagnosis and Treatment High blood pressure is fairly straightforward to diagnose, Dr. Segal says. “If the reading is high at two or more visits, your doctor may tell you that you have high blood pressure,” he explains. Treating the condition, however, is quite individualized, depending on a person’s other health conditions, lifestyle, age and other contributing factors. Medical guidelines help doctors match the best blood pressure drugs to each person, with several main classes of medications available — each working a little differently to reduce blood pressure. According to Dr. Segal, these include:
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Graphic: American Heart Association
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People with high blood pressure often need more than one medication to successfully treat it, Dr. Segal notes. But they should also blend a healthy lifestyle with prescription medications for a one-two punch to keep the condition at bay.
“Eat foods lower in fat, salt and calories, and make physical activity a bigger part of your day,” he advises. “Simple, commonsense measures can both prevent high blood pressure and help keep it under control.”
“Eat foods lower in fat, salt and calories, and make physical activity a bigger part of your day,” he advises. “Simple, commonsense measures can both prevent high blood pressure and help keep it under control.”
Additional Resources:
Five Facts Women Need to Know About High Blood Pressure (Kaiser Permanente)
High Blood Pressure and Women (Go Red for Women)
Five Facts Women Need to Know About High Blood Pressure (Kaiser Permanente)
High Blood Pressure and Women (Go Red for Women)
Melissa Chefec, guest writer, is a public relations specialist for medical practices and wellness experts. (Myrna Haskell, contributing edits.)
