What is considered ‘high’ blood pressure may be different for women and men, new research finds

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New findings suggest healthy blood pressure values may differ for women and men, and a northern Virginia cardiologist wants women to learn more about their specific situations and see their doctors.

“There really is no one-size-fits-all approach to medicine. We really have to look at men and women differently, ”said Dr. Rachel L. Berger of Virginia Heart.

Traditionally, 120 out of 80 was considered the normal upper limit of systolic blood pressure in adults, but a study from the Smidt Heart Institute in Cedars-Sinai evaluated data from over 27,000 people and found that women may have a lower “normal” blood pressure range.

“While men had a correlation between high blood pressure and heart disease at a higher number, like 120 or 140, women had an increased risk of heart disease even with blood pressure as low as 100 or 110,” Berger said.

Women need to know their numbers.

“It means knowing what your blood pressure is and talking to your doctor and finding out if it’s an appropriate blood pressure for you,” Berger advised.

Berger finds studies, like this one assessing blood pressure and the risk of heart disease, very important because they may change the way doctors adapt medical practices to different groups of people, especially women.

“A lot of what we do in medicine is based on large studies that may not have traditionally included women,” Berger said. “And women – as opposed to men – can have different goals.”

Do you know what your blood pressure is?

Many pharmacies have free terminals to check blood pressure figures. They also sell devices that you can use at home. Berger said a cuff that wraps around the arm tends to be more reliable than one that connects to the wrist.

Accurate results are more likely if you sit and relax for a few minutes. If you get a high reading, wait a few minutes and then check again to see if the numbers go down.

Situations that can raise blood pressure include stress, anxiety, or consuming a lot of caffeine. Berger recommends checking blood pressure at different times of the day to get an idea of how it is changing.

Here are some tips to keep the numbers in check:

Limit your alcohol intake.
Stop smoking.
Decrease in salt intake.
Avoid processed foods.
Increase activity levels.
Try to exercise four or five days a week.

You can learn more about high blood pressure on the American Heart Association website.

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