Signs of Hypertension in Women

Hypertension in women is a concern, especially when women reach the age of menopause. Prior to menopause, women are at lower risk of developing hypertension. Once menopause occurs and estrogen decreases, the risk of women developing hypertension equals that of men. The signs and symptoms of hypertension are the same in both males and females, as are the treatment options.

Considerations

• Hypertension symptoms are generally vague and women do not associate the symptoms they are experiencing with hypertension. In fact, a woman may not even know she has hypertension until it is discovered by her doctor during a physical examination.

Recurring Headaches

• Women who have hypertension may have headaches. Headaches are caused by the pressure in the blood vessels that run through the head that are applying pressure to nerves. Women often assume the headaches are brought on by stress, lack of sleep, or as a side effect of caffeine.

Changes in Vision

• Women who have hypertension may have vision problems. The most common vision problems are double vision and blurry vision. Women often attribute a change in their vision to aging and are unaware that it is a sign of hypertension.

Nosebleeds

• Nosebleeds can be a sign of hypertension. They are brought when the pressure in tiny blood vessels in the nose causes the vessels to rupture. Women who have nosebleeds often pass it off as a sign of a dry, stuffy nose, or an allergy.

Heart Rate and Palpitations

• A woman with high blood pressure may experience heart palpitations. This is due to fluctuations in the heart rate. Many women brush off these palpitations as a sign of being out of shape or as a symptom of stress.