Dyt. Serkan Sıtkı Şahin /
The reasons for gender differences in blood pressure are unknown and are still under investigation. Some studies have shown that women have a higher heart rate and lower blood vessel resistance, so they tend to minimize blood vessel damage.
Postmenopausal high blood pressure
Women from their 20s to their early 40s suffer from high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases ( For example, heart attack, stroke) can be protected by estrogen (female sex hormone). However, this has yet to be proven as it is not clear that blood pressure changes depend on the levels of hormones.
Similar to men, women may be at risk of high blood pressure due to:
– Obesity
– Physical inactivity
– Excessive alcohol intake
– A high-salt diet
Additionally, birth control pills can further increase the risk of high blood pressure in women. Therefore, women using birth control pills should have their blood pressure checked regularly.
6 tips to control high blood pressure
Maintain a healthy weight
Body mass index is a common measurement for your weight to height ratio. If your BMI is between 23 and 27.4, you are at risk of developing high blood pressure and heart disease. If your BMI is 27.5 and above, your risk is much higher. You can normalize your blood pressure by keeping your BMI between 18.5 and 22.9.
Reduce your daily sodium (salt) intake
Too much sodium in your diet can cause high blood pressure. Keep your sodium intake below 2,000mg per day (about a teaspoon of salt). Avoid adding salt to your food, as most processed foods already contain sodium. Soy sauce, hot pepper sauce, ketchup, instant soup, salted peanuts, potato chips, ham and sausage are some foods that contain sodium.
Change your diet
Reduce your intake of foods high in cholesterol and saturated fat (for example, fatty meats, whole milk, egg yolks, offal, and deep-fried foods). High cholesterol can cause hardening of the arteries. Increase your consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grains (like whole wheat bread and brown rice).
Increase your physical activity
People who lead sedentary lifestyles are more likely to be overweight or obese, and this is one of the factors that increase their risk of high blood pressure. Stay physically active with an exercise such as walking, jogging and cycling for about 150 minutes per week.
Reduce alcohol
Consumption of alcoholic beverages increases blood pressure. Even just two glasses of alcoholic beverage in a day can raise blood pressure. Limit yourself or not consume at all.
Monitor your blood pressure
If you already have high blood pressure, you can purchase a digital blood pressure monitor to monitor your blood pressure. High blood pressure has no symptoms. So the only way to tell if your blood pressure is under control is to check it regularly and record the readings in a chart.
You can ask your questions via e-mail.
