It could be putting your life at risk.
New recommendations from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) indicate that many symptoms denoting hypertension are often chalked up to menopause. Such mischaracterizations could lead to significant heart problems in the future.
In a document published in the European Heart Journal, experts identified that up to half of women develop high blood pressure before age 60. Still, symptoms like hot flashes and heart palpitations are often attributed to menopause.
Lead author Dr. Angela Mass said, “We know that blood pressure is treated less well in women compared to men, putting them at risk for atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and stroke,” in an ESC news release.
Without action, high blood pressure gets worse with age. If you’re unaware of it because your doctor is misidentifying symptoms, it can lead to significant problems when you reach your 60s or 70s. Further, these problems will be much more challenging to treat.
Taking independent steps to reduce the risk of high blood pressure is the best place to start. Diet and exercise play an instrumental role in reducing, regulating, and managing blood pressure. They are also entirely within your control.
Eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fatty fish, lean proteins, and limiting processed food intake is a great place to start. Making sure you’re getting at least 30-minutes of activity per day is another heart-healthy lifestyle measure to lower blood pressure.
You should be able to rely on your doctor and other healthcare professionals to treat you properly. Unfortunately, it is not always the reality. Pay careful attention to your blood pressure, lifestyle, and remind your doctor to assess any potential hypertension causes.