Blood Pressure in the 40s: Women at Greatest Risk

Kringeland and colleagues have published a study (external link) examining the link between blood pressure (BP) in the 40s and arterial stiffness (stiff blood vessels) later in life in both women and men. The findings were published in the international journal European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

They found that women with mildly elevated blood pressure (120–139/70–89 mmHg) in their 40s had twice the risk of increased arterial stiffness 27 years later. Women with high blood pressure (BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg) had four times the risk — compared to women with normal BP. This association was not observed in men.

“These are entirely new findings, which may explain why high blood pressure is a particularly important risk factor for cardiovascular disease in women,” says Kringeland.

“The results highlight the importance of proper blood pressure management in middle-aged women.”