Hypertension hits women hard

What you probably already know: Hypertension, now described as blood pressure of more than 120/80, affects nearly one-third of women in the United States. A new analysis from the American Heart Association’s Research Goes Red Registry sheds light on significant gaps in awareness and treatment of hypertension among women, particularly younger women and women of color. The findings point to ongoing challenges in managing one of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Researchers examined both health concerns and self-reported knowledge and management of blood pressure, though disparities by age, race, ethnicity and socioeconomic factors were significant.

Why it matters: Those with hypertension cited weight, health care access and cost as top concerns, but they varied widely among demographic groups. Younger women, particularly Black and Hispanic women, are significantly more likely to list hypertension as their No. 1 worry. Study authors say those findings, however, are encouraging because they suggest heightened awareness of the disease, especially in marginalized communities. A vast majority of women (77%) with diagnosed hypertension in all demographic groups were aware of their current blood pressure, though younger women were less likely to be receiving treatment. Not surprisingly, treatment rates were significantly lower for unemployed and uninsured women.

What it means: The Black Women’s Health Study finds that early onset hypertension dramatically increases the risk of midlife stroke. The study, from Boston University, has followed 59,000 Black women across the U.S. for 30 years. “Black women with hypertension before age 45 have more than twice the risk of stroke at midlife,” the study notes. “Hypertension before age 35 more than triples the risk.” It also notes strong links between hypertension and endometrial cancer and increased stroke risk for black women with hypertensive pregnancy disorders. “There are social and environmental factors that present an added barrier to diet and physical activity,” said Augustine Kang, an investigator at Brown University School of Public Health in Rhode Island, “which accounts for a lot of the health disparities we see today.”

What happens next: The American Heart Association encourages several measures, including access to preventive care, improving insurance coverage — a huge challenge considering that insurance rates are skyrocketing — and creating culturally relevant educational campaigns. The National, Heart Lung and Blood Institute is coordinating extensive research, including exploring the connection between inflammation and high blood pressure (inflammation is among the main symptoms of autoimmune disease, of which women account for 80% of the cases). “Prevention, early detection and management of high blood pressure are critical to long-term heart and brain health,” said Daniel W. Jones, M.D., dean and professor emeritus of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and an author of new blood pressure guidelines. “It empowers patients with practical tools that can support their individual health needs, whether through lifestyle changes, medications or both.”