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Cardiac & Vascular Health
Question #13958
45 days ago
100

blood pressure for women - #13958

Pooja

I am really worried about my blood pressure for women. Like, this whole year has just been crazy stressful. I never, ever thought I'd be keeping an eye on my number, but I’ve started to notice that I'm feeling dizzy and a bit out of breath sometimes. My mom always said “lower your blood pressure for women during stressful times,” and I thought she was just being dramatic. But here I am, late nights, skipping meals, and honestly, it feels like everything is piling up. Got a health screening last week, and my blood pressure read 140/90. The doc said that isn’t great, especially for women my age. I thought blood pressure for women was supposed to be in the normal range, which I thought was lower than that!! I’m trying to figure out ways to manage it. Like should I be eating less salt or exercising more? And does stress really play that big a role in affecting blood pressure for women? I guess I’m just really confused and worried about how this might affect my overall health. Has anyone else here dealt with rising blood pressure for women like this? What helped you?

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Doctors’ responses

For women, especially with the stress and lifestyle factors you mentioned, blood pressure can indeed rise. A reading of 140/90 is on the edge of stage 1 hypertension, so it’s understandable that the doctor is cautioning you. Generally, a normal blood pressure is below 120/80, while 120-129 systolic and under 80 diastolic is considered elevated. Yes, it’s true that women tend to have different experiences with blood pressure changes at life stages, like menopause, but lifestyle is often a key factor regardless. Stress does play a significant role in blood pressure, as it can trigger hormonal responses that increase heart rate and narrow blood vessels. So managing stress should be part of your strategy. Ways to tackle this include practicing deep breathing or mindfulness exercises which might help balance out the stress impact. Eating less salt can also make a big difference, as sodium can cause your body to retain fluid, increasing blood pressure. Look into foods rich in potassium, like bananas and spinach, as they help balance sodium levels. Regular moderate exercise can also help lower blood pressure by strengthening your heart to pump with less effort. Aim for at least 150 minutes of exercise per week, spread out to fit your schedule. Remember to give yourself adequate rest too; sleep is equally essential for managing stress and general health. Notice any persistent symptoms like dizziness or breathlessness, as these could be signs that you need to reassess your plan with a healthcare provider. If lifestyle adjustments don’t lower your blood pressure effectively, discussing other treatments, possibly including medication, with your healthcare provider might be necessary.

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