Many people with normal blood pressure find it rising into unsafe territory as they age. For women, menopause and the accompanying loss of estrogen often results in hypertension, or high blood pressure.
There is also a genetic component to blood pressure, so if you have close family members with hypertension the odds increase that you will suffer from it. While your genes are not a risk factor you can change, there are hormone treatment options available that can make a difference in your blood pressure levels. Connecticut hormone therapy for blood pressure can lower your risk of suffering a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular illness.
Why exactly is blood pressure and why are blood pressure levels so crucial? Blood pressure is the force applied by blood in circulation on blood vessels. Blood pressure readings consist of two numbers – the systolic and the diastolic. In normal patients, the systolic rate is 120, and the diastolic rate is 80, or “120 over 80.”
The former refers to the force on the blood vessels during a heartbeat, while the latter measures the force when the heart rests between beats. A person with blood pressure of 140 over 90 or more has high blood pressure.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to various, often fatal health issues. Besides heart attack and stroke, people with high blood pressure are more vulnerable to:
Although hypertension is often called “the silent killer,” because it is primarily asymptomatic, people may experience high blood pressure symptoms. Some symptoms are subtle, while others are hard to ignore. Symptoms of possible high blood pressure include:
Any doctor’s visit includes a blood pressure check, because it is a vital sign just like temperature.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is available in oral, topical and transdermal implants. These hormones, made primarily from plant sources such as soy or wild yam, contain the same molecular structure as the body’s natural hormones.
The body’s level of estrogen and progesterone diminish after menopause, leading not only to higher blood pressure but to the many health conditions afflicting postmenopausal women.
Along with blood pressure regulation, bioidentical hormones can stop night sweats, hot flashes, insomnia, anxiety and side effects of menopause.
Unlike synthetic hormones – made from pregnant mare’s urine – bioidentical hormones are designed for each patient’s particular needs.
Since bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is part of a holistic approach to controlling hypertension, the doctor will also recommend dietary changes and exercises to keep blood pressure at a healthy level. Patients should track their blood pressure at home via a blood pressure monitor, and write down or enter the numbers in a database.
Patients undergoing bioidentical hormone therapy visit the doctor regularly and have blood, saliva, urinalysis and other testing done. This frequent testing ensures the patient is receiving the correct levels of bioidentical hormones.
The compounding pharmacy creating the custom-tailored bioidentical hormones can make changes based on the doctor’s prescription.
If you suffer from high blood pressure and want to know how Connecticut hormone therapy may help, call the offices of Dr. Edward Jacobson today to arrange a consultation.