Hypertension in Women

Submit request or call to make an appointment.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, in women can occur at any point in a woman’s life, and accounts for 1 in 5 deaths among American women.

Hypertension describes the force of blood flowing through your blood vessels as being consistently too high. This causes gradual but dangerous damage to the vessels.

The high pressure reduces the elasticity of arterial walls, which decreases healthy blood flow and oxygen to the cells. Over time, this decreased blood flow can cause damage in other parts of the body, including the organs.

Risk Factors for Hypertension in Women

Although hypertension can occur at any time in a woman’s life, there are risk factors that increase the chances of developing hypertension, including:

Left untreated, hypertension can lead to other serious conditions including:

Signs of hypertension

The reason high blood pressure is called “the silent killer” is the lack of symptoms. In some cases of early-stage hypertension, patients may experience headaches, chest discomfort, dizziness or nosebleeds. More often, however, high blood pressure has no obvious symptoms. That is why it is important to have your blood pressure checked regularly by your health care provider, especially if you have any risk factors or other health conditions.

The Women’s Heart Program at Norton Heart and Vascular Institute offers the latest diagnostic and therapeutic advances for treating patients with high blood pressure. Board-certified specialists diagnose and treat both routine and rare causes of high blood pressure. The specialists in the women’s heart program bring particular focus to cardiology during changes in a woman’s life, including heart disorders during pregnancy.

What to Expect at Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Women’s Heart Program

  • Specialized cardio-obstetrics expertise in preventing and caring for heart conditions focusing on the times surrounding pregnancy and menopause.
  • Comprehensive care for conditions that have unique risks and implications for women, including high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, ischemic heart disease and spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).
  • Board-certified cardiologists with specialized experience and focus on women’s heart health are dedicated to serving as advocates for conditions that are often can go unrecognized.
  • The women’s heart health specialists are part of a team of providers dedicated to your health, including close collaboration with Norton Women’s Care and Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine, providing high risk pregnancy care.
  • Medicare, Medicaid and most major commercial insurance plans accepted.
  • Book appointments, get alerts when an earlier appointment becomes available, communicate with your medical provider, refill prescriptions and more through your free Norton MyChart account.

Related Stories

Average age of a heart attack is younger than you might think, so here are warning signs of a heart attack and what you need to know
Hot flashes and what causes them
Heart attack and stroke are among the dangerous effects of high cholesterol
Norton Clark Hospital recognized for excellence in infant and maternal health

Schedule an Appointment

Select an appointment date and time from available spots listed below.