Hypertension in postmenopausal women

Arterial hypertension and its complications is the main factor responsible for increased cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women. Currently average life duration expectancy in women increased to about 80 years, thus 1/3 of their lives is in postmenopausal period. The relationship between menopause and blood pressure still remains unclear. In view of the ongoing population aging throughout the world, diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in postmenopausal women are important to reduce the excess burden of associated cardiovascular disease and to improve outcomes of potentially fatal complications such as stroke and myocardial infarction. In the everyday practice therapeutic decision should be based on the patophysiological knowledge and individual patients risk profile. The importance of non-pharmacological interventions should be underlined, like reduction of salt intake, as in postmenopausal women frequency of salt sensitive hypertension increases. This article discusses current knowledge about the mechanisms and therapeutic issues related to postmenopausal hypertension.