In a new study in Menopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause Society, Weill Cornell Medical College researchers say that women who get hot flashes have higher blood pressure than those who don't. While previous research has linked menopause to high blood pressure, this may be the first time that hot flashes have been linked to high blood pressure.
Hot flashes are experienced as a feeling of intense heat with sweating and rapid heartbeat, and usually last from 2 to 30 minutes. They may occur a few times each week or up to a dozen times a day. Hot flashes are thought to be caused by increased activation of the sympathetic nervous system.
"One-third of the women we studied reported having had hot flashes within the past two weeks. Among these women, systolic blood pressure was significantly higher - even after adjusting for whether they were pre-menopausal, menopausal or post-menopausal," said Weill's Dr. Linda Gerber. "Future research will help us better understand the mechanisms underlying this relationship and may help to identify potential interventions that would reduce the impact of hot flashes on blood pressure."
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Source: Weill Cornell Medical College
