Why keeping an eye on blood pressure is especially important for women

This past week, The New York Times reported new research showing that, in comparison to men, women’s blood pressure begins to increase at a younger age and goes up at a faster rate. Among the research study’s participants, blood pressure began to creep up as early as a woman’s thirties, with steep increases that could occur throughout their lifetime. 

High blood pressure is one of the key risk factors for heart disease, as well as one of the most controllable. Because of that, doctors now recommend that women pay even more attention to their blood pressure numbers - both systolic (top) and diastolic (bottom). As a reminder, the American Heart Association’s recommendations for blood pressure are below. 

Learn more about what your numbers mean here.