Do Hormones Affect Blood Pressure in Women (Part2)
While not usual, women may see a rise in blood pressure due to taking estrogen or hormone therapy (HT). All women taking estrogen or HT need to have their blood pressure checked regularly. In the past, taking HT was thought to help protect women against heart disease. But recent findings from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), showed that taking HT poses more risks than benefits for a woman’s heart health. The study found that HT could increase a woman’s risk for heart disease, stroke, and pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung), as well as breast cancer.