Normal blood pressure values for women are generally the same as for men, but there is a slight difference between normal blood pressure for women and men. This is because women will experience menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, so their normal blood pressure can change slightly.
Basically, every human being has a different blood pressure, depending on health conditions and daily activities.
now, blood pressure is also actually not affected by gender differences, so there is not much difference in terms of normal blood pressure values, both in men and women.
However, one thing you need to know, women's blood pressure will fluctuate more often than men's. This is because women experience menstrual cycles and pregnancy which can affect the blood pressure.
Normal Blood Pressure in Women
For both men and women, the ideal blood pressure value is slightly below 120/80 mmHg. The number 120 represents the systolic pressure, which is the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart pumps clean blood throughout the body.
Meanwhile, the number 80 above shows the diastolic pressure, which is the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart is at rest and receives back blood flow from the rest of the body.
Although more frequent changes, normal systolic blood pressure in women ranges from 90-120 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure ranges from 60-80 mmHg.
Some Things That Change Women's Normal Blood Pressure
The following are some conditions that can affect a woman's normal blood pressure:
Menstruation
Before entering the menstrual period, some women may experience some symptoms before menstruation or premenstrual syndrome. When experiencing premenstrual syndrome, women will experience symptoms of flatulence, abdominal cramps, breast tenderness, headaches, and mood swings.
Some studies also show that women who are experiencing premenstrual syndrome tend to experience an increase in blood pressure, but there are also some women who experience a decrease in blood pressure when experiencing premenstrual syndrome.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy can cause changes in blood pressure to be high or low in women. Normal pregnant women's blood pressure tends to decrease in the first and second trimesters, then rises again in the third trimester.
During pregnancy, some women may experience an increase in blood pressure that exceeds the normal limit accompanied by other signs and symptoms in the form of excess protein in the urine and swelling of the feet and hands. This condition is known as preeclampsia.
If left untreated, this condition will cause eclampsia which is very dangerous and can even threaten the life of pregnant women and fetuses.
Menopause
Normal blood pressure of women will also experience changes when entering menopause. This is thought to occur due to a decrease in the hormone estrogen in a woman's body.
In addition to changes in blood pressure, women who enter menopause can also experience several symptoms, such as irregular or stopped menstruation, dizziness, weight gain, cold sweats, difficulty sleeping, vaginal dryness, and mood changes.
In addition to the things above, there are also several other factors that can affect a woman's normal blood pressure, such as the use of hormonal contraceptives, side effects of drugs, stress, to certain diseases.
How to Maintain Normal Blood Pressure
To keep blood pressure normal and stable, you can do the following tips:
- Exercise regularly, which is about 20-30 minutes at least 3 times each week.
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet.
- Reduce salt consumption to no more than 1.5 teaspoons per day.
- Avoid smoking and inhaling secondhand smoke.
- Reduce stress and get enough sleep.
- Reduce or avoid consumption of alcoholic beverages
In addition, to maintain normal blood pressure, you are also advised to regularly check blood pressure. You can check your blood pressure yourself using a sphygmomanometer at home or by consulting a doctor.
Normal blood pressure that fluctuates and returns to the normal blood pressure range is generally harmless.
However, if you experience high blood pressure or it is too low even though you are not menstruating, pregnant, or entering menopause, you should consult a doctor for an examination and get the right treatment.
