Deaths from a silent disease have quadrupled among young US women, study shows
New York Post • • health
Key Points:
- New research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session reveals that deaths from high blood pressure among US women aged 25 to 44 have quadrupled from 1.1 to 4.8 per 100,000 between 1999 and 2023.
- Over 29,000 women died from hypertensive heart disease during the 24-year study period, with non-Hispanic Black women and those living in the Southern US experiencing the highest rates of death related to high blood pressure.
- The study highlights disparities in treatment, noting that blood pressure-lowering medications are prescribed less frequently to women than men, and cardiovascular risk in younger women is often underestimated.
- Researchers emphasize the urgent need for targeted prevention strategies, including more aggressive hypertension screening and intervention for younger women, alongside lifestyle changes like a heart-healthy diet, exercise, and smoking cessation.
- Despite specific cardiovascular risks linked to hormonal and physiological changes in younger women, many do not regularly see cardiologists, underscoring the importance of increased awareness and preventative care in this demographic.
