Survey study, 2008
Do women with PMS have higher blood pressure, and could PMS predict future high blood pressure?
Yes. Women with PMS have higher blood pressure in the late premenstrual phase compared to the early phase, and this may put them at risk for developing high blood pressure later. The connection may be related to stress and anxiety.
What they did
Cross-sectional study in Nigeria with 447 women aged 17 to 38 years (mean 23.6). Women completed questionnaires to diagnose PMS and measure anxiety and depression. Researchers measured blood pressure, height, weight, and collected medical and menstrual history. They compared blood pressure in early versus late luteal phase for women with and without PMS.
What they found
61% of women met the criteria for PMS. Among women with PMS, systolic blood pressure rose from 107.3 mm Hg in the early part of the luteal phase to 111.39 mm Hg in the late part. Diastolic pressure rose from 65.06 to 70.69 mm Hg. Women with PMS also had higher anxiety and depression scores. Blood pressure did not change significantly for women without PMS across cycle phases.
What it means for you
Women with PMS may be at higher risk for developing high blood pressure later in life. The connection with anxiety and depression suggests that stress or mood changes drive the blood pressure increase. The study was done in one country, used questionnaires rather than medical diagnosis, looked at only one point in time with no follow-up, and cannot prove that PMS causes the blood pressure changes.
447
Women studied
61%
Met criteria for PMS
111.39
Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) in late luteal phase for women with PMS
About the study
- Original title
- Prevalence of premenstrual syndrome and its relationship with blood pressure in young adult females
- Authors
- Okeahialam BN, Obindo JT, Ogbonna C
- Journal
- African journal of medicine and medical sciences
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- None. This was an observational study.
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19301714/
Topics
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