Canadian women have to advocate for themselves when it comes to seeking treatment for high blood pressure, according to a new study from a team of researchers at the University of Alberta and the University of Ottawa.
"What we found was that women have to take in proof when they go to the doctor, otherwise their high blood pressure reading in the office may be dismissed as "white coat hypertension" or anxiety," says Dr. Kaitlyn Watson, assistant professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the U of A, who carried out the research as a postdoctoral scholar with the Epidemiology Coordinating and Research (EPICORE) Centre.
Watson and two patient partners interviewed 12 female patients with hypertension from across Canada between February and June 2023, asking about their experiences with screening, treatment and followup by their family physician.
They found the women had a good understanding of the causes of hypertension and were working to modify their diets, manage stress, measure their blood pressure at home and take medications when prescribed.
But the patients also described facing ageism and accusations of non-adherence from their physicians.
"I want women to know they can be their own advocate," Watson says. "No one's going to care about their health more than them. So they have to make sure that they do speak up and that they are listened to in those situations."
High blood pressure is defined as having readings consistently at or above 130/80 mmHg.
It is a known precursor for heart disease and is also a risk factor for women to develop dementia.
Signs of hypertension can include dizziness, headaches, vision problems and shortness of breath, but it is often called a "silent killer" because many patients experience no symptoms.
The researchers note that even when taking antihypertensive medications, Canadian women consistently have higher blood pressure than men. The latest Canadian Health Measures Survey indicates that only 50 per cent of women over 40 with hypertension have it controlled, and that patients under 40 and over 60 are more likely than men to go untreated.
Watson points to good online resources available for women to learn about hypertension, including Hypertension Canada, the Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
There are many risk factors for hypertension including genetics, so there should be no shame in receiving the diagnosis, Watson says. It's important to seek care as early as possible.
Watson says deeply understanding the barriers and facilitators women experience through this study is the first step to making improvements to care. The research team is now designing a treatment approach called "Her Heart, Our Priority" to address the specific needs of women with hypertension.
