Understanding the different causes of blood pressure in men versus women

Sex differences in the role of sympathetic nerve activity in the development of hypertension in humans (Miss Zoe Adams)

Dr Emma Hart is supervising a PhD student who is investigating gender-related differences in high blood pressure. In the past, it was thought that men were more at risk of high blood pressure. But evidence shows that incidence of high blood pressure increases as women get older, eventually overtaking men. It’s thought that female sex hormones protect against high blood pressure in young women, and that this protection is lost after the menopause. The development of high blood pressure involves the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). But most research into the role of the SNS in high blood pressure was carried out in men, and the effects in women are poorly understood. Dr Hart’s work will first examine whether SNS activity is higher in pre-menopausal women with high blood pressure compared with in women of the same age with normal blood pressure. This could reveal why some pre-menopausal women without known risk factors such as obesity develop high blood pressure. The second aim is to compare SNS activity in women with high blood pressure after menopause with other post-menopausal women and men with normal blood pressure. The team think that a molecule called the beta adrenergic receptor is important in this process. They will examine if there are changes in this receptor in women with high blood pressure. It’s hoped that the results could help us understand what causes high blood pressure in women and could lead to more personalised and effective treatment.