Symptoms of high estrogen in women
- bloating.
- swelling and tenderness in your breasts.
- fibrocystic lumps in your breasts.
- decreased sex drive.
- irregular menstrual periods.
- increased symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- mood swings.
- headaches.
Changes in hormones during menopause can lead to weight gain and make your blood pressure more sensitive to salt in your diet — which, in turn, can lead to higher blood pressure. Some types of hormone therapy (HT) for menopause also may lead to higher blood pressure.
? Stop using the patches and inform your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: stabbing pains or swelling in one leg; pain on breathing or coughing; coughing up blood; breathlessness; sudden chest pain; sudden numbness affecting one side or part of the body; fainting; worsening of epilepsy
Researchers have linked higher levels of the hormone aldosterone to high blood pressure and blood vessel disease in African-Americans. Aldosterone is secreted by the adrenal glands and causes salt retention by the kidneys.
Hormone problems that can cause secondary high blood pressure include hyperaldosteronism and thyroid problems. These types of conditions can raise blood pressure because hormones play a big role in controlling your blood pressure.
III. Estrogens and Progestins
| Symptoms and signs . | Mechanisms . |
|---|
| Hot flushes, autonomic hyperactivity | ⇓ CRH, |
| Fatigue | ⇓ POMC-related peptides |
| Irritability, anxiety, depression | ⇓ Vasopressin |
| ⇓ Seizure threshold | ⇓ Central noradrenergic system |
Estrogen helps to suppress the RAS's production of angiotensin 2, a substance that triggers the sympathetic nervous system, which in turn is responsible for the fight-or-flight response that constricts blood vessels, increases heart rate and raises blood pressure.
Results showed that progesterone (1) dilated, or opened up, blood vessels, (2) prevented the rise in blood pressure caused by adrenalin-like hormones and other stimuli, and (3) blocked the uptake of calcium by calcium channels in smooth muscle cells in much the same way as the blood-pressure-lowering drugs known as
Estrogen Drops, and Your Body RespondsHigh blood presure When estrogen levels drop, your heart and blood vessels become stiff and less elastic. Because of these changes, your blood pressure tends to rise, causing hypertension.
The build-up of this compound occurs in an area of the brain that is crucial to regulating blood pressure, suggesting that chronic estrogen induces a build up of superoxide that in turn causes blood pressure to increase.
When estrogen levels decline, levels of LDL cholesterol (the harmful kind) increase, and levels of HDL cholesterol (the positive kind) decrease, leading to the build up of fat and cholesterol in the arteries that contributes to heart attack and stroke.
Excess estrogen can wreak havoc on your body if it's not in proper balance with your other reproductive hormones, mainly progesterone. Since progesterone is a natural diuretic; estrogen dominance can also lead to high blood pressure.
Thus, contrary to what is often assumed, administration of estradiol with or without progesterone not only did not raise BP but rather substantially lowered BP. This BP-lowering effect may be responsible for the lower incidence of hypertension in premenopausal than in postmenopausal women.
Changing estrogen levels can set off heart palpitations. Women can also experience palpitations during other times when hormone levels shift, like during their period or in pregnancy. Palpitations in menopause often happen during hot flashes.
Anxiety doesn't cause long-term high blood pressure (hypertension). But episodes of anxiety can cause dramatic, temporary spikes in your blood pressure.
Increased blood pressure is associated with higer progestin potency. Because progestin injection contains a higher dosage than progestin pills, implants, or IUDs, the injection is more likely to raise blood pressure.
The results of these studies consistently reported no significant association of high blood pressure with use of POPs for up to 2-3 years of follow-up.
Systemic estrogen therapy remains the most effective treatment for the relief of troublesome menopausal hot flashes and night sweats. Have other symptoms of menopause. Estrogen can ease vaginal symptoms of menopause, such as dryness, itching, burning and discomfort with intercourse.
Micronised progesterone (Utrogestan) is a body identical progesterone and is better tolerated as well as having a lower risk of breast cancer compared to synthetic progestogens. This can be prescribed as 100mg each evening (continuous / bleed-free) or 200mg for two out of four weeks (cyclical / sequential).
It eases anxiety and promotes memory. Doctors recommend that Progesterone be taken before bed since it has a sedative effect and helps resume normal sleep cycles. It is important to note that Progesterone is a bioidentical hormone, and not a drug treatment.
Though smoking is not listed as a contraindication for hormone therapy, it is a known protagonist of cardiovascular disease. Since long-term hormone therapy has now been found to have a generally deleterious effect on the cardiovascular system, it would be unwise to further complicate the picture.
What Are the Side Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy?
- Bloating.
- Breast swelling or tenderness.
- Headaches.
- Mood changes.
- Nausea.
- Vaginal bleeding.
Tablets are 1 of the most common forms of HRT. They are usually taken once a day. Both oestrogen-only and combined HRT are available as tablets.
Current indications for the use of HRT are:
- For the treatment of menopausal symptoms where the risk:benefit ratio is favourable, in fully informed women.
- For women with early menopause until the age of natural menopause (around 51 years), even if they are asymptomatic.
Progesterone must be given at bedtime since its major "side effect" (smile) is to improve sleep; it is effective in a dose of 300 mg at bedtime daily which keeps the serum progesterone at or above the luteal phase level for a full 24-hour day.
Signs that you may need hormone replacement therapy include:
- Hot flashes.
- Night sweats.
- Vaginal dryness.
- Pain, itching, or burning during intercourse.
- Bone loss.
- Low sex-drive.
- Mood changes.
- Irritability.
If you start HRT before you're 60 it does not increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. HRT does not affect your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. HRT tablets (but not patches or gels) slightly raise the risk of stroke.
In fact, weight gain is the most commonly reported side effect of the combined pill – the most popular type, which contains both lab-made oestrogen and progesterone.
Using progesterone can increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, heart attack, or breast cancer.
Normal Blood Pressure By Age
| Age | SBP | DBP |
|---|
| 21-25 | 120.5 | 78.5 |
| 26-30 | 119.5 | 76.5 |
| 31-35 | 114.5 | 75.5 |
| 36-40 | 120.5 | 75.5 |
A study showed a decrease in systolic blood pressure of a woman and an increase in her heartbeat while she was experiencing hot flashes. 7 Another study showed an increase in diastolic blood pressure during hot flashes.
