What type of study is this?

September 10, 2025Open Access

Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause, Sympathetic Activity, and Blood Pressure in Postmenopausal Females

WSWilliam StokesUniversity of Minnesota CTChowdhury Tasnova TahsinUniversity of Minnesota MAMiguel AnselmoUniversity of Minnesota

Key Points

Vasomotor symptoms did not correlate with elevated blood pressure or muscle sympathetic nerve activity.
MSNA burst incidence was greater in the vasomotor symptoms group, indicating unique sympathetic modulation.
Heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity were higher in participants with vasomotor symptoms, contrasting initial expectations.
Further research is necessary to explore these unexpected cardiovascular response patterns in postmenopausal females.

Abstract

Objectives: While evidence suggests an association between vasomotor symptoms (VMS; hot flushes and night sweats) and elevated blood pressure (BP), it remains unknown whether females who experience VMS have elevated muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), a major modulator of BP. We hypothesized that postmenopausal females with VMS would have elevated BP and MSNA at rest and during stress compared to age-matched females without VMS. Methods: Participants were grouped based on whether they currently or previously experienced VMS (n=43) or never experienced VMS (non-VMS; n=26). Heart rate (HR: electrocardiography), BP (finger plethysmography) and MSNA (microneurography), were recorded during a 10-min rest, a two-min cold pressor test (CPT) and a five-min recovery. Results: While there were no group differences in resting mean arterial pressure (MAP) or MSNA burst frequency (p>0.05), MSNA burst incidence (53±13 vs. 44±9 bursts/100heartbeats, p0.05). Conclusion: Contrary to our initial hypothesis, postmenopausal females with current or prior VMS demonstrated similar BP and MSNA burst frequency, with greater cardiovagal modulation and baroreflex sensitivity compared to the non-VMS group. Future work into this paradoxical finding appears warranted.

Perguntar à IA

Bookmark

View Full Paper