Sex and aging influence sympathetic neural control of blood pressure, with young women protected against hypertension until menopause, whereas older age increases sympathetic nerve activity.
Aging and menopause increase the risk of hypertension through higher sympathetic nerve activity and tighter coupling between sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure.
Sex and age have important influences on sympathetic neural control of blood pressure in humans. Young women are relatively protected against risk of hypertension due to greater peripheral vasodilator influences compared with young men and older people. This protective effect is lost at menopause. Older men and women have higher sympathetic nerve activity and tighter coupling between SNA and blood pressure, contributing to the increased risk of hypertension with aging.
Hart et al. (Wed,) conducted a review in Hypertension. Sex and aging was evaluated. Sex and aging influence sympathetic neural control of blood pressure, with young women protected against hypertension until menopause, whereas older age increases sympathetic nerve activity.