Sex Differences in Regulation of Blood Pressure

Abstract

Hypertension is one of the leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke. There are gender differences in the prevalence of hypertension and in the mechanisms responsible for hypertension in humans. This review will discuss the mechanisms for regulation of blood pressure, sex differences that have been identified in animal studies, and the gender differences that have been identified in humans.

Keywords: Androgens; Endothelin; Estrogens; Hypertension; Hypogonadism; Immune system-mediated hypertension; Metabolic syndrome; Obesity; Postmenopausal women.