The good news for women is that hypertension responds well to diet changes and weight loss, or to medications when lifestyle changes aren't enough. Obesity merits especially close watching because it is significantly more common in middle-aged women than men. Furthermore, body weight has a greater impact on blood pressure in females than in males, according to new evidence.
When it comes to dietary changes, studies have shown women's blood pressure readings respond slightly better than men's to lowered salt intake, while abundant fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products are beneficial to health in general. On the flip side, excessive alcohol - which means more than two or three drinks per day - is associated with increases in blood pressure, and most studies have shown that it takes less alcohol to have toxic effects in women than men.