New Research Links Menopause to Universal Blood Pressure Shifts, Highlighting Cardiovascular Risk in U.S. Women
New research indicates a universal association between menopause and shifts in blood pressure, a finding observed in both U.S. women and Tsimane women, a highly active Bolivian forager-horticulturalist community. The study, led by Madeleine Getz, a global health PhD student at ASU’s School of Human Evolution and Social Change, suggests that while these blood pressure changes are a shared pattern of the menopause transition, their magnitude can be influenced by an individual's environment and lifestyle. This research addresses a gap in understanding by comparing women from industrialized nations, who often have sedentary lifestyles and access to modern medicine and processed foods, with a population exhibiting extremely low rates of cardiovascular disease and high physical activity. The findings are particularly relevant given that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women globally, and its risk significantly increases around menopause. Approximately 2 million U.S. women enter perimenop... 
