Gender and blood pressure.

The prevalence, impact, and control of hypertension differ between the sexes in the US population. In addition, pregnancy, oral contraceptive use, and menopausal hormone therapy may influence blood pressure regulation in ways that have therapeutic implications for some women. Whether gender should be a significant consideration in the choice of individual antihypertensive drugs continues to be a topic of intense interest and debate. This brief review will discuss recent findings that bear on considerations of gender in the management of hypertension, particularly among older women.