Can menopause cause high blood pressure? What the evidence says, and what to do
By Softer Mind · Updated 15 October 2026 · 8 min read · Based on NHS guidance and published research
Maybe a pharmacist took your blood pressure and it was higher than you expected. Or your home monitor shows the numbers creeping up, around the same time as everything else changed.
So, can menopause cause high blood pressure? It may play a part, but it's hard to separate from getting older. The British Heart Foundation says that after the menopause your blood vessels may not respond as well to change, so your blood pressure could go up. Age, weight and family history matter too.
High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. The NHS says the only way to know is to get it checked. Checks are quick and often free.
Call 999 straight away if you have:
- chest pain that comes on suddenly and doesn't go away
- chest pain that spreads to your arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach
- chest pain with sweating, feeling sick, light-headedness or breathlessness
- a severe headache, blurred vision or loss of sight, or sudden confusion
- a face drooping on one side, weakness in one arm, or slurred speech
These need help whatever your blood pressure reading says. The chest pain signs come from the NHS page on high blood pressure. The others are signs of a stroke. Don't drive yourself to A&E.
Get help from NHS 111 if: you often get headaches or blurred vision, or you have chest pain that comes and goes. Blood Pressure UK says that if a reading is over 180/110, you should see your GP within 48 hours, and straight away if you also have unusual symptoms such as blurred vision or headaches.
About this page: it's based on NHS guidance, including the NHS page on high blood pressure. It hasn't been reviewed by a doctor, and it can't tell you what's causing your symptoms. If you're worried, speak to your GP or call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
Can menopause cause high blood pressure?
The British Heart Foundation says oestrogen has a protective effect on your heart. As it falls, your risk of heart disease goes up.
A 2026 review of high blood pressure in women says blood pressure commonly rises in the 5 to 20 years after menopause. It links this to the fall in oestrogen. It also says women tend to become more sensitive to salt through the menopause transition.
But the same review says ageing itself speeds up these changes. In real life, the menopause and getting older happen at the same time. So it's hard to know how much of a rise is down to each.
So if your blood pressure has gone up in your late 40s or 50s, the menopause may be part of the picture. But it's rarely the whole story, and never a reason to ignore a high reading.
Can perimenopause cause high blood pressure?
The review says falling oestrogen in perimenopause, as well as after menopause, adds to higher blood pressure. But we couldn't find good evidence that perimenopause on its own causes a sudden jump.
Other things matter too. The NHS lists things that make high blood pressure more likely:
- getting older
- having close relatives with high blood pressure
- being of Black African, Black Caribbean or South Asian background
- eating a lot of salt, or an unhealthy diet
- being overweight
- smoking
- drinking a lot of alcohol
- long-term stress
Sudden high blood pressure in menopause: is one reading enough?
One high reading doesn't mean you have high blood pressure.
The NHS says that if your result is high, you may be asked to check it at home for a few days, come back for another reading, or wear a small monitor for 24 hours.
Write your readings down, with the date and time, and take them to your GP.
How to get your blood pressure checked
The NHS says to get checked at a pharmacy or GP surgery if you think you may be at risk, or if you're 40 or over and haven't been checked for more than 5 years.
- At a pharmacy. Many pharmacies offer free checks for people aged 40 or over. Some may charge, so ask first.
- At your GP surgery.
- At work. Some workplaces offer checks.
- The NHS Health Check. If you're 40 to 74 and don't already have heart disease, diabetes, a stroke or high blood pressure, the NHS Health Check should be offered every 5 years by your GP or local council. It includes a blood pressure test and a cholesterol test. If you think you're due and haven't been invited, contact your GP practice.
- At home. You can buy your own monitor, or your GP may lend you one. When you start, Blood Pressure UK suggests measuring in the morning and evening every day for a week.
What do the numbers mean?
A reading has two numbers. Blood Pressure UK explains that the top number is the highest your pressure reaches when your heart beats. The bottom number is the lowest it reaches as your heart rests between beats.
| Reading | What it means |
|---|---|
| 90/60 up to 120/80 | Ideal |
| 120/80 up to 140/90 | Not high blood pressure, but a little higher than it should be |
| 140/90 or higher, checked by a pharmacist, nurse or doctor | Usually means high blood pressure |
| 135/85 or higher, checked at home | Usually means high blood pressure |
| 90/60 or lower | Low. Usually not a problem, but it can make you dizzy or faint |
The ideal, in-between and low bands come from Blood Pressure UK. The high levels come from the NHS. Blood Pressure UK says only one of the two numbers needs to be high. A top number over 140, or a bottom number over 90, can be enough.
Why it's worth taking seriously
The NHS says high blood pressure that isn't treated puts strain on your blood vessels, heart, brain, kidneys and eyes. It raises your risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease and vascular dementia. The NHS also says even a small drop in blood pressure can lower these risks.
This matters more after the menopause. The BHF says your risk of heart disease goes up after the menopause, and your cholesterol can rise too. If your menopause came before 45, your risk of coronary heart disease is higher.
What you can do: the NHS advice
These steps come from the NHS page on high blood pressure.
- Cut back on salt. Avoid salty food, and try not to add salt to your meals.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
- Move more. Aim for at least 150 minutes of activity a week.
- Lose weight if you're overweight.
- Keep alcohol to 14 units a week or less.
- Cut down on caffeine, including coffee, tea and cola.
- Don't smoke.
The BHF says healthy habits like these can help lower or maintain your blood pressure and cholesterol after the menopause.
What your GP can offer
The NHS says a GP will usually suggest medicine if your blood pressure is very high, if you're at higher risk of a heart attack or stroke, or if it stays high after lifestyle changes. Which medicine depends on your blood pressure, your age and your ethnicity. Most are daily tablets, and some people need more than one.
If you already take blood pressure medicine, don't stop or change it on your own. If you have side effects, or your readings are still high, talk to your GP or pharmacist.
HRT and blood pressure: things to talk through with your GP
Can you take HRT with high blood pressure? The NHS says HRT may not be suitable if you have untreated high blood pressure, and your blood pressure will need to be controlled before you start. So high blood pressure doesn't always rule HRT out.
Does HRT raise blood pressure? It seems to depend on the type. A 2024 review that pooled several studies found that one older type of oestrogen (conjugated equine oestrogens) taken with a progestogen raised the top number. Estradiol, taken by mouth or through the skin, and tibolone didn't show a clear effect. Women taking oestrogen and progestogen as tablets were more likely to develop high blood pressure than women who had never used HRT.
Is HRT a treatment for high blood pressure? No. The 2026 review says long-term HRT doesn't reliably keep blood pressure at the levels you had before menopause.
Tablets or patches? The BHF says HRT tablets can slightly increase the risk of blood clots and stroke, though the risk is low for women under 60. Most women are prescribed HRT through the skin.
Questions you might ask:
- Is my blood pressure controlled enough to start HRT?
- Which type of HRT would suit me, given my blood pressure?
- How often should my blood pressure be checked once I start?
The NHS says a GP will usually review HRT 3 months after you start, then once a year. Those are good times to ask about your blood pressure too.
When to see a GP about your blood pressure
Book an appointment if:
- your readings are often 140/90 or more at a pharmacy or surgery, or 135/85 or more at home
- a reading is over 160/100 (Blood Pressure UK says to see your GP, and within 48 hours if it's over 180/110)
- you often get headaches or blurred vision (or call 111)
- you're thinking about HRT, or already on it and worried about your readings
- you take blood pressure medicine and your readings are still high
For anything sudden or severe, use the box at the top of this page.
You may also find these pages useful: perimenopause heart palpitations, perimenopause headaches and menopause dizziness.
This page is general information, not medical advice. If you're worried about any symptom, please talk to your GP or pharmacist.
