Exploring the Link Between Fibroids and Blood Pressure

Researchers have spent years identifying risk factors for fibroids. Now, a recent study has highlighted the connection between fibroids and blood pressure, suggesting that treating high blood pressure lowers future fibroid risk. Get all the details, below.

The Link Between Fibroids and Blood Pressure

A new JAMA Network Open, study highlights the connection between poor cardiovascular health and uterine fibroid risk. As such, they noted that treating hypertension (the medical term for high blood pressure) reduces future fibroid risk.

To reach this conclusion, researchers followed more than 2500 women aged 42-52, tracking their health following over an 18 year period via their enrollment in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. Basically, authors looked at fibroid diagnoses for women with and without high blood pressure diagnoses.

Over the course of almost two decades, 526 women in the study (approximately 20% of all participants) developed at least one fibroid tumor. But women with untreated hypertension had an incidence rate that was 19% higher than women without blood pressure concerns. Yet, the women were able to lower their fibroid risk by 37% simply by treating their hypertension. And if they chose to do so with ACE inhibitors, their fibroid risk fell by 48%.

Can You Prevent Fibroids with Blood Pressure Medication

Unfortunately, there is no evidence that taking blood pressure medication will prevent fibroids from developing, especially if you don't have hypertension. Plus, ACE inhibitors (like all medications) may trigger unwanted side effects. So you should not view these drugs as magic pills for preventing fibroids.

Instead, consider lowering fibroid risk factors without medication. To start, try to reach and maintain a healthy weight by focusing on your diet and exercise. (Bonus: even if you already have fibroids, these efforts can help you manage painful fibroid symptoms.)

However, because family history and race impact fibroid risk, disproportionately affecting Black women, not all fibroids are preventable. And that means that many women will need to seek medical intervention in order to relieve their fibroid pain. Luckily, today, there are highly effective, non-surgical treatment options for fibroids.

Treating Fibroids in Georgia: You Don't Need Surgery!

At Georgia Fibroids, our interventional radiologists treat fibroids with Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE.) It is a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks tumors by blocking blood flow to your uterine artery, allowing you to find symptom relief without seeking more invasive procedures like myomectomy or hysterectomy surgery/

Are you a candidate for UFE in Georgia? Our experts are available to help you weight your treatment options. Just click here to request an appointment !