High blood pressure may increase the risk of developing uterine myoma
Last reviewed: 07.06.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Medications that help control high blood pressure may offer a new strategy for preventing uterine myoma.
A study published in journal JAMA Network Open, reports that middle-aged women with untreated or first-time hypertension have an increased risk of developing myomas, while those taking antihypertensive blood pressure medications have a lower risk.
"Investigation of mechanisms and health outcomes is warranted; If the links are causal, the use of antihypertensive medications where indicated may provide an opportunity to prevent clinically evident myoma development at this high-risk stage of life," the study authors write.
Nearly 120 million adults in the U.S. Have high blood pressure, also called hypertension. About 44% of them are women.
High blood pressure can cause heart health problems as well as eye, kidney and brain problems.
Uterine myoma and high blood pressure
A growing number of studies also suggest a link between high blood pressure and uterine myoma, a type of muscle tumor that grows in the walls of the uterus.
"Several prospective studies have shown that elevated blood pressure is associated with the presence of uterine myoma. Although this does not prove causality per se, and residual confounding is always possible, it was a robust association between multiple patient cohorts encompassing women of different age groups. One of the most interesting new findings in this study is that treatment with antihypertensive drugs reduced the risk of self-diagnosis of uterine myoma," said Dr. Vivek Bhalla, an assistant professor of medicine specializing in hypertension at Stanford University in California, who was not involved in the study.
"Based on clinical and basic research findings, it has been suggested that causes of elevated blood pressure (e.g., activation of the renin-angiotensin system) may contribute to uterine smooth muscle cell damage and hence myoma development," Bhalla told us. "Elevated blood pressure itself, either due to atherosclerosis or shear stress or both, can also contribute. On the other hand, the presence of uterine myoma can also increase blood pressure. So the relationship may be bidirectional, but prospective studies suggest that hypertension may at least cause myoma."
By age 50, 20-80% of women develop uterine myoma. It is most common in women between the ages of 40 and 50.
Studies show that there are some similarities between myoma and hypertension. Both are common, both are associated with morbidity, both are associated with smooth muscle cell changes, and both are more common in people of African descent.
Fibromas don't always cause symptoms, but if symptoms do occur, they can be serious and include pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, frequent urination, and pressure in the rectum.
High blood pressure medications may reduce myoma risk
Studies show that hypertension is a consistently identified risk factor for myoma development.
"Fibroid is one aspect of a list of different reasons why knowing your blood pressure status as well as its treatment will be critical. We are beginning to understand that blood pressure in various organ systems is as important as your heart," said Dr. Nicole Weinberg, a cardiologist at Providence Saint John's Medical Center in California, who was not involved in the study.
A new study suggests that certain blood pressure medications may prevent myoma development.
"Antihypertensive drugs can reduce blood pressure and possibly the risk of atherosclerosis and/or damage to the smooth muscles of the arteries that supply blood flow to the uterus. There are also classes of antihypertensive drugs, i.e., inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system, that may have a direct effect. In this study, these inhibitors were associated with the greatest risk reduction," Bhalla said.
However, the new study does not determine exactly how blood pressure medications may prevent myomas.
Some experts argue that more research is needed before these findings can be clinically meaningful.
"The study does not really describe or postulate how antihypertensive drugs can prevent the development of uterine myoma. The mechanism of action of all of these antihypertensives is different. They simply note that there is a correlation or association between hypertension treatment and uterine myoma incidence," said Dr. J. Thomas Ruiz, a leading obstetrician-gynecologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in California, who was not involved in the study.
"This is the type of study that really needs to focus on the mechanism of action, how antihypertensives can potentially prevent myoma development, and then create a dose that minimizes systemic side effects while still achieving the preventive goal. I'm not sure that's realistic," he said.
Hypertension needs to be treated well
Dr. Parveen Garg, a cardiologist at Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California, California, who was not involved in the study, says that while more research is needed, this study is an important reminder that hypertension should be taken seriously.
"We already know that high blood pressure, if left untreated, leads to very dire consequences throughout the body. But this basically just confirms that we need to take high blood pressure seriously and treat it when we recognize it," he said.
"In general, we know that hypertension causes much more serious comorbidities. Heart failure, stroke, heart disease, kidney disease. If left untreated, it leads to serious comorbidities that can be life-threatening," Garg added.
Regardless of whether high blood pressure medications help prevent myomas, experts say it's important for people with hypertension to take steps to manage their condition.
"For any patient with hypertension, especially those at high cardiovascular risk, close attention to diet and lifestyle modification and, if necessary, persistent high blood pressure, antihypertensive medications reduce overall cardiovascular risk," Bhalla said. "Whether medication reduces the risk of myoma will require additional research. This study is an intriguing step in that direction."