Sex, drugs and blood pressure control: The impact of age and gender on sympathetic regulation of arterial pressure

摘要

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in developed countries. Numerous studies confirm that increases in blood pressure occur with ageing, and are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. The effects of ageing on the cardiovascular system and blood pressure control differ between males and females, but the mechanisms underlying this remain unclear (Hart et al. 2009a). Starting in puberty, men tend to have higher blood pressures compared with women;