By Muskan Singh

Copyright indiatimes

Heart disease is still the most common cause of death around the world, but studies show that men and women may not respond the same way to the same treatments. A new study shows that digital health tools can help control blood pressure. Women, especially those going through menopause, see bigger changes than men. The results show how important it is to customize heart and blood pressure care for men and women, especially during times like perimenopause and menopause when women are more likely to get high blood pressure and heart disease. How did the digital heart health study work? The American Journal of Preventive Cardiology published a study that followed almost 48,000 people from July 2015 to September 2023. HelloHeart made a system that paired a Bluetooth-enabled blood pressure monitor with a mobile app, as per a report by Medical News Today.ALSO READ: Suffering from insomnia? Sleepless nights could age you fast and boost dementia risk by 40%, experts warnLive Events Users could keep track of their blood pressure, cholesterol, heart rate, and medications with the app. It also sent reminders for taking medicine, AI-powered digital coaching, and personalized reports, some of which were specific to men and women. Researchers found that both systolic and diastolic blood pressure went down a lot over the course of the study, as per a report by Medical News Today. Women, especially those going through perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause, saw the most benefits. Even though they started with higher blood pressure levels, their drops were the same as or better than those of other groups. Women with stage 2 hypertension experienced a 9% greater decrease in systolic values than men. What makes menopause a turning point for heart health? Dr. Jayne Morgan, a cardiologist and Vice President of Medical Affairs at HelloHeart, talked about why menopause is such a dangerous time. “Menopause is a time of estrogen loss. Estrogen receptors are not just in the uterus, ovaries, and breasts as we are led to believe, but in all organs of a female’s body, particularly the heart.”Morgan stressed that estrogen protects the heart directly and also reduces inflammation. She said, “This is why heart attacks occur in women at only half the rate of men prior to menopause,” said Morgan, “then double to equal men after menopause,” as per a report by Medical News Today. When estrogen levels drop, blood vessels become less flexible, which makes blood pressure rise during perimenopause and menopause. Morgan said, “This can happen even to women whose blood pressure has always been normal.” Dr. Rigved Tadwalkar, MD, FACC, a consultative cardiologist and director of Digital Transformation at Pacific Heart Institute, who was not involved in the study, also said that menopause is a “big inflection point” for heart health, as per a report by Medical News Today. Why did women get more out of digital health tools? Morgan says that women not only had lower blood pressure, but they also used the mobile health system more. “Engagement partially mediated the relationship between sex and [blood pressure] reduction, indicating that app engagement could improve clinical outcomes and underscoring the potential of mHealth technology to support individuals during this period of increased [cardiovascular] risk,” she said. Morgan also worked on a different study that looked at how men and women in their middle years use digital health tools. At the 2025 scientific sessions of the American College of Cardiology, it was shown that women were more likely to use the apps regularly and follow reminders, which led to better health outcomes, as per a report by Medical News Today. This higher level of involvement seems to be why women got more out of it than men. Will digital health be the future of heart care? Yes, for Tadwalkar. He said, “I think mHealth will last for a long time.” “For high blood pressure, it’s a game changer because success depends on things you do every day, like checking your pressure, taking your meds, and making small changes to your lifestyle.” It’s easier to stick with it when you can get feedback and coaching right on your phone. He also said that digital health has a lot more potential than just blood pressure. He said, “Diabetes, cholesterol, weight management — these are all conditions where small, steady changes add up, and digital health can really help people stay accountable.” “It’s not a substitute for seeing your doctor, but it’s a strong complement.”ALSO READ: New study links heart attacks to bacterial infections – here’s what doctors are warning How can people keep their hearts healthy as they get older? Genetics do play a role, but the choices you make every day are still very important for keeping your heart healthy. Tadwalkar said that people should eat a balanced diet that is low in salt, drink alcohol in moderation, manage stress on a regular basis, and keep their weight in check, as per a report by Medical News Today. He warned, “For women, menopause is a time when they need to pay extra attention because the risk of high blood pressure goes up.” “That’s when you need to be even more careful about keeping an eye on things at home, sticking to heart-healthy habits, and using tools that give you regular feedback.” He went on to say, “It’s a time of higher risk, but it’s also a chance to stop bigger problems from happening later.” The HelloHeart study shows that men and women react differently to digital health interventions. Women, especially those going through menopause, may benefit the most. Women were able to lower their blood pressure a lot by using technology and staying involved. This gives hope for new, sex-specific ways to care for the heart. Cardiovascular disease is still not well-studied or treated in women, so findings like these show how important it is to have interventions that are specific to each person. For women going through menopause, digital tools may not only help lower blood pressure, but they may also be a great way to protect heart health over the long term.FAQsWhat makes menopause bad for your heart?When estrogen levels drop, the heart is less protected and blood vessels are less flexible.Why did the app help women more than men?Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
They used the digital health system more often than men did.(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)

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