Impact of Menstrual Irregularities and Blood Pressure on Mental Health in Hypertensive Women
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Objective: Hypertension affects 1.28 billion people worldwide, with a prevalence of 29.8% in India and 25.2% in rural Tamil Nadu. Menstrual irregularities affect 30 to 40 percent of women globally, and they are becoming more prevalent in India, where lifestyle and cultural factors may exacerbate the issue. These abnormalities are often linked to anxiety, depression, and stress, which makes public health problems worse. This study examines these overlapping challenges with a focus on Tamil Nadu, specifically in the Madurai district, where healthcare facilities could discover it difficult to address women's need for mental and reproductive health.
Methods and Materials: The risk of stress was over doubled among uncontrolled blood pressure patients with menstrual irregularities, particularly in those who were overweight and had a family history of the condition (p < 0.001). For postmenopausal women, the risks of stress and depression were more than five times greater (AOR = 5.536, 5.55), while more education seemed to be protective, lowering the odds of anxiety and depression (AOR = 0.082, 0.150). A strong positive correlation (r s = 0.622, p < 0.01) was observed between SBP and DBP.
Findings: Intervention group’s means were reduced and the difference between groups in splitting (F=86.33, p<0.05) and paranoid ideation (F=65.47, p<0.05) were significant.
Conclusion: Blood pressure concerns and irregular menstruation exacerbate mental health problems in hypertensive women. Early diagnosis and culturally sensitive interventions including integrated support and education can empower these women to build resilience and improve their overall health.
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