Obesity and High Blood Pressure
Written by admin on October 18th, 2008 in Obesity and High Blood Pressure.
Obesity and High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure or high blood pressure means the pressure in the arteries. The arteries are vessels which carry the blood to the heart and then pumps to all tissues and organs of the body. The normal blood pressure is below 120/80; the blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is called “pre-high blood pressure”, and a blood pressure of 140/90 or above is considered as high blood pressure.
Obesity is an important risk factor of high blood pressure. The prevalence of high blood pressure increases with the degree of obesity. Obese person have double the risk of developing the high blood pressure. Approximately 70 percent of obese men and women suffer from high blood pressure.
The presence of high blood pressure among the adults who are having normal weight is 14.9 percent for the men and 15.2 percent for women. On the other hand, the presence of the high blood pressure among the adults who are obese are 41.9 percent for the men and 37.8 percent for women. The prevalence of high blood pressure increases with the degree of obesity. If the body weight of a person is 20 percent more than his normal weight, he is having eight times the chance of getting high blood pressure than normal weighted person.
The increasing weight in the adult life is also another important risk factor for the development of high blood pressure. The loss of weight was recommended for the obese people having high blood pressure and proved to be the most effective non medicinal approach. A more progressive and moderate weight loss is to be maintained over a longer period. Several studies established the relationship between modest weight loss and controlled blood pressure. A modest loss of weight can normalize blood pressure levels even without reaching the perfect weight.
Many medical studies showed a relation between obesity and high blood pressure. The obese people have a high blood pressure than people having normal weight. The cardiovascular risk is increased with obesity. In fact, obesity induces a high insulin secretion to decrease the excessive concentration of sugar content in the blood.
The insulin, produced by the pancreas, is responsible for many modifications in the body. It helps in the thickening of vessels which is responsible for an increase in their rigidity, and thus increases the blood pressure. It increases the cardiac flow, because the secretion of adrenalin is increased. It induces the reabsorption of water and salt by the kidney, which increases the volume of blood and thus increases the blood pressure.
To adopt a healthy life style is a first effective stage in the prevention and control of high blood pressure. Proper medication is also necessary to control high blood pressure. The methods which must be followed to control high blood pressure are healthy diet, reducing salt and sodium in the diet, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding the alcohol consumption stopping the habit of smoking.