Hypertension is the formal term for high blood pressure when the pressure in your blood vessels is higher than expected. This can lead to experiencing the likes of a heart attack or a stroke. Hypertension is highly likely to occur if you’re largely overweight or obese. This is likely to cause complications that can cause permanent issues with your heart and other organs.
If you’ve experienced hypertension, this is likely due to a lead-up of poor, unhealthy habits that lead up to it, with the common link to both being high blood pressure.
Let’s learn more about hypertension and how obesity can cause hypertension.
How Weight Impacts Your Blood Pressure
Being largely overweight and having high blood pressure are closely interlinked. When there is excess fatty tissue, this means your heart has to work that extra harder to pump blood around it. With unhealthy lifestyle habits, certain conditions can also cause you to be obese as well. Either way, the heart has to work harder so that your whole body is receiving an adequate blood supply.
Here’s a breakdown of the likely causes of obesity:
- A lack of physical activity
- A diet that comprises high fats and carbohydrates
- Eating conditions causing you to eat more
- Suffering from diseases such as hyperthyroidism, insulin resistance and Cushing syndrome
- Hormones
- Side effects of medications cause you to eat more
Accumulating excess visceral adipose tissue throughout your body, disrupting the process of managing salt levels in your body, and imbalances can result in kidneys working harder. Kidneys may also be covered by the excess fat tissue, impacting smooth blood flow and requiring your kidneys to work extra hard.
Losing Weight Can Affect Your Blood Pressure
The changes you’d need to make in your lifestyle requires replacing your current habits with habits that support weight loss. The lower the weight, the lower the blood pressure. This does not necessarily mean that you need to target a certain weight to lower your blood pressure, but it is important that you’re able to maintain your weight throughout your life.
Here are some pointers on what you can do today to lose weight:
- Change your diet and incorporate vegetables and healthy fruits
- Replace soda with water throughout the day
- Perform regular physical activity such as aerobic workouts
- Manage your insulin better (if you have diabetes)
You don’t need to have a certain weight goal in mind, and neither do you need to go on a weight loss program (unless you feel it will motivate you). Although, to support you, getting to a BMI in your 20s is a good target. You should also consult a doctor to receive further support to start adopting a healthier lifestyle.
Suppose you need to seek further support with hypertension, and you’re interested in changing your life or are even considering treatments for hypertension. In that case, all of the available options can be discussed with your doctor. Get in touch for an appointment with our Brunswick medical centre today and begin your journey to a happier and healthier life.
