High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

If you are overweight or obese the chances are that you also suffer from High Blood Pressure (also known as Hypertension). This ailment may indicate that the heart is working too hard. This can be potentially dangerous when combined with the other risks factors associated with obesity.

Hypertension occurs for several reasons:

• The development of atheroma in aging arteries, those who smoke, or those who have high levels of cholesterol. This reduces the flexibility of the arteries, which in turn restricts the rteries'ability to expand and also narrows the lumen.(1)



• Increased weight requires the heart to pump harder in order to get the blood around the increased amount of tissue. The fat also constricts major arteries and causes the heart muscles to have to work harder to pump more blood through. Carrying too much weight also increases the amount of insulin produced, which in turn increases sodium, which is known to lead to increased hypertension.(2)



• The lack of exercise or a sedentary lifestyle can also lead to hypertension. Exercise reduces adrenaline, oxygenates the body, and works in several other biochemical ways to reduce blood pressure.(3)



• Adrenaline, thyroid hormones, and the body's natural steroids all control blood pressure, and both dietary and stress factors that increase these will raise the blood pressure.(4)



• Dietetic factors such as salt, alcohol, and caffeine all raise the blood pressure, and a reduction or cessation of the use of these can return the blood pressure down to normal.(5)



• Toxins or poisons such as cadmium and lead are known to raise the blood pressure. Food allergies may also cause blood pressure to rise.(6)

Recommendations to Reduce High Blood Pressure

• Lose any excess weight.
• Remove salt completely from the diet.
• Stop smoking, and drinking alcohol or caffeine until the blood pressure is normal.
• Increase your exercise.(7)

(1-7) The Family Encyclopedia of Health by Dr. Rajendra Sharma

Return to top of High Blood Pressure Page

Share Your Weight Loss Tips and Advice

Do you have useful tips and advice to share, about ways to lose weight? Share them here!