Several Medical Studies have proved that a link does exist between obesity and high blood pressure. People who are overweight have a higher blood pressure than people with a normal weight. Obesity not only increases the risk of high blood pressure but also of cardiovascular disorders. Research has revealed that obesity leads to an increase in the cardiac activity, output, volume of blood pumped out and the arterial resistance. Quite simply more blood is needed to feed the extra mass of fats and in cells in individuals who are overweight. Obesity is also a crucial factor in the hyper secretion of insulin. This insulin in turn causes several changes in the body that may predispose to perilous outcomes; for instance:

• It causes the thickening of the walls of the blood vessels which leads to an increase in their rigidity and a consequential increase in the blood pressure
• Obesity is also responsible for inducing the reabsorption of water and sodium into the body through the kidneys. This leads to an increase in the blood volume causing the blood pressure to shoot up.
• Obesity is also causes an increase in the out of the heart because there is excessive secretion of adrenalin in the body.
• Being overweight also leads to the development of oversensitivity to sodium; this is a known cause in increased rigidity in the peripheral arteries.
• When subjected to the hyper secretion of insulin for an extended period of time, the body develops a natural resistance to it; this in turn leads to the further increase in the synthesis of insulin, causing a rise in the blood pressure.

The obesity and high blood pressure are so closely related that even a decrease of 2.2 pounds in your weight will cause a decrease of 1mm/hg in your blood pressure.

A study conducted at the University of Cambridge has identified the exact cause of blood pressure increase due to obesity. According to the researchers, as your weight increases, more fats are stored into the body; these fats produce a hormone called leptin. The excessive leptin then enters the blood stream and reaches the brain. Here it triggers the MC$R which in turn triggers the sympathetic nervous system leading to an increase in your blood pressure.

Controlling your blood pressure through your weight is a post from: Healthy Recipes

Obesity leads to an increase in blood pressure by increasing the volume

Obese people have more visceral fat, which is the fat around the organs in the viscera/ abdominal cavity; these fats secrete angiotensinogen which in turn makes angiotensin II, a powerful vasoconstrictor which induces the kidneys to absorb more sodium.

High blood pressure is responsible for 395,000 deaths in the US alone while obesity is responsible for 216,000 deaths making them the second and third risk factors that lead to death after smoking.

Obesity is known to increase an individual’s susceptibility to over 50 health problems

Being overweight causes type 2 diabetes which in turn can cause serious health complications related to the kidneys, eyes, nerves and heart.

A study conducted by Harvard where obese people were tracked for 10 years revealed that their chances of developing diabetes increased 20 times due to obesity, it also augmented the risk of stroke, gallstone and heart diseases.

Cardiac issues and stroke: People who are overweight showed a marked increase in their susceptibility to heart disorders. One of the reasons for this is the increase in the blood pressure and the cholesterol level caused due to obesity. These two factors together lead to concurrent health issues; for instance, if we were to look at the statistics, blood pressure is 6 times more common in overweight people. An increase of 22 pounds would lead to an increase of 3mm/hg in the systolic blood pressure and this would equate to a 12% higher risk of heart ailments.

Diabetes: The close links between diabetes and obesity has led researchers to coin a new term known as ‘diabesity’. The statistics are equally starling here, with an astounding 90% of type 2 diabetes sufferers being overweight. Diabetes if not controlled, can lead to several other conditions such as limb amputations, blindness, renal failure etc and unfortunately there is no way to cure diabetes it can just be controlled.

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Lifestyle changes:

Go from fat to fit: Obesity is big contributor to the production of cholesterol. Even if you lose a few pounds it can create a marked impact on your cholesterol levels. To begin with you need to analyze your eating habits. Remember that dietary intake also leads to an increase in cholesterol levels.

Choose heart healthy food: A diet that is rich in fiber and other food items that are known to reduce cholesterol may help to lower the overall cholesterol level in the body as much as medication.

Go for healthier fats: Saturated fats and trans fat will increase your total cholesterol level. The saturated fat found should not be responsible for more than 10 percent of your calories each day. Monosaturated fat in canola and peanut oils is healthier.

Avoid trans fats: These are found in commercial baking and baked products like cookies, margarine etc. Not only do trans fats increase the level of bad cholesterol but they also decrease the level of good cholesterol

Reduce your consumption of cholesterol: Make sure that you consume no more than 300 mg of cholesterol if you are healthy and less than 200 mg if you have an underlying heart condition.

Eat whole grains: Ensure that you go for products like bread, pasta etc manufactured from whole wheat flour, Also oatmeal, brown rice and oat bran are good items to reduce cholesterol levels

Increase your consumption of fruits and veggies: Frits and vegetables have a high content of dietary fiber, which helps to lower cholesterol levels. Instead of choosing fat and sugar laden snacks go for a fruits.

Fish and more Fish: Some fishes which are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids help to keep your heart healthy such as mackerel, tuna and salmon.

Limit Alcohol Consumption: Control your alcohol consumption; you should consume no more than one drink a day if you are a woman and no more than two drinks if you are a man.

Regular Exercise: Working out for 30 to 60 minutes each day can help to lower your cholesterol. You can choose an outdoor activity that you enjoy; for instance, swimming cycling or jogging.

Quit Smoking: Smoking not only causes severe pulmonary problems and cancer but it is also responsible for reducing your HDL cholesterol level.

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Bad Cholesterol: Low density lipoproteins or LDL are known as bad cholesterol, this type of lipoprotein has very little protein and more fat, this is carried by the blood stream from the liver to the other parts of the body. Because of the high content of fat it can pose the risk of coronary artery disease.

Good Cholesterol: HDL or high density lipoproteins are considered to be good cholesterol. HDL prevents cholesterol build up in the arteries because it is made up of more proteins and less fat. It also helps clear LDL from the body. A diet high in HDL protects against heart disorders.

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Dark chocolate and cocoa contain anti oxidant rich compounds called flavonoids. These flavonoids are also found in fruits and plants. These compounds can offer great health benefits and are responsible for several favorable heart effects similar to the ones produced through the consumption of red wine and vegetables and fruits. Dark chocolate helps to reduce blood pressure because its rich in flavonoids. It also improves insulin sensitivity.

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A. No your body needs salt even though very few people have experienced favorable results through salt restriction it is imperative to not over consume salt.

Q. Will any chocolate do?

A. No, you should only eat a small piece of dark chocolate each day to get the benefits for its flavonoid content. Other chocolates may end up giving you too much sugar and increasing your weight.

Q. What type of diet is highly recommended for patients with high blood pressure?

A. Even though there are several diets like DASH that are recommended for high blood pressure patients you could also use a Mediterranean diet which is rich in fruits, fish and olive oil as a preventative measure.

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