Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure. This condition is linked a number of chronic conditions that can increase your risk for heart attack and stroke, according to the Mayo Clinic. Being aware of your contributing factors---including being overweight---helps you to combat high blood pressure and keep it under control.
Significance
High blood pressure occurs when your arteries become narrower due to cholesterol buildup, according to the Mayo Clinic. Imagine your arteries as a clogged drain---when there is buildup in a drain, the water does not flow as easily. When it comes to your heart, the artery buildup means your heart has to work harder to pump blood through the body. This can tax the heart and weaken the heart muscle over time.
Obesity Risk Factor
Your weight can be one of the chief risk factors in experiencing high blood pressure, according to MedlinePlus from the National Institutes of Health. If you are obese, you likely are consuming high amounts of fat and cholesterol on a daily basis. This contributes to higher cholesterol levels overall. Cholesterol is responsible for the development of plaque in the heart's arteries. Cholesterol and fats can also make the arteries stiffer, which increases your blood pressure.
Measurement
Your blood pressure can be measured by utilizing a blood pressure cuff. The cuff measures your systolic blood pressure over your diastolic blood pressure. The systolic blood pressure reading measures when your heart is squeezing blood out, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Conversely, your diastolic blood pressure is when your heart fills up with blood. A normal blood pressure measurement is less than 120/80---a high measurement is above 140/90, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Anything in between those numbers is pre-hypertensive.
Treatment
If you are overweight, your physician may address the proper weight for your gender, age and body type. Being overweight is a risk factor that you can control, meaning lifestyle changes can help you to lower your blood pressure. As a result, you may wish to reduce you overall calorie intake by about 500 calories per day to lose an estimated one pound per week. Cutting back on high-sodium foods and high-fat meats also may help. Adding exercise or increasing your exercise intensity if you are active can help you to achieve weight loss.
Warning
Being overweight and experiencing hypertension are major risk factors for heart attack and stroke, according to the Mayo Clinic. Other complicating factors include vision loss, impaired kidney function, memory difficulties or diabetes. These conditions affect not only your health, but also your quality of life. Work to reduce your high blood pressure through weight-loss techniques if you have been diagnosed with this condition.
