Body Mass Index, or BMI, is an accurate indicator of whether you are at a healthy weight in relation to your height. Carrying around excess body fat--particularly around the middle--can increase your risk of high cholesterol and high blood pressure, notes the American Heart Association. Monitoring and managing your BMI may help keep your blood pressure levels in check.
Function
Blood pressure is the force of blood pressing against the artery walls as the heart pumps out blood. Blood pressure rises in relation to the amount of blood your heart pumps and the degree of resistance to blood flow in your arteries, reports the Mayo Clinic. When high blood pressure is sustained for a period of time, it can lead to various health problems, including heart attack or stroke.
Considerations
The number of people with high blood pressure has risen steadily since 2000. An estimated 73 million adults in the United States have high blood pressure, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC.
Your chances of having high blood pressure are greater if you're carrying around excess weight, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. In fact about one-third of people with high blood pressure are overweight. Children and teens that are obese are more likely to have high blood pressure as adults.
Significance
A BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight, while a BMI over 30 is regarded as obese. A healthy BMI range is between 18.5 and 24.9.
To calculate your BMI, multiply your weight by 703. Divide the result by your height in inches. Divide that result by height in inches once again. Using this formula, a 140-lb. woman who is 65 inches tall would have a BMI of 23.29, in the healthy range.
Precautions
The higher your BMI, the harder your heart has to work. Placing undue stress on your heart increases your risk of of coronary heart disease and heart attack, notes the National Health Lung and Blood Institute. A BMI over 25 can make you more likely to encounter other serious health problems, including type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and osteoarthritis.
Prevention/Solution
Regular exercise can help prevent and manage high blood pressure and your weight. Exercise at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity such as swimming or walking four to five days a week. Losing even 10 percent of your body weight can lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of diabetes, notes the UMMC.
Eating a nutritious diet that includes fruits, vegetables and whole grains and limited saturated fats and animal protein can also help control blood pressure and promote weight loss.
References
- American Heart Association: Body Mass Index Calculator
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What Are the Health Risks of Overweight and Obesity?
- University of Maryland Medical Center: High blood pressure - Introduction
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Achieving and Maintaining a Healthful Weight
- Medline Plus: Body Mass Index
- Mayo Clinic: High Blood Pressure
