Hypertension, more commonly referred to as high blood pressure, is one of the most common cardiovascular disorders in the United States with an estimated 32 percent of the population of adults older than 20 diagnosed with the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hypertension occurs when the force of pressure on your artery walls becomes so great that damage and health problems can occur as a result. One of the possible contributing factors to your risks for hypertension is your weight, which can be represented by your body mass index score, or BMI.
About Your BMI
Your BMI is a number that compares your total weight in relation to your height. This comparison helps estimate your body fat percentage, as well as can provide a gauge for your risks for weight-related illnesses including cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension. Your BMI is calculated by taking your body weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared.
BMI Scale
Once your BMI has been calculated it can be compared to the BMI scale. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute describes the scale as follows. A BMI score of less than 18.5 is considered underweight. A BMI score of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered a normal weight. A BMI score of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, and a BMI of 30 or greater is considered obese. It is a score of 25 or greater where your risks for hypertension increase.
Body Fat and Hypertension
Your overall body weight has a significant impact on your risks for hypertension. The more your body weighs, the more tissue there is that needs oxygen and other nutrients in order for the cells of that tissue to survive. In order to get enough of these essentials to the tissue, the volume of your blood must increase, increasing the amount of pressure inside the blood vessels. Over time this increase in pressure can result in hypertension and if left untreated can progress into more serious heart disease.
Reducing Your BMI
In order to lessen the effects of your BMI on hypertension, it's important to keep your body at a healthy weight. The best way to do this is to eat a healthy and balanced diet along with getting 150 minutes of exercise each week. For even better results, the CDC recommends that adults get 300 minutes or about five hours worth of exercise each week including at least two days where strength training is included into your exercise regimen.
References
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: Calculate Your Body Mass Index
- Mayo Clinic: High Blood Pressure
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Activity Guidelines
- American Physiological Society: Obesity and Hypertension: Two Epidemics or One?
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Hypertension
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