What Is Hypertension?
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a common condition where your blood pressure is at unhealthily high levels. If the long-term force of the blood against your artery walls remains high, it eventually causes health diseases such as heart disease.
Symptoms
If your blood pressure is extremely high, certain symptoms you can look out for include:
Headaches
Dizziness
Nosebleeds
Fatigue or Confusion
Chest Pain
Shortness of Breath
Vision Problems
Irregular Heartbeat
Blood in the Urine
Pounding in Your Chest, Neck, or Ears
How Obesity Affects Hypertension?
Obesity and weight gain are significant contributors to the risk of developing hypertension. When you’re overweight or obese, your heart has to work extra hard to pump blood throughout your body. This additional effort puts a strain on your arteries. Your arteries, as a result, resist this flow of blood, causing your blood pressure to rise. Abdominal obesity, also known as belly fat, has also been proven by studies to increase the risk of hypertension (CardioSmart, 2017).
Treat Hypertension by Treating Obesity
It is important to note that obesity is associated with hypertension, and hypertension is associated with many other health diseases that can affect your life expectancy. To see a significant drop in your blood pressure, weight loss should be an immediate goal you should make. One study involving 181 overweight hypertensive patients showed that a 10% weight loss produced an average of a 4.3/3.8 mmHg fall in blood pressure (ObesityAction, 2009). Hence, weight loss is a critical step you can take in reducing hypertension and improving your quality of life.