Will Weight Loss Lower Blood Pressure?

If you’re looking to lower your blood pressure, you might be wondering if losing weight will help. Here’s what you need to know.

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Introduction

Being overweight or obese is a major risk factor for developing high blood pressure. In fact, almost one-third of people with hypertension are obese. Losing just 10% of your body weight can help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of developing hypertension or other cardiovascular diseases.

There are many different ways to lose weight, but not all of them are effective in lowering blood pressure. Some methods, such as crash dieting or fad diets, can actually lead to a rebound in weight gain and an increased risk of hypertension. The best way to lose weight is through a combination of healthy eating and regular exercise.

If you are overweight or obese, talk to your doctor about the best way for you to lose weight safely. They can provide you with guidance on how many calories you should be consuming each day and how much exercise you need to do in order to reach your goals.

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the force of your blood against the walls of your arteries. Each time your heart beats, it pumps out blood into the arteries. Your blood pressure is highest when your heart beats, pumping the blood. This is called systolic pressure. When your heart rests between beats, your blood pressure falls. This is called diastolic pressure.

Your blood pressure reading has two numbers:

-The systolic (sis-TOL-ik) pressure or top number measures the force against artery walls when the heart contracts to pump out blood.
-The diastolic (die-uh-STOL-ik) pressure, or bottom number, measures the force against artery walls while the heart is at rest between beats.Normal blood pressure for an adult is less than 120 systolic and 80 diastolic (120/80).

What are the causes of high blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the force of your blood against the walls of your arteries. Each time your heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries. Your blood pressure is highest when your heart beats, pushing the blood against your artery walls. This is called systolic pressure. Between heartbeats, when your heart relaxes, your blood pressure falls. This is called diastolic pressure.

A normal adult blood pressure is less than 120 systolic and 80 diastolic (120/80). People with a systolic pressure of 120 to 129 and a diastolic of less than 80 have prehypertension, which means they are likely to develop high blood pressure. A systolic pressure of 130 or higher or a diastolic of 80 or higher indicates you have hypertension.

How can weight loss help lower blood pressure?

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a condition in which the force of your blood against the walls of your arteries is too high. This can put strain on your heart and damage your arteries.Blood pressure is measured in two numbers. The top number, called the systolic blood pressure, measures the force when your heart muscle contracts and pumps out blood. The bottom number, called the diastolic blood pressure, measures the force when your heart relaxes between beats.If either of these numbers is too high, it means you have high blood pressure.(https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/the-facts-about-high-blood-pressure)

Weight loss can help lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure numbers. Losing even a small amount of weight can make a big difference in your blood pressure. And as you lose weight, you may need less medication to control your blood pressure.(https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/changes-you-can-make-to-manage-high-blood-pressure/lose-weight)

If you’re overweight or obese, losing weight can help reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure or making existing hypertension worse. In fact, losing just 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) can help lower your systolic blood pressure by up to 4 mm Hg — which could make a significant difference in controlling your blood pressure.(https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/changes-you-can

What are some other ways to lower blood pressure?

If you’re overweight or obese, losing weight will help lower your blood pressure. Other ways to keep your blood pressure in check include:

-Exercise regularly
-Limit alcohol intake
-Reduce sodium in your diet
-Eat a healthy diet
-Quit smoking

Conclusion

While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, research suggests that weight loss can indeed help lower blood pressure for some people. In general, the more weight you lose, the greater the reduction in blood pressure will be. However, even modest amounts of weight loss can make a difference.

If you are overweight or obese and struggling to lose weight, talk to your doctor about ways to help you safely lose weight and lower your blood pressure.