The Buyt Desk
Hypertension is linked with Obesity as the latter will cause and worsen high blood pressure. There are ways to deal with it. Let us understand it in detail.
Nowadays obesity is seen in most of them because of a sedentary lifestyle. And in most cases, obesity leads to high blood pressure. Obesity and overweight is a major problem for a major chunk of the population and can be considered among nearly 50% of the population.
What is Obesity?
When the body fat percentage of a person exceeds a limit it is called obesity. There will be an increase in the body fat cells which may result in the overall body size of an individual. This can result in an unhealthy lifestyle for an individual. Obesity or overweight may be caused by the type and quantity of food consumed, the physical activity level, family history, genetics inherited and sleep pattern. There are many factors that will influence obesity.
Obesity may increase many health risks and the major ones are heart diseases, hypertension and diabetes. Watching your weight and body fat percentage is very important as an increase in fat invites many health complications.
What is Hypertension?
High blood pressure is known as hypertension. The blood flows through arteries as it is pumped through the heart. When this flow is at a higher pressure than a certain limit, it is called high blood pressure. When the blood in an individual flows at higher pressure, it causes heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, brain issues, and cognitive problems and also increases the risk of dementia. As one grows older the risk of an increase in blood pressure is high. More than 70 % of senior citizens have hypertension because of the age factor. And many Indian adults are having hypertension because of obesity, stress and lifestyle issues.
How will obesity cause hypertension?
Obesity may develop hypertension in an individual and can worsen the condition if the individual already has it. The study by health officials revealed that 70+% of hypertension cases are caused by obesity. As fat tissues increase in the body, it causes changes to body structure and internal organs which will worsen hypertension. The increase in body fat will over-activate the sympathetic nervous system, simulate RAAS (renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system), alter hormones like adipose-derived cytokines and compress the kidney which will change the kidney functioning.
What is Obesity-induced hypertension?
As we know, in various ways obesity can worsen or cause hypertension. To treat hypertension, an obese body will also make it more complex as there will be other related health conditions which may also need attention. There are many obesity-related mechanisms which cause or worsens hypertension which include changes in hormone signalling, change in the functioning of the sympathetic nervous system, changes in the autonomic nervous system which is in charge of the fight-or-flight response and changes in the structure and function of the kidneys.
Usually, obese individuals carry a higher proportion of visceral fat. This is the fat around the midsection of their body. The visceral fat surrounds the abdominal organs and hence puts pressure on internal organs. This in turn causes stress on the cardiovascular system. It is this extra pressure which often leads to resistant hypertension. Such blood pressure will be uncontrolled even after administering three or more blood pressure-controlling drugs.
What is the line of treatment for hypertension in people with obesity?
People have shown that hypertension is reversible when weight is reduced and the body changes. Reducing weight will definitely mitigate the risk of hypertension. The first advice the doctors advise is weight loss. Weight loss will treat both hypertension and obesity. Lifestyle changes are often enough for overweight and slightly obese individuals. But for individuals who are highly obese, bariatric or weight loss surgery is recommended. Medication is prescribed when blood pressure readings are too high. Regular medical checkups are needed to monitor the changes caused by hypertension and obesity.
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Medications – Antihypertensive medications are administered. One drug may not work for all. So doctors may change the class of the drug when it doesn’t work. Also, cholesterol-reducing drugs may be prescribed if the LDL level is too high.
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Lifestyle changes – Weight reduction can manage hypertension. The focus should be on reducing the body fat percentage and maintaining the body lean mass. Advised lifestyle changes are
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limiting caffeine
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limiting alcohol consumption
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quit smoking including second-hand smoke
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getting physically active
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getting a good sleep at night
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managing stress
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regularly monitoring blood pressure
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involving family and friends for support
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Dietary changes – Eating a low-calorie diet is a solution. Along with this, one should also
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eat less salt, look out for added salt and salt in processed foods
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cut down the intake of saturated fats and cholesterol
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increase water intake
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add more whole grains, fruits, fresh and raw vegetables, lean meats and fish to everyday diet
