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Hearing about all of the ways obesity negatively affects the body feels like it could cause anyone’s blood pressure to spike. In fact, that’s because it’s not far off. Obesity and overweight can greatly increase a person’s risk for developing high blood pressure.
With 75 million Americans suffering from high blood pressure and 160 million U.S. citizens affected by obesity or overweight, it is more important than ever to learn about this condition and how to manage it, especially through bariatric procedures.
What is High Blood Pressure?
Otherwise known as hypertension, high blood pressure is when the force of blood pressing against blood vessel walls is higher than it should be.
When it comes to measuring blood pressure, medical professionals look at two numbers:
- Systolic: The pressure in your arteries when your heart is actively beating; the higher number.
- Diastolic: The pressure in your arteries in between heartbeats; the lower number.
Normal blood pressure is any set of numbers lower than 120/80 mm Hg. A person is considered to have hypertension when their levels reach 130/90 mm Hg with the degree worsening with increased pressure. A person is considered to be in hypertensive crisis if their blood pressure is higher than 180/120 mm Hg, and should consult their doctor immediately.
A variety of factors can affect the likelihood of developing hypertension:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Obesity and overweight
- High cholesterol
- Family history
- Age
- Kidney disease
- Sleep apnea
The Dangers of Hypertension
Although high blood pressure is increasingly common, it can have dramatic, seemingly sudden effects on our health and wellness. If left unchecked, it can damage arteries, the heart, eyes, kidneys, and brain, potentially leading to heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, and even death.
This is such a dangerous condition because it works quietly. Nearly 20% of Americans with hypertension don’t even know they have it. This condition rarely displays symptoms and even when it does, it can be after it has harmed the body for years.
It’s more important than ever to take precautions to limit and reduce the effects of high blood pressure. This includes checking blood pressure regularly, living a healthy life, and learning more about the condition.
Obesity and High Blood Pressure
According to the Framingham Heart Study, excess body weight (obesity and overweight) accounts for over 25% of cases of high blood pressure in both men and women. Obesity alters the body’s hormone levels, including those that control blood flow in the heart. Without regulation, the body pumps too much blood, leading to increased pressure in the arteries.
As people gain more weight, the body’s hormones become even less able to control pressure levels, increasing the severity of hypertension.
How to Mitigate Hypertension
A variety of factors can contribute to one’s development of high blood pressure. However, the good news is that we have several options to help reduce its effects on us. Some conditional bits of advice include stopping smoking and reducing stress in our daily lives. However, these factors are not universal.
More commonly, we can help decrease risk by reducing our sodium intake, eating a healthy diet, and maintaining an exercise routine. A lot of these factors are key in helping people lose weight and live generally healthier lives. No matter how we need to improve our lives to reduce high blood pressure risk, having a support group to look out for us is always a benefit.
And with bariatric surgery, you can achieve the weight loss and support that you need to live a healthy, happy life.
Weight-Loss Surgery and High Blood Pressure
Weight-loss surgery is the #1 solution for overcoming obesity and keeping weight off long-term! Procedures like the gastric sleeve have been proven to help patients lose anywhere between 50 and 70% of their excess weight.
Not only do these procedures reduce what the stomach can contain, NYBG provides our patients with the tools they need to develop life-long healthy habits. By changing the way people view food, we help them overcome their previous lifestyles and create ones that can be sustained long term.
With the tools in place, our patients achieve an unparalleled level of success. Along with the weight, their health conditions tend to disappear. By reducing fat levels, the body is able to regulate its hormones correctly, thus decreasing its effects on blood pressure.
In addition to hypertension, other weight-related conditions bariatric surgery overcomes includes:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Joint pain
- Heart attack / stroke risk
- Sleep Apnea
- COPD
COME TO NYBG.
When it’s time to start a successful weight-loss journey, it’s time to call NYBG! We’re the most advanced practice offering the most up-to-date procedures and our numbers prove it:
- 13 skilled surgeons who are leaders in bariatrics
- 15,000 successful procedures performed with more every day
- The #1 gastric balloon practice by volume – most balloons placed in the United States
- 24/7 access to online seminars
- 100s of videos for patients explaining procedures, answering common questions, and showcasing previous patients
- Multiple offices located in three states; NY, NJ, CT
- Since 2000, we boast 18 years of success!
Our commitment to patient success and excellence has earned us accreditation from the Metabolic Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). This prestigious achievement recognizes only the top bariatric practices. Stop waiting; start achieving better health today.
