Blood Pressure to Weight Correlation

[anonymous-user]

I am sure everyone knows this already but I need to see stuff with my own eyes to believe it.

A few years back I was very over weight. BP was in the high 140's. Lost a lot of weight and BP was around 120. Put weight back on and BP returned to high 140's. Lost weight again and now back at 120 ish.

Same with pulse that was in the high 80s / low 90s when overweight but 58 today having lost weight.

I'm in the same job, same situation, still unfit as I don't exercise at all. The only variable has been my weight.

It is as if my BP and pulse are directly linked to how overweight I am. A high BP is the precursor to many serious illnesses and / or death.

I know being over weight is bad, but I had no idea how (at least in my case) it is directly linked to BP and pulse.

[anonymous-user]

There are thin people with high blood pressure and fat people with low blood pressure

But as a generalisation I think it is fair to say that carrying extra fat is very likely to have a negative affect on other physiological measures, as well as the scales

Well done on shedding the weight

[Kenny Powers]

Firstly, under what conditions are you having your blood measure measured? It will vary a great deal from one moment to the next if you’ve been even lightly active prior to testing. I need to have been sitting down for a good few minutes in order to get the lowest possible reading.

Additionally, many people’s BP shoots up whne being measured by a healthcare professional. I’ve never had mine measured below 150/90 yet when I check myself (weekly) I’m always well below 120/80. Today was 113/73. This second point is of particular importance. Buy your own machine if you don’t already have one. Test weekly under identical conditions and then go from there.

Apologies if you already know all of this

[anonymous-user]

Kenny Powers said:

Firstly, under what conditions are you having your blood measure measured? It will vary a great deal from one moment to the next if you’ve been even lightly active prior to testing. I need to have been sitting down for a good few minutes in order to get the lowest possible reading.

Additionally, many people’s BP shoots up whne being measured by a healthcare professional. I’ve never had mine measured below 150/90 yet when I check myself (weekly) I’m always well below 120/80. Today was 113/73. This second point is of particular importance. Buy your own machine if you don’t already have one. Test weekly under identical conditions and then go from there.

Apologies if you already know all of this

Yes thanks. Always take BP at same time of day. Relax for a few mins before hand. Same posture. Wait 2 hours after food etc. So measuring environment should be fairly consistent. Only my fat is the (main) variable! Thanks.

[Kenny Powers]

My guess is you may be slightly insulin resistant. A fasting insulin test would confirm this. If you have elevated insulin concentrations this could cause weight gain and increased blood pressure. Do you consume a lot of carbs? Bread, pasta, rice etc.

[anonymous-user]

Kenny Powers said:

My guess is you may be slightly insulin resistant. A fasting insulin test would confirm this. If you have elevated insulin concentrations this could cause weight gain and increased blood pressure. Do you consume a lot of carbs? Bread, pasta, rice etc.

Hi Kenny when I am on my diet and losing weight I avoid bread but eat rice/pasta. When off diet and gaining weight I eat a LOT of bread (I love the stuff). I will Google what you just said as I have no idea what it means. Thanks.

[Kenny Powers]

In simple terms, if you’re eating a lot of bread, then your bloodstream is going to have a higher insulin concentration, more of the time. Especially if you’re insulin resistant. Insulin prevents fat burning, and promotes fat storage. High blood pressure often goes alongside this.

At the very least I would consider a very large cut in carbohydrates. You already know you’ll lose weight and your blood pressure will drop. Personally I would do this now or you run the risk of perhaps developing prediabetes in the future.

[anonymous-user]

Kenny Powers said:

My guess is you may be slightly insulin resistant. A fasting insulin test would confirm this. If you have elevated insulin concentrations this could cause weight gain and increased blood pressure. Do you consume a lot of carbs? Bread, pasta, rice etc.

Fasting insulin not routinely available on NHS - for GPs at least. HBA1c will tell you much the same thing and is available, and now normally used instead of fasting blood sugars.

[Kenny Powers]

I didn’t realise fasting insulin wasn’t available on the NHS. That sucks and is ridiculous.

Hba1c doesn’t tell you how hard your pancreas is having to work in order to achieve it.